A Year in Review - There’s Still time To Give

Forager School 2025: A Year in Review

Dear Forager School Friends,

Thank you for being part of our past year! We are happy to share our end-of-year reflection with you to celebrate so much that we are proud of in 2025. As we look back, we are reminded of the dedication, growth, and spirit that make our community unique. It’s been a year of unforgettable moments, and we are excited to share the highlights. As we head into the final days of 2025, we invite you to help us reach our end-of-year fundraising goal. We are already more than halfway there and your support in these final days will help us close the year strong.

Donate online or mail a check to: The Forager School, P.O. Box 1862, Gualala, CA 95445

Summer 2025: Building Memories

Summertime fun at The Forager School lived large! This year, we welcomed 28 new students and 33 returning students across our preschool and Adventure Camp programs. There is a growing demand from local and visiting families, and we are thankful to see new forms of community investment, including a local employer establishing childcare support for their staff, and grandparents enrolling visiting grandchildren in camp.

“I wish I could have experienced something like this when I was a kid!” - Forager parent reflection

Our families found simplicity, nostalgia, and connection at The Forager School, slowing down to appreciate the magic of early childhood. We have summer memories of foggy mornings and warm afternoons, blackberry-stained fingers on foraging adventures, tidepool discoveries, collaborative driftwood builds, long beach days with pelicans and river otters, and quiet moments feeding calves at Stornetta Ranch in Manchester. We are grateful to spend the summer months weaving together child-led play and outdoor inspiration.

From our Directors: Reflections on Fall 2025

We Launched Our Elementary Program!

“This year marks the inaugural year of Forager Elementary. From the start, our students have shown curiosity, resilience, and an eagerness to engage in learning that is meaningful, hands-on, and rooted in community. Each student understands that they are part of an interdependent network where everyone has a place, a voice, and a responsibility to care for one another, the learning environment, and the natural world around them. Some of the most meaningful moments this year have come through experiential learning: exploring contemporary music with the Kronos Quartet, crafting tools and practicing ancient technologies with visiting educators, workshopping fantasy stories, starting a garden complete with vermicompost, and forming cross-age connections through our Reading Buddies program with the preschool. We’ve watched our students grow not just academically, but also socially and emotionally, developing their leadership skills, and care for one another as members of a shared community.”

-Michaela C. Ellis Founding Director/Lead Teacher, Forager Elementary

Preschool: From Tiny Shoots to Strong Roots

“Now in our third year, the children who arrived with toddlerhood in full swing have become our program seniors! They are confident and empowered thinkers who know what they love and lead with both curiosity and care. It is both a reward and catalyst to witness the fruits of their early efforts in action as they collaborate, problem-solve, and engage the world with joy and purpose. Shaped by The Forager School’s child-led, community-focused, nature-inspired philosophy, I couldn’t be more proud to see how our little school by the sea carries forward a strong foundation of resilience, wonder, and creativity.”

-Adela Martinez Berg, Founding Director/Lead Teacher, The Forager School Preschool

Strengthening the Local Economy

Across our campuses, The Forager School employed 19 individuals, creating meaningful local jobs for teachers, assistants, and seasonal camp staff, while sustaining partnerships with local farmers, naturalists, artists, and vendors. Several staff members are pursuing coursework in Early Childhood Education and applying that training directly in the classroom. Our investment in people and partnerships strengthens the long-term health of our coastal community.

Behind the Scenes

One of the greatest strengths of The Forager School is our parent community. Families volunteer, help organize celebrations, lead building repairs, and deepen friendships that strengthen the social fabric of our children’s lives. These connections extend beyond school walls, creating a network of care and belonging. Our working board of local parents volunteer countless hours behind the scenes to oversee finances, operations, classroom design, fundraising, licensing, and long-term strategy – ensuring every dollar raised goes directly to serving children and families.

Looking Ahead: 2026 at The Forager School

For the 2025–26 academic year, we are over halfway to our goal of raising $60,000 to help cover essential operating expenses and sustain high-quality, accessible learning for children and families in our community. Every contribution, at any level, makes a meaningful difference.

What Your Gift Makes Possible

$12,260 covers a full academic year of tuition for a preschool or elementary student with demonstrated financial need
$5,000 provides significant tuition assistance for a local family
$2,500 supports classroom materials and supplies for an entire term
$1,000 funds two weeks of summer camp for a local child
$500 funds a season of fresh local produce for preschool and elementary school snacks
Any amount helps sustain our school, our educators, and the families we serve

Please consider making a tax-deductible year-end gift today.

DONATE

Donate online, or mail a check payable to The Forager School to:

P.O. Box 1862

Gualala, CA 95445

One more thing…

Save The Date - The Forager School Gala

Thursday, October 15, 2026

It will be a night to remember!