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Nature Explorers
weekly outdoor enrichment
for school-age children
2025-2026 Program Year
Enrollment Options & Locations
REGISTRATION OPENS 3/10/25
(follow links below to register)
Contact us if you'd like to schedule an observation day during the Spring 2025 semester
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2025-26 Tuesday Nature Explorers at Abbey Nature Preserve *FULL* join the waitlist
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2025-26 Wednesday Nature Explorers at Carolina Beach State Park *FULL* join the waitlist
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2025-26 Thursday Nature Explorers at Abbey Nature Preserve *FULL* join the waitlist
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2025-26 Friday Nature Explorers at Brunswick Nature Park *FULL* join the waitlist
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Program Year
9:00am - 2:00pm
September 30, 2025 - May 22, 2026
*See calendar for holidays and breaks.
Mandatory site orientations will take place the week of
September 10-12, 2025
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To register, there is a $100 enrollment fee that goes towards the tuition, plus a $60 supply fee.
A sibling discount of 10% is available at checkout. There are two payment plans available:
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Pay in full, due at checkout
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Pay in 8 installments: starting September 5th 2025 with the last installment due on April 5th, 2026​​
Participants Will Receive
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Three Pines Project nature journal and pencil
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3P T-shirt
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Fiber art project
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Woodworking project
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Plant product
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Child-made group field guide
*all projects will be sent home after the student showcase at the end of the program year
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Tuition Assistance:
Tuition assistance requests are submitted through Brightwheel after enrollment.
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requests due July 1st
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tuition assistance awarded August 1st
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Dependent on funds available
Nature Explorers Participant Requirements
Nature Explorers are busy and on the go! We ask that caregivers practice with their children to meet the below milestones before registering for the Nature Explorers program. This ensures facilitators may focus their full attention on safety, community building, and hands-on skills activities.​
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Child is able to toilet and change their clothes independently
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Child is able to pack and carry their backpack with required gear
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Child is able to open water and food containers independently
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Child can zip and button their own packs and clothes
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Child is able to communicate their needs
If your child is not quite ready, Nature Wanderers or Forest Families is a great way to start getting them comfortable with a little extra support!
Enrollment Timeline
1
Open Enrollment
Enrollment opens to our currently enrolled families the week before open enrollment.
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Our open enrollment window is from March 10th, 2025 - September 18th 2025
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Site orientations are the week of September 8th-12th.
If registering after the site Orientation you and your explorer will need to arrange a meeting with a facilitator for a one-on-one orientation.
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Scholarship Requests
Three Pines Project hopes to make our program accessible and realize cost can be a barrier.
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Since 2016 we have provided over $30,000 in tuition assistance. In 2024 we provided $2,700 with 17% of our Nature Explorers receiving tuition assistance.
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We also offer a 10% sibling discount (available at checkout).
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Late Adds
Explorers wishing to join our program after September 18th:
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Schedule a trial day if space is available
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Watch the orientation video with their child
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Dependent on space and is up to facilitator discretion
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No late adds after December 5th, 2025
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Participants on the waitlist will have priority should a spot open.