It was back in 2022, in beautiful El Paredón, Guatemala, that a chat with a new friend became an aha moment that forever shifted the trajectory of our founder.
Fast forward to 2026 and that initial spark has become a reality, Back to Nature!
We’re so excited to have you join our community!
Our founder, Roxanne Baer, is a long time outdoor-enthusiast. Growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, she developed an early love for nature and all the fun and adventure it holds. She spent her early years caving with the Virginia Highlands Grotto where her dad was a Project Caver and in college picked up a love for rock climbing that eventually led to pursuing a certification as a PCGI Top Rope Guide. Much like a kid herself, she has always enjoyed working with the younger generation, opening their eyes to new possibilities, adventures, and encouraging them to think outside of the box. When she stumbled upon Tinkergarten and Forest Schools, it was like everything clicked into place.
Roxanne’s formal training includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a focus in World Music from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is also a Licensed Massage Therapist with a current practice in Virginia Beach, and a Virginia-Certified Emergency Medical Technician. She has completed her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training and Social Emotional Facilitator Certification from Breathe for Change and is continuing on with an additional 300 hours this year which includes a Trauma-Informed Teaching Certification. She is also certified as a Forest School Teacher and Director through the Forest School Training Institute and trained as a Tinkergarten Teacher. She is the Marketing Chair of a local non-profit Nature Matters. She also trains in Irish Dance and Brazilian Capoeira.
The Heart Behind Our Mission
Back To Nature Forest School exists to support the whole child — not just academically, but emotionally, socially, physically, creatively, and spiritually. We believe childhood is meant to be lived through movement, imagination, exploration, connection, and meaningful experiences in the natural world.
Modern children often spend much of their time indoors, highly scheduled, and disconnected from nature, practical life skills, and mixed-age community. Our forest school creates space for children to slow down, play deeply, solve real problems, build confidence, and develop a strong inner foundation that supports them both in school and throughout life.
At Back To Nature Forest School, we are not simply teaching outdoor skills — we are helping children develop the confidence, resilience, empathy, and sense of belonging that will support them for the rest of their lives.
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In our program, children learn through direct experience rather than constant instruction. Climbing logs, building forts, balancing on uneven ground, using tools, caring for living things, and navigating social situations, all strengthen brain development in powerful ways.
These experiences help children develop:
Executive functioning skills such as focus, planning, memory, problem-solving, and self-control
Emotional regulation by learning to manage frustration, fear, excitement, disappointment, and conflict in real-world situations
Resilience and confidence through healthy risk-taking and overcoming challenges independently
Creativity and critical thinking through open-ended play and imaginative exploration
Communication and cooperation skills by working with children of different ages in community-centered activities
Body awareness and coordination through climbing, balancing, running, digging, carrying, crafting, and outdoor movement
Attention and calmness through regular exposure to natural environments, mindfulness, and sensory-rich experiences
Research consistently shows that time in nature can improve concentration, reduce stress, support emotional wellbeing, and increase motivation to learn. Children who regularly engage in outdoor free play often demonstrate stronger problem-solving abilities, greater independence, and healthier social development.
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Although our approach may look different from a traditional classroom, the skills children develop at forest school directly support academic success.
Children strengthen:
Listening and comprehension through storytelling and group discussions
Early math and science concepts through nature exploration, measuring, counting, observing patterns, weather, and ecosystems
Literacy skills through oral storytelling, journaling, songs, and curiosity-driven learning
Attention span and persistence through meaningful hands-on activities
Self-confidence in learning by discovering that mistakes are part of growth
Most importantly, children develop a positive relationship with learning itself. Instead of learning from pressure or fear of failure, they learn through curiosity, engagement, and real-life experience.
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Our goal is not only to prepare children for the next grade level, but to help prepare them for life as capable, grounded human beings.
We want children to leave our program knowing:
How to work through challenges instead of avoiding them
How to communicate respectfully and resolve conflict
How to care for themselves, others, and the earth
How to trust their creativity and ideas
How to be part of a community
How to slow down, observe, and connect deeply with the world around them
We aim to create an environment where children feel safe enough to be themselves, supported enough to grow, and empowered enough to discover their own strengths.