Where children
wander in wonder.

  • A school where each child can reach their emotional, social, and academic potential.

  • "The nature-based focus employed by faculty allowed my daughter to channel her boundless energy at the same time she made academic connections and solved challenges."

    – Parent

  • Fern Hill's student-centered approach honors the centrality of play in learning, fosters a relationship with nature, and allows each child to wander in wonder.

  • "While carrying out projects with his peers, my son developed essential social and emotional skills, while also learning to work with others, to cooperate, and to advocate for his own needs in a constructive way."

    – Parent

Teaching Philosophy

Fern Hill takes a whole-child approach to learning that supports students’ academic, social, and emotional development. Attention to the whole child ensures children develop an intrinsic love of learning while also meeting the Standards Aligned System established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Nurture in Nature

Outdoor learning allows children increased opportunity to think critically about the risks and benefits of their actions, to overcome adversities, and to build resilience in a physically and emotionally safe manner. Nurturing a relationship with the outdoors early in life grounds children in negotiating the environmental and social challenges we face as a society.

“An environment-based education movement — at all levels of education — will help students realize that school isn’t supposed to be a polite form of incarceration, but a portal to the wider world.”

— Richard Louv

Whether you are interested in becoming part of our learning community or want to know more about how you can support our mission, Fern Hill wants to hear from you.

Want to learn more?