Nature Explorers

Spring 2026

Olive Branch Preparatory School

Private Community Link

Nature Explorers: Where curiosity leads the way!

Give your child the chance to unplug, explore, and connect with the natural world through guided outdoor skills experiences designed just for them.

Classes are intentionally designed to encourage mindfulness of Allah as we interact with nature and increase our knowledge of the world around us through self-reliance.

Read more about this year’s theme and how our classes typically flow here. Program Details are below.

Ready to Join the Experience?

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Program Details

Thursdays

Apr 2 | Apr 9 | Apr 23

Apr 30 | May 14 | May 21

2:15pm - 3:45pm

Location

Olive Branch Preparatory School

Gaithersburg, MD

Topics We’ll Cover

Week 1: Introduction, Safety & Awareness

  • Learn outdoor safety rules and Leave No Trace principles

  • Build awareness skills through games and sensory activities

  • Develop responsibility and safe decision-making outdoors

Week 2: Shelters & Problem-Solving

  • Explore real-world shelter types and their uses

  • Work in teams to design and test mini-shelters

  • Build resilience, creativity, and engineering skills

Weeks 3-4: Wild Foraging, Plant Identification & Exploration

  • Identify safe vs. unsafe plants and common local species

  • Practice nature journaling, drawing, and observation

  • Practice preserving foraged items

  • Strengthen science knowledge and environmental respect

Weeks 5-6: Basic First Aid & Safety

  • Basics of hydration, burns, cuts, insect bites, and other related injuries

  • Apply all learned skills in a mini survival challenge and earn a certificate of completion

What is Nature Explorers?

Nature Explorers is a hands-on outdoor skills program designed to teach children practical, age-appropriate skills they can use anywhere they happen to be — all while having fun, building confidence, and forming lifelong connections.

Skills That Transfer Beyond the Outdoors

What happens in the woods does not stay in the woods.

As kids practice outdoor skills like navigation, problem-solving, teamwork, and decision-making, they’re also building life skills they use every day.

Outdoor skills naturally strengthen:

  • Confidence and independence

  • Focus and attention

  • Communication and teamwork

  • Resilience and adaptability

  • Critical thinking and problem-solving

When children feel capable outdoors, they carry that confidence everywhere else.

Ready to add meaningful, hands-on learning to your homeschool?

Join Nature Explorers where Nature becomes the classroom — and the learning follows them home.

Ready to Join?

Register
Register

See full Program Policies

  • A signed waiver is required for participation

  • Hikes are held rain or shine; extreme weather cancellations will be not be rescheduled for this hike

  • Group size may be capped for safety and a quality experience

  • Participants will bring their own snacks, water, and gear 

Policies