How do children get to and from your program everyday?

Most children have an arranged "moto" driver that is trusted by their family. The motos are drivers in Las Terranas wearing the yellow vests and driving the motorcycles. They are what many countries might consider a taxi service. Right now we have six drivers that work with our students and families for arrival and dismissal daily. Other families own or rent cars, quads or tuk tuks. All transportation costs are paid for by individual families and vary in pricing. Let us know if you would like help organizing transportation.

​

Where do families stay when in Las Terranas?

Families usually stay near the beaches of Popy, Ballenas or Bonita. Those areas are best to access the town, supermarkets, and restaurants...and most importantly playgrounds and ice cream shops! The worldschooling hub is right outside Las Terranas in the hills before Coson.

​

What can I expect to pay for accommodations?

This depends on low or high season. Roughly, you can find a place during low season (May-October) from around $800 and up. Of course you can find something for $3000, $4000 and up in a beachfront condo with stunning amenities. During the holiday season you can expect to pay double near Christmas and triple during Easter Week.

​

We always recommend using Airbnb or booking.com to book your accommodations. If you would like to find a few in your budget and send them to us, we are happy to advise you if we know anything about that one.

We have a few that we recommend but they are very popular and often book quickly. They are on Punta Popy and in the middle range pricing.

 

Do we all stay together in our accommodations or nearby each other during camps and the semesters?

Families have very different budgets and levels of comfort when traveling. For this reason, we do not offer a group lodging area or areas where we all book together for accommodations. We use our Children’s Garden as the gathering center for families.

​

Do you have session dates or can I enroll based on my travel plans?

Each month we have a theme or focus we are learning about. You are welcome to enroll your child around your travel dates and we will help them jump right in when they arrive. 

​

What excursions are included each session?

Island Food and Culture Hub September 4- September 29:

• -4 Weeks of M-F Drop Off Program 9-1

• -Fruit Market

• -Coffee and Cacao Farm

• -In Home Cooking Lessons for the family

• -Cheese making Farm Tour (includes child/1 adult)

 

Island Fun and Sports Hub October 16-November 10

• -4 Weeks of M-F Drop Off Program 9-1

• -Fruit Market

• -Sunset Horseback Riding

• -Yoga class on the beach (includes child/1 adult)

• -Hike to local waterfall with lunch & guides (includes child/1 adult)

 

History and Culture of the Island Hub November 27 –December 22

• -4 Weeks of M-F Drop Off Program 9-1

• -Fruit Market

• -Walking Tour of Historical Sites in the Capital

• -Los Tres Ojos Cave Tour in the Capital (includes child/1 adult)

• -In Home Cooking Lessons for the family

• All activities in the capital take place the weekend before the program begins. All families should arrive to Santo Domingo Friday, November 24 for the tours. Transportation to the capital, to Las Terrenas or to any excursion is not included.

 

Return of the Humpback Whales & Island Life Hub Part 1 Jan 8- Feb16

• -6 Weeks of M-F Drop Off Program 9-1

• -Humpback Whale Boat Trip with Island Visit

• -In Home Family Cooking Lessons

• -Fruit market

 

Return of the Humpback Whales & Island Life Hub Pt. 2 Feb 18-Mar 29

• -6 Weeks of M-F Drop Off Program 9-1

• -In Home Family Cooking Lessons (different meal from part 1)

• -Cacao Farm

• -Humpback Whale Boat Trip with Island Visit (if you have done part one, you can substitute whale trip for hike to local waterfall)

​

Can my child attend for a short time while we are on vacation?

Yes! We are a world schooling program that allows short term enrollment! Check out our tuition pages to see discounts for multiple weeks/ months.

​

What language are your main lessons taught in?

-Our main lessons are taught in English by native speakers from the United States. Spanish and French lessons are taught by native speakers from the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Students are encouraged to use all three languages when trying to communicate.

​

What languages do most of the children speak?

-Our students come from all over the world. They speak English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Korean at the moment. Children communicate easily with each other through play, smiles, hand motions and hugs!

​

Are your teachers certified teachers?

We have teachers will all different experiences. Check out our bios on our "About Us" page for a more thorough answer to our experiences. A short answer is that Amanda Dixon is a certified teacher with 20 years of experience in New York State, USA. She holds a certification in Elementary and Special Education. Solomon Dixon is a professional writer, musician and dancer with 20 years of experience in the field. Before moving to the DR, he was involved in teaching workshops to students in local schools, as well as offering professional development for the teaching staff.

​

What ages are your students?

We are enrolling students ages 4 to 12 years old.

​

Do you offer sibling discounts?

Yes. Your second child is 5% off the price of tuition. Contact us directly for special pricing on large families.

​

What are your hours?

We are open from 9:00 am until 1:00pm for our educational program. Our gardens are open Monday through Friday.

 

Can you help us complete homeschooling paperwork for our country?

Yes. We absolutely can complete paper work for your home country and provide documentation of your child's academic performance while they are with us.

​

Do you put children into grade levels?

No. We teach children based on their levels and readiness to learn. We do many whole group activities that are differentiated by ability and readiness. While some children are extremely advanced in art and music, they may struggle with reading. While some excel in math, they may struggle with balance and coordination. All activities are individually designed for what each child is ready to learn next.

​

Do children bring their own lunches and snacks?

Yes. Due to the variety of cultures and childhood likes and dislikes for different foods, our students bring their own snacks and lunches everyday, 

​

What type of schooling program is Forever Wild Children's Garden?

We are a world schooling option for families looking for alternative options to standard sitting in desks and at tables all day. We consider ourselves a homeschooling collective with a certified teacher and professional musician, dancer and writer who provide the instruction. Our students are able to learn at a more rapid pace than traditional schooling as they do not need to be based by grade level. We offer many activities for play and exploration while children are not with an instructor.

 

Can my children learn to speak Spanish during their time with you?

Yes. We have native speakers in all three languages on staff. Children will learn common phrases and correct pronunciation  with our staff. Our language program is not based on worksheets and paperwork but on speaking and listening in real life situations. To note, this is not a Spanish language immersion program. Children are exposed to basic Spanish phrases through play, games, cooking, and more. 

​

How can we pay?

We accept PayPal, Venmo as well as a stripe account. Stripe allows families to pay by credit card (which is awesome if you get points!)

 

Your child’s spot is secure once payment is complete.

 

What does a typical day look like at Forever Wild?

9am arrival and free play in the gardens

9:30 am morning circle, songs, breathwork, qi gong

10:00 am morning learning activity based around session theme

10:45am free play in the gardens

11:15 am lunch, snacks, social time

12pm afternoon learning activity based around session theme

12:45pm farewell games, stories, circle

1pm pick up

 

This schedule is a sample schedule and can be flexible at any time based on the children’s interests, questions, etc. At times, our art activities or games may last longer than we have built into our schedule. We enjoy building fires and roasting marshmallows on Fridays and on hot days we love water games! This schedule is solely for families to see a sample structure of our days.

 

Do the children bring their own lunches and food?

Yes! Children bring their own food for snacks and lunch time. We eat everyday around 11. We have a refrigerator, stove and microwave available for use.

 

How many children are in your program?

This depends on high or low season. We typically have between 12-20 children. We have supported larger groups that travel together and that can be arranged ahead of time if there is adequate space. The children range in age from 4 and a half to usually 11 or 12. At times we have teens looking to thrive in a low pressure social environment and are offered leadership roles and or an oasis from normal teen social environments.

​

Can you accommodate children with a neurodiversity?

This question is asked a lot. The answer is a case by case yes or no. Please reach out to let us know about your child and we will be happy to discuss options.

 

What developmental milestones must my child meet to participate?

Our program and the environment is set up to support children that demonstrate the following developmental milestones:

-has a disposition of agreeability towards adults and other children

-understands boundaries of personal space and items (age appropriate)

-willingness to participate in group activities and discussions (age appropriate)

-can remain safely with a group

-can attend to a task (sometimes not of their choosing) for a sustained amount of time

-is able to be away from parent/parents for the time at our center

-can use the toilet and feed themselves independently

​