2022-2023 Registration is now open!

ECO began its mission to get more children outdoors to experience nature and learn about their natural world in 2017. The program began in Atlanta, Georgia and launched in Phoenix, Arizona in 2019, after the founder relocated due to health reasons. Since 2017 ECO programs have assisted over 150 children in spending over 1,000 hrs outdoors.

ECO is a 100% outdoor, place-based program that is similar to the "forest school" programs prevalent across Europe, minus the forest. Instead we have a wondrous, beautiful, and biologically diverse desert to explore, so we refer to our program model as a  "desert school."  Our mission is to immerse children in connecting with the natural world.  Through ECO, children learn about and explore nature through cross-curricular, hands-on, experiential activities, so that they will develop knowledge about, love for, and dedication to nature's wonders. 

Our program has been very well received since launching in Phoenix.  As a result, we have expanded our programming so that we can assist even more children with getting outdoors to learn. We now offer outdoor programs in Tucson, Casa Grande, Prescott and Phoenix. In addition to our semester homeschool programs, we are also offering weekend and evening programs for families, as well as private programs for groups  (school, after-school, scouts, etc). We will also have wildlife wonder drop in class options, nature journaling classes, nature-themed book club, family hikes, and youth bird outings for families who are unable to commit to our semester program.

We are also expanding our semester homeschool programs and will have 10 program options beginning in August 2022. Our Pathfinders program  is for children in PreK-K,  our Discoverers, Trailblazers,  Adventurers programs are for children in PreK/1st-4th, our Explorers program is for children in 4th-7th, and our Teen Naturalist program is for children in 8th-12th. 

If you would like to help us ensure that no child is left inside, please consider making a donation to our scholarship fund. This fund will help cover program costs for families that need financial assistance.

If you would like to learn more about our programs we invite you to view our Info, Meet and Greet video.

Thank you for visiting our website. Please let us know if you have any questions.