Tuition Assistance Policy
At Forest Floor, we believe that every child should have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of nature-based education and mentoring, regardless of financial circumstances. We work hard to make our programs accessible and are dedicated to supporting families who may need financial assistance.
To this end, we offer assistance of up to 50% of tuition costs through two possible avenues: work trade and scholarships.
Work Trade
Our work trade assistance allows families to exchange their time and skills for a reduction in tuition fees. This system creates mutual investment in our shared community, which Forest Floor values very highly. Work trade can contribute up to 50% of the total tuition cost, depending on the number of hours and tasks performed / services offered. Work trade is a good fit for families who need long term support.
We have a limited list of duties that can be exchanged (van maintenance and cleaning, occasional administrative work, events set up and break down, office cleaning, landscaping work) but we really value the specific skills and interests of our community members. It is important that parents actively contribute by proposing meaningful work trade opportunities based on their skills, resources, and time.
When parents take initiative in suggesting ideas, the work trade program remains mutually beneficial and responsive to the evolving needs of our community.
Scholarships
In addition to work trade opportunities, we offer need-based scholarships that can cover up to 50% of the tuition cost for a season of programs or a week of summer camps. Scholarships are awarded on a sliding scale, determined by family income and other individual factors. Scholarships are designed to support families short-term and are usually granted on a seasonal basis.
Families interested in applying for a scholarship are required to complete a financial aid application, which you can find here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Before filling out this application be sure to first register for any program or camp for which you are applying for Tuition Assistance. Programs/camps often fill quickly and it takes time for us to address all applications. After having registered with your deposit, if the assistance amount offered does not meet your family’s needs, we will issue a full refund including the deposit. If the camp/program is already full, sign-up for the waitlist and then fill out this application.