Hemlock Hill Academy
An integral part of our philosophy at Hemlock Hill is the belief that children deserve ample time outdoors to settle into their environment and get to know their surroundings.
Outdoor learning has been known for mental, physical, and emotional health and what better way to nourish growing minds than to provide experiences with nature on a consistent basis.
Students at Hemlock Hill take education outside when possible and can spend up to 100% of the day learning among nature.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide the home-schooled child a unique learning environment immersed in nature. We aim to utilize a child's innate desire to explore their surroundings and empower their voice. It is our goal to create nourishing friendships and foster a lifelong love for learning and understanding of nature.
Our Learning Philosophy
For a well rounded educational experience at Hemlock Hill, we’ve created an approach that we call the S.N.A.I.L philosophy.
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Science
With hands on activities and a notebooking style of documentation, our students are introduced to applying the scientific method in a fun and engaging way. Involving children in research can be highly beneficial for their cognitive and emotional development.
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Nature
Children are naturally curious about the world around them. Through nature studies, we are able to make connections to the local forests, watersheds, plants, animals, fungi, and more! Concentrating on seasonal topics helps children feel more in tune with nature.
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Art
Our students create artwork to display their understanding of the current Science or Nature topics. Using this method inspires a deeper understanding of the subject. Regular art projects also increase creativity and exploration of color, shapes, and mediums.
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Independence
In a forest school setting children are encouraged to take healthy risks and gain confidence. Our students learn personal responsibility of gear and getting dressed appropriately for the weather. We build in public speaking to classmates that helps to form an individual “voice” among the group.
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Life Skills
When children are given the opportunity to be involved in community tasks it builds pride, confidence, and value. Our students are learning life skills such as cooking, weaving, team building, foraging, knot tying, catching crayfish, fire building, and more!
Founding Hemlock Hill Academy…
In May of 2022 Hemlock Hill Academy came together when two families knew they could do more for their children by homeschooling. It started with children playing in a park and evolved into mapping out what we wanted and how to get there. After many late nights and hours of discussions it started to come together.
First a wonderful facility was found. The Church of Epiphany. This facility has given so many wonderful memories. Every year is different and brings new subjects and new programs. Most importantly Hemlock Hill is helping home schooled children make friends and enjoy spending time outside.
In 2025 Jenny Kern made a hard decision to step back and concentrate on her own family life.
Sara Springer has continued Hemlock Hill Academy and hopes to for many years to come.