FAYETEVILLE – A new type of school is accepting students for the upcoming school year, offering alternative learning experiences to families in the area. Boots and Branches Nature School is a nature-based learning environment that will offer Pre-K and homeschool enrichment programs. The school has partnered with Greenwood Hills Bible Conference and Camps to offer outdoor play and purposeful learning in a safe environment.
Kelli Polly, founder and director of Boots and Branches, said the school was founded on the idea that “not all classrooms have four walls, and that nature is the best type of classroom.”
Polly began her journey as a K-2 behavioral teacher in a local school district, working to support students with challenging behaviors. Polly said that these were students who “needed more support than what a large traditional classroom setting could provide.” This caused Polly to imagine a different type of classroom environment, one that could be adaptable and accessible.
The founder recounted that when she had a child of her own, she looked into forest and nature-style school options because she believed that her child would thrive outside of the traditional classroom. With no alternative options in sight, Polly decided to create one, bringing this opportunity to other families in the area.
Through Boots and Branches, Polly set out to reconnect students with nature and to reimagine the early education classroom. The school’s programs combine outdoor play with purposeful learning to teach social, emotional and academic skills. Polly praised the power of time in nature for young minds, citing its positive impact on focus, cognitive skills, and overall academic success.
Polly said that she imagines an early education classroom that is immersed in nature and allows students to “develop a sense of awe and wonder that will foster a love for this beautiful world that we live in.” Boots and Branches is a manifestation of this alternative classroom, a place in nature where children can learn and explore freely without fear of getting dirty.
By allowing students to learn in nature’s classroom, Boots and Branches offers a reimagined learning environment that, according to Polly, may change the outcome of a child’s early education. Families like Polly’s all over the area will now have access to a learning environment that may better support their needs and nurture their love of learning.
Boots and Branches will kick off the new school year with a Pre-K nature learning program, a homeschool enrichment program and Family Fridays events, starting September 2025. Children ages 3-6 can attend the Pre-K program two to four days a week, or families can register for six-week Family Fridays sessions. Interested parties can contact Boots and Branches at [email protected] for information on programs and enrollment.
