Future Ready Learning

At The Forest School Online, we believe education should be driven by curiosity, real-world application, and personal mastery—not memorization for a test. Instead of following a rigid curriculum, learners design their own Badge Plans, take on independent projects, and work toward earning micro-credentials that showcase their skills.

What makes our approach truly different? Learning happens anywhere and is built around real-world impact. Whether learners are coding apps, launching businesses, conducting scientific research, or creating films, their work is authentic, purposeful, and shared with the world—not buried in a classroom.

Each learner’s journey is custom-built in real time, adapting to their unique interests, talents, and goals. Through Socratic discussions, mentorship, and a flexible credentialing system, learners build a Mastery Transcript—a personalized showcase of their achievements that tells a compelling story to colleges, employers, and beyond.

Projects designed for the real-world

Learners choose from a library of projects that incorporate deep learning, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. They design an end product that will help a real user or group of users, and share that product publicly. Learners can also design their own project on any topic, skill, experience, or program; we provide the learning framework that guides them how to turn any learning into school credit. Most of the best, authentic learning happens outside of school, and we help families turn the things they are already doing into incredible learning experiences.

Whether a learner is passionate about coding, cooking, crochet, baseball, travel, or saving the sea turtles, we can dial it up and turn that hobby or passion into a four week to year long project that allows them to immerse themselves into what they love in a way that’s meaningful to them.

Hear firsthand from students & staff

Students complete challenges and earn badges to show their growth