TOLEDO COLLABORATIVE FOREST SCHOOL
APPLY TO JOIN TCFS
We’re glad you’re considering becoming part of our forest school family.
At Toledo Collaborative Forest School (TCFS), a small group of dedicated moms collaboratively creates a nurturing, year-round outdoor learning community just outside Toledo, OH.
Children spend their days in the same beloved woodland each week—climbing, building, imagining, taking joyful risks, and learning through child-led exploration. We value resilience, creativity, real friendships, and deep connection with nature in all weather.
Because our group is intentionally small, we take care in finding families who share our philosophy and approach.
Our Admissions Process
Please start with our short interest form. We review every submission. Once we receive it, we’ll review the basic details (location, children’s ages, etc.) and will follow up via email. If it looks like a possible fit, we’ll send you the application at that time.
We keep completed applications on file. When an opening becomes available, we review the applications we have and reach out to families who feel like a strong mutual fit.
Openings are rare. There is no guarantee of an opening in the near future — it may be many months before the next one. We share this so you can decide whether starting the process now feels right for your family.
The process typically includes:
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Pre-Screening Form (short)
A brief form that helps us confirm basic eligibility and logistics (about 15 minutes).
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Written Application (substantial)
Families who pass the pre-screening are invited to complete our application. This step asks for thoughtful reflection on our learning philosophy, outdoor readiness, and collaborative participation. It usually takes 2 hours or more.
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By invitation: a conversation/interview, a trial session visit, and a moms’ meeting (usually in that order).
We only move forward when it feels like a good mutual fit for everyone.
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