About Us
Hedgehog Hill Forest Learning Cooperative is a nature focused early learning program set on a serene two-acre woodland farm. Our living outdoor classroom features winding forest trails, open play area, and a small menagerie of farm animals including chickens and ducks now, with goats, sheep, and pigs joining us as the seasons unfold.
Children spend their days immersed in the natural world through child-guided exploration, seasonal rhythms, animal caregiving, and joyful hands-on environmental discovery. In our intentionally small groups, we nurture deep relationships, offer individualized attention, and create a calm, connected space where learning flows from curiosity, joyful movement, and deep respect for all living things.
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As a grassroots, community-driven nonprofit (501c3 status pending), Hedgehog Hill is proudly built by and for families who share a vision of raising thoughtful, nature-connected children.
Our Story
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Hi! I am the founder of Hedgehog Hill Forest Learning Cooperative, a small but growing educational space rooted in nature, rhythm, and reverence for childhood.
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My background is in conservation biology and environmental policy, but my real education has come from observing the natural world—and from children themselves. Over time, I began to see how deeply modern education can disconnect children from both nature and their own innate curiosity. Hedgehog Hill was born out of a desire to return to something simpler, more grounded, and more true.
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Here, learning is not forced or rushed. It unfolds through the seasons, through play, through relationship, and through direct experience with the land. Whether we are exploring the woods, tending the garden, or simply sitting in quiet observation, the goal is the same: to nurture capable, confident, and connected human beings.
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This work is still growing—both as a local program and as part of a larger vision that extends beyond one backyard. I am actively building toward licensing, nonprofit status, and a model that can expand while staying rooted in its core values.
At its heart, Hedgehog Hill is more than a program. It is a living expression of a belief: that children learn best when they are trusted, when they are free, and when they are connected to the natural world.
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~Amy
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I am looking forward to meeting you all!
