Cottonwood Rose Learning Community brings together project-based academics, outdoor immersion, mentorship and home learning in Black Creek, at the north end of the Comox Valley.
The program is stewarded by the Cottonwood Rose Farm, Forest & Nature Learning Society, in partnership with Heartwood Learning Communities through Navigate NIDES / School District 71, alongside nature education partners Hand in Hand Nature Education and Danu Folk School.
Together, we are building a connected learning experience: one where academic foundations, practical skills, ecological literacy and community life support one another.
Academics, adventure and a place to belong
Our Learning Cohorts
Children participate in three mixed-age cohorts. Each offers a smaller community of belonging within the wider program, with learning shaped around the children’s developmental stages, interests and needs.
Seeds
K - Grade 2
Wonder, play and foundations
Our youngest learners build relationships, explore through play and develop early literacy and numeracy. Stories, songs, sensory experiences and time outdoors invite curiosity and growing confidence.
Sprouts
Grades 3-5
Curiosity, skills and collaboration
Sprouts deepen their academic foundations while exploring questions, developing practical skills and working with others. Projects and experiences on the land offer meaningful opportunities to investigate, create and contribute.
Saplings
Grades 6-8
Inquiry, responsibility and contribution
Our older learners are supported to develop greater independence, deepen their thinking and take on meaningful challenges. Mentorship, practical projects and opportunities to contribute help connect their learning with the wider world.
Our Weekly Rhythm
Tuesday–Thursday
Learning at Cottonwood Rose
Our on-site days bring together focused academic learning, outdoor exploration, creative work, practical projects and time in community.
Children learn in indoor and outdoor spaces, with experiences shaped by the seasons, curriculum goals and the questions emerging from their learning.
Monday and Friday
Learning at Home
Home learning is an integral part of the program. Families continue with literacy, numeracy, reading, projects and other activities connected to their child’s learning.
This rhythm gives children opportunities to practise skills, follow interests and develop projects beyond their days at Cottonwood Rose. It also asks families to make regular time and provide support for learning at home.
How the Learning Connects
BC-certified teachers through Heartwood Learning Communities support children’s progress through the BC curriculum, including literacy, numeracy, science and social studies.
Nature educators bring ecological knowledge, outdoor skills, craft, storytelling and seasonal experiences. Teachers and nature educators work together to create connections between these areas, so that learning introduced in one setting can be explored and developed in another.
A question from the forest might become a research project. A building task might invite measurement, planning and written instructions. Focused reading and writing can help children investigate their interests and share what they discover.
Children need both direct teaching and opportunities to apply their learning. Our aim is to make those experiences reinforce one another.
A Partnership with Families
Home learning works best when families and educators share an understanding of what a child is practising, exploring and working toward.
Educators guide learning priorities and help families connect home activities with the broader program. Families provide time, encouragement and support, and share observations and examples of learning to help educators understand each child’s progress.
Home learning can include focused academic practice, reading together, creative work, practical activities and project continuation. The balance will vary with a child’s age, needs and learning plan.
This is a blended program, and the family’s role in learning is an essential part of the model.
Participating in Community Life
Family participation is an important part of Cottonwood Rose. The community is strengthened by the skills, care and contributions of the people who belong to it.
Families contribute through volunteer roles, PAC involvement, mentorship, events, community care and stewardship of the land and learning spaces.
As the program develops, we are working toward greater consistency, stability and operational sustainability through increased staffing, clearer systems and reduced reliance on in-class volunteering. This is a direction we are working toward; family participation remains part of how the program operates today.
Before enrolling, families should review the current participation expectations and consider how both home learning and community commitments will fit into their lives.
Could Cottonwood Rose Be a Fit for Your Family?
Our program invites families who value academic learning, time outdoors, meaningful relationships and an active role in their children’s education.
We welcome questions about the learning model, home days, participation and the support your child may need. A clear, honest conversation helps families and educators understand whether the program is a good fit.
Explore our enrolment information for current availability, fees, commitments and how to apply.