Wild and Free Home School Enrichment

Wild & Free
Home School Enrichment

Ages 6-11

H.S.E.

Connect, Learn & Grow

The Wild and Free Homeschool Enrichment is a tuition free program for children (ages 5-11) who are currently homeschooled, where nature is the classroom, play and exploration are the methods, and learning is the outcome.

The Wild and Free homeschool Enrichment program merges the fields of child development & ecology to facilitate an immersive experience for our students. Our goal is to cultivate spaces that invite children & community to develop their own reciprocity with nature. We aim to develop a sense of stewardship of the land & to nurture children's inherent curiosity & wonder of the natural world.

Interest Form

Experienced Educators

Boukman Byrd is the director of the Wild and Free Homeschool Enrichment program. He spent most of his leisure time as a child outdoors and developed a deep understanding and reverence for nature. He remembers the impact being outdoors had on him and wants to provide that experience for children in Colorado.

He is a coop-owner, director, and teacher working with children ages 3–11 at both the Nature School Cooperative and Wild and Free Homeschool Enrichment program.

With over 25 years of experience, he has worked with youth of all ages through a wide range of organizations, including:

Colorado Division of Wildlife
High Peak Camp
AYL Sports League
JEGNA Mentoring
Denver Public Schools
YMCA

His commitment to youth development blends outdoor education, mentorship, and holistic learning.

We Give Back More Than We Take

Boukman Byrd and the staff at Wild and Free HSE are trained in forest school pedagogy, indigenous outdoor crafting and survival skills, as well as play-based and student-led forms of learning. They believe nature is the educator, students should lead their learning and forest school practitioners serve as the facilitators of that process.

Child development and regenerative ecology are key for the future. Our goal is to cultivate spaces that invite children & community to develop their own reciprocity with nature. We aim to nurture children's inherent curiosity, awe & wonder of the natural world and develop a sense of stewardship of the land.

Mission

The mission of Wild and Free Enrichment is to provide children with indigenous and forest school early learning experiences by connecting them with the natural world on a deep, mental, emotional and physical level. We foster curiosity, exploration, learning, confidence, communication, and cultivate experiences using holistic practices alongside the Forest School philosophy to spur growth, development and stewardship for life, land, water and air.

Location

The Wild and Free Enrichment sessions are held on Thursdays in sensory-rich natural environments in public spaces in the city.

Hentzell Park has a mix of open areas and wooded sections, which can offer children a variety of learning experiences. The presence of natural elements like trees, grass, creeks, waterfalls and wildlife can stimulate curiosity and provide hands-on learning opportunities. Overall , it’s an ideal location that encourages children to connect with nature and learn through exploration.

Ready to connect & explore with us?

Call Us To Learn More

Thursday 8:30 - 3:30 pm

1 Day a week Home School Enrichment

School Year Calendar

When registering, you’re enrolling for the full school year, which encompasses two 16-week semesters which spans an average school year through 3 seasons fall, winter and spring.

Each semester includes 16 enrichment days with a few off-site field trips sprinkled in to explore, learn and grow.

Fall Semester

Fall 2024 Session: September 9, 2025 - Jan 14 2025

(One week off for Fall Break, 2 weeks off for Winter Break)

Spring Semester

Fall 2024 Session: January 28 - May 20 2025

(One week off for Spring Break)

We follow the Denver Public School District Fall and Spring Breaks.

As well as all other holidays or DPS non-contact days.

Tuition Free Available or Private Cost

We are excited to announce a new partnership with Education reEnvisioned Board of Cooperative Education Services (ERBOCES) that allows us to provide a tuition-free home school enrichment program. ERBOCES is a state funded program that offers enrichment to homeschoolers and nonpublic school educated students. In order to qualify for free tuition, your child cannot be enrolled in any other state funded home school enrichment program and must be enrolled in our program before August of the new school year (starts in September).

If you miss the enrollment deadline, your child can still enroll in the enrichment program at a flat, tuition rate of $458 per month. However, in alignment with our mission to provide nature based education to all families, we espouse the pay-what-you-can model. Meaning our tuition is a sliding scale based on a family's budget.

*Please note that a $100 registration fee may be required.

Wild & Free Home School Enrichment