REconnect Nature School

We are Jaime Peterson and Rebecca Westbrook Toker, two gals who have been in education and social work for about 20 years each. REconnect Nature School is a response to some gaps that we've seen in the Chattanooga educational landscape in recent years:

Forest School Programs don't exist for students after elementary school.

Private programs are often cost-exclusionary.

Outdoor programs aren't reaching special populations, and many times unintentionally work to make the outdoors less accessible.

Educational programs of all kinds overlook the needs of kids who have neurodivergency and/or learning differences.

Alternative education is not easily available for all populations.

We were overwhelmed by these gaps, and we made a decision to see what we could do to bridge some of them. So, we've created a holistic, STEAM-focused, nature-based program that centers around those concerns. We believe our kids are capable, creative, engaged learners who can achieve incredible things in a community that is thoughtfully facilitated.

Our approach to education is rooted in the belief that by combining academics with real-world applications, we can prepare our students not only to excel academically but also to become compassionate stewards of this world. Through innovative projects that blend creativity with conservation, students develop a holistic understanding of the interconnectedness between themselves and the world around them.

Join us at REconnect Nature School, where we dare to dream of a brighter future for education—one where imagination, innovation, and sustainability converge to create a truly transformative learning experience.