Forest Fridays

Youth (ages 7-15)

Now enrolling for 2025/2026

"Forest school was a transformative experience for our 9-year-old, planting seeds of respect for nature and a deep sense of observation that we see every time we roam the forest. His year there taught him to collaborate, respect, and question the interconnectedness of the world around him. We're immensely grateful to the mentors who guided him to think beyond himself, practice gratitude, and stay connected to nature. Forest school nurtures the empathy and resilience the world needs, and we're so fortunate to have this program in the Cowichan Valley."

— Stephanie Pickering

"You three have given my daughter and my family blessings beyond number through her involvement in wilderness school. I can't recommend you highly enough. Three of the most heart-centered, loving teachers of the wild."

— Sarah MacMillan

"The boys keep talking about their time there, they say it was 10/10 :)"

— Parent

About this Series

🌿 Forest Friday Nature School 🌿

A place where children thrive, connect, and explore!
Our Forest Friday Nature School is more than just an outdoor program – it’s a joyful, supportive, and immersive experience where kids deepen their connection to themselves, others, and the natural world.

Through play, ancestral skills, and deep nature connection, children of all ages are nurtured at their unique stage of development. Our youth leadership program empowers older participants to mentor and inspire younger ones, fostering confidence and community. We practice gratitude, deep listening, and respect for the land, creating a space where curiosity and wonder lead the way.

TYPICAL DAY STRUCTURE

Morning: Nature-themed games, morning circle with songs and gratitude sharing.
Midday: Skill-focused guild activities like tracking, weaving, or bow making.
Afternoon: Free time in nature followed by group games and reflective sit-spot time.
Closing: Reflection and sharing of daily highlights and gratitude.

Join us for an unforgettable journey of growth, adventure, and connection!

"Our daughter has found her community here...such a beautiful offering."
-Amanda Armishaw

Educational Approach

Our nature based education is based on Connection with nature, people and self. Lead with the 8-Shields teaching model, developed by Jon Young.

Fundamental life skills reinforced through nature-related activities.
Creative expressions and physical agility fostered in natural settings.
Understanding societal structures and musical exploration through environmental interaction.
Nature-Connected Learning: Engaging with the outdoor environment in meaningful ways.
Community and Respect: Building a culture of reciprocity and communal support.
Hands-On and Child-Led Learning: Encouraging self-directed exploration.

Check out our Activites

Meet Our Mentors

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For over 18 years in the Quwut’sun’ Valley, Cari Burdett has been committed to fostering a diverse community based on connection through music, relationships with our local Coast Salish Indigenous Elders (ReconciliAction through community building, music and service), and most recently, a dedication to mentoring all ages in the importance, healing and profound joy of Deep Nature Connection.

As the Founder of the Lila Music and Nature Center and mother of three older children, Cari brings with her over thirty years of professional training, degrees, intensives that focus on the healthy development of children and adults, with special focus on Anthroposophic & Waldorf pedagogy trainings, music therapy, pre and perinatal trauma work, plus communication models including Non Violent Communication and The Way of Council. Most recently, she has added to her skill set all she has been learning from Deep Nature Connection (including ceremony and rites of passage training) from her course immersion in Wisdom of the Earth, Thriving Roots, with ongoing Mentorship with Sal Gencarelle and the Helper’s Mentoring Society. Cari’s warmth and dedication shines through as she welcomes these diverse, yet richly connected elements to the Wilderness Programs.

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Marie Whimbey brings heartfelt wisdom and playful experience to her mentorship. She completed a two‑year Nature Connection training on Salt Spring Island with Jean‑Claude Catry, Ingrid Bauer, Matthew McKinney, and Arnaud Gagné—experts committed to deep engagement with the land and cultural resilience. Learn more about their work here.

Last year Marie mentored with Forest Fridays and also brings experience from her work with Thriving Roots in Victoria. With a background in nature‑based education, early childhood learning, and clowning, she offers a supportive, engaging, and transformative experience.

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Scott Lucyk discovered his passion for nature connection as an adult, and graduated from the 2-year Wisdom of the Earth Immersion and Apprenticeship program, after earning his BA in economics and working as a policy analyst for the BC Government. Nature connection changed his life, helping him find his unique path to meaning and fulfillment – a gift he strives to share with others through this work. He has a special passion for sneaking and stealth games, music and singing, storytelling, and the wonders of the night sky. This year, Scott plans to continue to integrate nature connection practices into his personal life and into the broader community.

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Serena Anne is a spinner and storyteller and a Weaver of cultures, stones and lands. She’s been with Thriving Roots Wilderness School for almost a decade, working with children of all ages from the west coast and to the east , and from the Arctic to the Amazon
Her ancestry comes Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, (and most likely from nomadic bardic caravaners travelling from west from the heart of the Caspian Sea
She will be sharing her Love of Fiber Arts Thru water felting with wool and demonstrating spinning .

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Teresa (she/her) grew up in wild rose and coyote country on the traditional lands of the Blackfoot, Tsuut’ina, Stoney Nakoda, Cree, Anishinaabe, and Métis peoples. For 20 years she has offered land-based and mental health programs, and is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor with training in somatic, play, and nature-based therapies, currently with Human Nature Counselling Society. She mentors children and youth in bird language, storytelling, and ancestral skills, and is known for her deep listening, compassion, and playful spirit.

Read Bio

This year Indica will be apprenticing with us after 3 years of forest school. Some of the things she’s interested in are: learning and singing new songs, hide tanning, wood carving, basket making, storytelling and wildlife photography. Indica is 13 years old and participated in a fire quest rite of passage ceremony in the spring of 2025. She was raised in connection with the lands and waters of the Quw’utsun people. Indi will bring her creativity and passion for the natural world to the group this coming year.

Mentor Gallery

Testimonials

Cari is an amazing teacher who shares from her heart. She is an absolute blessing to our children. I'm grateful for her.

Sarah Macmillan, parent of youth nature program.

Cari is a magical weaver of hearts from the human being to the wild ones. She know how to Cary the fire and the water. She has the strength of the wind and feet on the earth. Her trust and commitment to life is pretty contagious and will definitely lift you up. Cari knows how to hold grief in one hand and hold joy and love in the other hand. I absolutely love her.

Claudelle Charette , Nature Mentor for Thriving roots and Wisdom of the Earth

Cari is a powerful and perceptive facilitator who walks with authenticity and love in all her relationships. She holds deep honour and integrity and will have you laughing and singing in no time. I’d highly recommend giving yourself the chance to be a part of this mentoring journey.

~Alaina Hallett, Director of Thriving Roots Wilderness School, Victoria, BC

Forest Fridays Teen Program (Ages 14–16)

This new weekly offering is crafted for teens (ages 14–16) who have prior experience in nature‑based learning—or a keen passion and aptitude for deepening their nature connection. With smaller groups and advanced mentorship, this program dives deeper into the 8 Shields curriculum.

Operating from its own forest base camp, the Teen Program runs independently from the younger Forest Fridays group. Over the course of the year, both groups come together for large‑scale games, field trips, family potlucks, and special visits from Elders and guest mentors.

Teen Participants Will:

Cultivate naturalist skills: awareness, mapping, tracking, and flora/fauna identification
Develop traditional wilderness practices: firemaking, shelter‑building, bird language, edible/medicinal plant recognition
Engage in handcrafts: basketry, cordage, felting, hide‑tanning, and more
Understand forest ecosystems and ecosystem caretaking
Foster confidence and leadership via team challenges, peer‑connection, and group process
Explore music, storytelling, and creative expression
Experience self‑reflection through solo nature wanderings, fire sits, and story circles
Participate in rite‑of‑passage experiences, including overnight stays in debris shelters
Join community events: family potlucks, field trips, elder visits
Practice reciprocity with the land and cultivate empathy, honesty, and mutual respect
Thrive in a multi‑age peer‑supported learning space

Course Information

Forest Fridays (Weekly)

DATES (2025-2026)
Fridays, 9:30am – 3pm
32 sessions:
September 5th 2025 – Dec 12th, 2025
Winter Break Dec 19th – Jan 23rd 2026
Return Jan 30th – March 13th
Spring Break March 20th and 27th
Return April 3rd – to June 5th 2026

LOCATION
Lila Music & Nature Centre

COST
$67/day. 32 sessions: $2176.00, plus $110.40 GST
A Non refundable $300 deposit is required to secure a place.

Additional reciprocity expense: We are honoured to have Qwiyahwultu-hw / Robert George Quw’utsun’ Elder & Thuitsiye / Pamela Bourque Quw’utsun Knowledge Keepers and Elders, back sharing their teachings, songs, games, stories and culture with us monthly throughout the year. We have been truly fortunate to have their support over for the last 4 years. We ask for minimum donation of $100 per child for Honorariums to help offer reciprocity and payment for their time, teachings and contribution to the Nature program. Thank you for your support.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Easy Monthly Payment Plans Available: Choose a plan that works for your family — available for both weekly and monthly program options.

• Use Your Homeschooling Funds: Lila Nature Programs are approved for homeschooling funds.

• Indigenous Student Scholarships: In the spirit of reconciliation and reparation, all Indigenous students accepted into our programs automatically receive a scholarship, independent of financial need.

Lila Music & Nature School Policies

These policies are designed to ensure the financial sustainability of our programs and to keep administrative processes efficient and equitable.
We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Cancellation Policy

We do our best to make our programs a great fit for every child. Because we plan carefully and commit resources well in advance, we have a clear cancellation policy to ensure we can deliver safe, high-quality experiences for all families.

30+ days before the start date: Full refund, minus deposit & registration fee.
15–29 days before the start date: 50% refund, minus deposit & registration fee.
14 days or less before the start date: No refunds or credits available.

Why this policy is necessary:
To create a safe, enriching program, we hire mentors in contract for the full year, prepare land use, purchase equipment, and complete wilderness training safety & compliance police checks before classes begin. These costs are non-refundable for us.

If Lila Music & Nature Centre cancels a program:

Full refund or transfer if cancelled due to low enrollment.
No refunds if cancellation is caused by inclement weather or other circumstances beyond our control.

We find that 98% of families are very happy with their program experience. Withdrawal is rare, but in those cases, we hope this policy helps explain how we balance individual needs with the commitments required to run our programs.

Payment Policy

To maintain smooth operations and fairness for all families, the following payment policies are in effect as of November 1, 2025:

Tuition Due Date:
Monthly tuition is due on the 1st of each month.
Late Fees:
A 7% late fee (minimum $5.00) will apply to any account overdue by more than seven (7) days. This fee recurs monthly until the outstanding balance is paid in full.
Credit Card Authorization:
All families must maintain a valid credit card authorization form on file.
Declined Payments:
A declined credit card is treated as an overdue account and will incur the same recurring late fee.
Administration Fee:
A $42.00 + GST administration fee will apply to accounts that do not comply with the studio’s standard payment procedures, such as requiring manual processing or additional administrative handling.

Conflict Resolution and Communication Policy

At Lila Music and Nature Centre, we value open, respectful communication and believe that most misunderstandings can be resolved through compassionate, in-person conversation. Our goal is always to maintain a positive and supportive environment for children, families, and mentors.

1. In-Person Conversations First

If a parent or guardian has a concern, question, or issue regarding their child’s experience, we invite them to speak directly with one of the mentors during the program day.
We encourage approaching these conversations with openness and curiosity, as our mentors are best positioned to offer insight into daily activities and interactions.

2. Collaborative Discussion

Our standard practice is to address concerns in person, including the child, mentor(s), and parent(s) involved. This helps ensure that everyone has the opportunity to share their perspective respectfully and that misunderstandings can be resolved in real time.

3. Written Communication

Lila Music and Nature Centre does not engage in conflict resolution through email or written correspondence. We have found that written exchanges can easily lead to further misunderstandings and take valuable time away from the educational and creative work of our team.

4. Scheduling a Meeting

Parents wishing to discuss a concern are welcome to request a brief meeting during program hours. These can be arranged directly with the lead mentor or through the director. Every effort will be made to meet promptly and collaboratively.

5. Our Commitment

We are committed to fostering a culture of mutual respect, empathy, and clarity in all interactions. Thank you for understanding and supporting our in-person communication approach—it allows us to stay grounded in community connection and attentive care for each child.

Activities Include:

Exploring Animals in the Wild

Identification of animal tracks and signs.
Locating wildlife based on track and sign.
Deciphering stories left by wildlife.
Deepening connection to animals.
Identifying bird calls and understanding their meanings.
Animal processing, respectful trapping, archery, and hide tanning.

Our Forest Ecosystem

Identification of flora and fauna in our ecosystem.
Land stewardship and caretaking.
Nature journaling and direct observation.
Natural intuition and awareness training.
Fostering ongoing relationships with place.
Experiencing nature as a friend and teacher.
Identification and sustainable harvest of wild foods and medicines.
Observation and communication with plants.

Wild-Crafting Skills

Forest shelter building, friction fire, and natural cordage.
Traditional cooking and food preservation.
Natural crafting: weaving, pottery, and jewelry.
Primitive bows
Tanning animal hides and making fish skin leather
Foraging herbs and medicine making
Candle making

Interpersonal Skills

Tools for positively working through challenges.
Interpersonal skills for group work.
Strengthening community and culture through music, storytelling, and council.
Practicing gratitude.
Celebrating unique gifts.
Honoring experiences as opportunities for growth.
Expanding comfort zones and embracing challenging experiences.
Participating in Rites of Competence and Rites of Passage.
Developing resilience, personal growth, and self-knowledge.
Communication skills, deep listening, and speaking from the heart.

Connection to Elders, Land and Place based learning

Fostering and Deepening relationships with our local Coast Salish, Quwut’sun Elders.
Learning Hul’qu’minum through Elders teachings, songs and stories.
Respecting First Nations culture, traditions, and history.
Exploring our role in decolonization and reconciliation.
Utilitarian and cultural uses of plants.
Learning plants, animals, trees and other nature elements in Hul’qu’minum

We are grateful to welcome the Raffi Foundation as a new supporter of our nature school community. Their generosity is helping strengthen our Elder Connection program, creating meaningful opportunities for intergenerational learning and relationship building. In addition, their support is helping make our programs more accessible by providing scholarship opportunities for youth from low income families. We are honored to partner with an organization that shares our commitment to connection, inclusivity, and a thriving future for all children