We had the good fortune of connecting with Erica Hermsen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erica, what do you attribute your success to?
Community. We’ve all heard the saying, “it takes a village,” and it’s no different in starting and growing your own business. I’ve met many entrepreneurs whose pride got in the way of allowing others inside their circle to help. I don’t believe any one person knows it all, including myself, so it’s been incredible to collaborate with those who have more experience in certain areas to provide advice, support, and services. By welcoming others to walk along with you in your journey, you’ll have more people who have “bought in” to your idea and want to see you succeed. I recommend calling out specific collaborators and/or creating a Board of Advisors to show that your brand not only has the backing of your community, but also pulls ideas and innovations from a diverse set of experienced individuals – adding even more legitimacy to your company.

What should our readers know about your business?
EverWild Forest School is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides preschool, kindergarten, and homeschool enrichment programs in a 100% outdoor classroom along the banks of the Boise River in southwestern Idaho. EverWild started as a dream of mine when I entered the workforce as an environmental educator 15 years ago and noticed a general disconnect between children and themselves, their community, and nature. My observations motivated me to reflect on the state of conventional education, particularly the trend of “academification” of early childhood and its impact on physical, mental, and emotional health. With my understanding of the forest school pedagogy and experience with place-based education, I believed a combination of both approaches would offer an anecdote to many of these issues while also improving community engagement and environmental stewardship.

Although I knew I’d eventually open a forest school, things were kicked into high gear when the COVID-19 pandemic started. Concerned families were looking for a safe and developmentally-supportive way for their children to socialize and continue their education during the lockdowns and school closures. I decided this was my moment. I opened registration in April 2020 hoping for at least 24 students to enroll. Just five months later, EverWild Forest School’s inaugural school year started – with over 150 students enrolled and 28 teachers on payroll! With the incredible growth and unique challenges of a new business in the midst of a pandemic, I learned a great deal in that first year.

Now three years in, EverWild has grown into one of the largest schools of its kind in the country with nearly 200 students enrolled across five locations in Idaho’s Treasure Valley. We’re proud to be the gold-standard in nature-based education with our innovative teaching approach, renowned curriculum, top-notch safety and mitigation policies, and inclusive programming. In addition, we added a brand new program to our offerings for the 2022-2023 School Year: full-day outdoor kindergarten (the first in the state!). In addition to programming, EverWild Forest School is unique in the partnerships created within the community. Incredible organizations like 4H, The Peregrine Fund, Snow School, Golden Eagle Audubon Society, Boise State University, and dozens more work with us to provide engaging enrichment opportunities through guest appearances and workshops in our classes.

Running EverWild Forest School has been an absolute joy for me, and I’m excited to continue nurturing curious minds, building community, and connecting children to nature as the organization continues to grow!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When my friends visit Boise, I love taking them on a float trip down the river (summer), biking along the Greenbelt (fall), skiing at Bogus Basin Mountain (winter), or hiking in the foothills (spring). I also love the local foodie scene in downtown Boise with delicious spots like Tupelo Honey, Juniper, Mai Thai, and many more.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Heather Lee, Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children

Website: www.everwildforestschool.org

Instagram: instagram.com/everwildforestschool

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/everwild-forest-school/

Facebook: @everwildforestschool

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6DFRmhIGUKdULcQImrKRCw/featured

Other: TikTok: @everwildforestschool

Image Credits
Taylor Wold Kaelan Young

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