NatureQuest:Pathfinders

For Youth Ages 12-14

Pathfinders is the culminating stage of Nature Quest—designed for youth who are ready to test their edges, grow real skills, and explore who they are becoming. Through meaningful challenge, peer collaboration, and deepening mentorship, Pathfinders walk a path of personal and collective growth.

Participants work toward earning guild achievements that recognize effort, skill, and inner growth. With every fire lit, trail walked, and circle held, youth earn recognition not only for what they’ve learned—but for who they are becoming.

Pathfinders honors this phase of adolescence as a powerful threshold—between child and adult, follower and leader, wanderer and wayfinder. Here, story and skill meet soul.

In Pathfinders, every spark is a skill, every challenge a chance to grow, every circle a mirror, and every step a movement toward becoming 

For NatureQuest:Explorers Ages 9-11: Click Here

Enroll Today

Rooted in Transformation. Guided by Individuation. Cultivated in the Wisdom of the Guilds.

This  program cultivates:

  • Nature Kinship – Teens refine their wilderness competence and learn to be at home in the wild.
  • Village Leadership – Pathfinders take initiative in group challenges, help mentor younger youth, and hold roles of responsibility within the village culture.
  • Self Discovery – Each participant engages with the guilds—Ranger, Bard, Voyager, Mystic, Crofter—as pathways to uncover values, strengths, and identity. Guild achievements mark meaningful progress.
  • Sacred Awareness – Youth participate in deeper ritual, seasonal observation, solo time  on the land, and symbolic challenges that honor their growth. These moments root them in belonging and invite them into reverent relationship with life fostering resilience and personal insight.

 

Is NatureQuest:Pathfinders Right for Your Child?

Explorers are growing in independence and ready for real-world skills, group collaboration, and meaningful challenge. Your child may be ready if they can:

  • Pathfinders is a program for pre/teens stepping into greater maturity, self-awareness, and leadership. They are ready when they can:

    • 🧭 Participate fully in outdoor physical activity, skills practice, and nature immersion
    • 🔨 Engage safely and attentively with tools, fire, navigation, and solo time
    • 💬 Reflect on experiences and speak with respect in group dialogue
    • 🎯 Follow complex instructions and self-manage in unstructured moments
    • ⚠️ Understand and adhere to safety protocols for themselves and others
    • 🌀 Engage in rituals, symbols, and story-based learning with presence and maturity
    • 🤲 Model care and leadership with younger youth and contribute positively to group culture
    • 🌿 Accept feedback with openness and take responsibility for their actions
    • 🛡️ Create and uphold a safe, inclusive environment free of bullying, teasing, or exclusion

    Pathfinders must treat mentors and peers with respect, follow all safety guidelines, and demonstrate readiness for deeper personal and communal growth.

2026 - 27 School Year

NatureQuest:Pathfinders meets weekly from Fall to Spring, with seasonal breaks. Choose 1–5 days per week from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

OVERVIEW

  • All Outdoors
  • Ages: 12 - 14
  • M - F
  • 10AM-2PM
  • September 14, 2026 - May 21, 2027

TUITION ESTIMATES

  • 1-day/week – 30 days total
    • $150 deposit – 10 Monthly Payments of $157.50 Starting September 10
  • 2 days/week – 60 days total
    • $300 deposit – 10 Monthly Payments of $315 Starting September 10
  • 3 days/week – 90 days total
    • $450 deposit – 10 Monthly Payments of $472.50 Starting September 10
  • 4 days/week -120 days total
    • $600 deposit – 10 Monthly Payments of $630 Starting September 10

Extended days will change pricing, costs listed above are estimates. Upon registration, our enrollment system will give accurate tuition and deposit amounts

Enroll Today
Join the WildWise Parent Guild on Facebook to connect with families in our programs!
Facebook

💬 Still Unsure?

Every Pathfinder grows at their own pace. If you’re wondering about a specific skill or whether your child is ready for forest time, we’d be happy to chat.

📧 Reach out to us at info@wildwiseschool.org

SCHEDULE

Download a copy of the schedule here: 2026/27 WildWise Schedule

Fall Term

September 14, 2026 – November 20, 2026

Winter Term

December 7, 2026 – February 26, 2027

Spring Term

March 1, 2027 – May 21, 2027

Mondays

Fall

  1. Sep. 14, 2026
  2. Sep. 21, 2026
  3. Sep. 28, 2026
  4. Oct. 5, 2026
  5. Oct. 12, 2026
  6. Oct. 19, 2026
  7. Oct. 26, 2026
  8. Nov. 2, 2026
  9. Nov. 9, 2026
  10. Nov. 16, 2026
  11. Nov. 23, 2026
  12. Nov. 30, 2026

Tuesdays

Fall

  1. Sep. 15, 2026
  2. Sep. 22, 2026
  3. Sep. 29, 2026
  4. Oct. 6, 2026
  5. Oct. 13, 2026
  6. Oct. 20, 2026
  7. Oct. 27, 2026
  8. Nov. 3, 2026
  9. Nov. 10, 2026
  10. Nov. 17, 2026
  11. Nov. 24, 2026

Wednesdays

Fall

  1. Sep. 16, 2026
  2. Sep. 23, 2026
  3. Sep. 30 2026
  4. Oct. 7, 2026
  5. Oct. 14, 2026
  6. Oct. 21, 2026
  7. Oct. 28, 2026
  8. Nov. 4, 2026
  9. Nov. 11, 2026
  10. Nov. 18, 2026

Thursdays

Fall

  1. Sep. 17, 2026
  2. Sep. 24, 2026
  3. Oct. 1, 2026
  4. Oct. 8, 2026
  5. Oct. 15, 2026
  6. Oct. 22, 2026
  7. Oct. 29, 2026
  8. Nov. 5, 2026
  9. Nov. 12, 2026
  10. Nov. 19, 2026

Fridays

Fall

  1. Sep. 18, 2026
  2. Sep. 25, 2026
  3. Oct. 2, 2026
  4. Oct. 9, 2026
  5. Oct. 16, 2026
  6. Oct. 23, 2026
  7. Oct. 30, 2026
  8. Nov. 6, 2026
  9. Nov. 13, 2026
  10. Nov. 20, 2026

Mondays

Winter

  1. Dec. 7, 2026
  2. Dec. 14, 2026
  3. Jan. 4, 2027
  4. Jan. 11, 2027
  5. Jan. 25, 2027
  6. Feb. 1, 2027
  7. Feb. 8, 2027
  8. Feb. 15, 2027
  9. Feb. 22, 2027

Tuesdays

Winter

  1. Dec. 1, 2026
  2. Dec. 8, 2026
  3. Dec. 15, 2026
  4. Jan. 5, 2027
  5. Jan. 12, 2027
  6. Jan. 19, 2027
  7. Jan. 26, 2027
  8. Feb. 2, 2027
  9. Feb. 9, 2027
  10. Feb. 16, 2027
  11. Feb. 23, 2027

Wednesdays

Winter

  1. Dec. 2, 2026
  2. Dec. 9, 2026
  3. Dec. 16, 2026
  4. Jan. 6, 2027
  5. Jan. 13, 2027
  6. Jan. 20, 2027
  7. Jan. 27, 2027
  8. Feb. 3, 2027
  9. Feb. 10, 2027
  10. Feb. 17, 2027
  11. Feb. 24, 2027

Thursdays

Winter

  1. Dec. 3, 2026
  2. Dec. 10, 2026
  3. Dec. 17, 2026
  4. Jan. 7, 2027
  5. Jan. 14, 2027
  6. Jan. 21, 2027
  7. Jan. 28, 2027
  8. Feb. 4, 2027
  9. Feb. 11, 2027
  10. Feb. 18,  2027
  11. Feb. 25, 2027

Fridays

Winter

  1. Dec. 4, 2026
  2. Dec. 11, 2026
  3. Dec. 18, 2026
  4. Jan. 8, 2027
  5. Jan. 15, 2027
  6. Jan. 22, 2027
  7. Jan. 29, 2027
  8. Feb. 5, 2027
  9. Feb. 12, 2027
  10. Feb. 19, 2027
  11. Feb. 26, 2027

Mondays

Spring

  1. Mar. 1, 2027
  2. Mar. 8, 2027
  3. Mar. 15, 2027
  4. Mar. 22, 2027
  5. Mar. 29, 2027
  6. Apr. 12, 2027
  7. Apr. 19, 2027
  8. Apr. 26, 2027
  9. May 3, 2027
  10. May 10, 2027
  11. May 17, 2027

Tuesdays

Spring

  1. Mar. 2, 2027
  2. Mar. 9, 2027
  3. Mar. 16, 2027
  4. Mar. 23, 2027
  5. Mar. 30, 2027
  6. Apr. 13, 2027
  7. Apr. 20, 2027
  8. Apr. 27, 2027
  9. May 4, 2027
  10. May 11, 2027
  11. May 18, 2027

Wednesdays

Spring

  1. Mar. 3, 2027
  2. Mar. 10, 2027
  3. Mar. 17, 2027
  4. Mar. 24, 2027
  5. Mar. 31, 2027
  6. Apr. 14, 2027
  7. Apr. 21, 2027
  8. Apr. 28, 2027
  9. May 5, 2027
  10. May 12, 2027
  11. May 19, 2027

Thursdays

Spring

  1. Mar. 4, 2027
  2. Mar. 11, 2027
  3. Mar. 18, 2027
  4. Mar. 25, 2027
  5. Apr. 1, 2027
  6. Apr. 15, 2027
  7. Apr. 22, 2027
  8. Apr. 29, 2027
  9. May 6, 2027
  10. May 13, 2027
  11. May 20, 2027

Fridays

Spring

  1. Mar. 5, 2027
  2. Mar. 12, 2027
  3. Mar 19, 2027
  4. Mar. 26, 2027
  5. Apr. 2, 2027
  6. Apr. 16, 2027
  7. Apr. 23, 2027
  8. Apr. 30, 2027
  9. May 7, 2027
  10. May 14, 2027
  11. May 21, 2027

September 11 & 12, 2026 – Orientation(mandatory for all programs) and Family Campout

September 14, 2026 – First Day of Programs

December 21, 2026 – January 1, 2027 – Winter Break

March 29 – April 2, 2027 – Possible Inclement Weather Makeup Days – Otherwise NO PROGRAMS

April 5 – 9, 2027 – Spring Break

May 21, 22, 23, 2027 – Last Day of Programs and Final Campout