Just outside Blake’s Early Learning Center in Hopkins is our school forest: more than four acres where students learn, play and explore nature.

In this first chapter, Head of School Chris Torino talks with two teachers who know the forest well about how it shapes students’ learning and well-being:

• Ali Clare, third grade teacher and school forest site coordinator. She leads Forest Protectors, an after-school club where students in grades 2–5 help care for the forest.
• Kate Wolff, first grade teacher in the Early Learning Center, who brings her students outdoors to learn as often as possible to instill in them a love of nature.

Later, Chris takes a walk through the forest with fourth grade teacher Nick Seme.

Every school has a story. This is ours. The Blake Story is a podcast from The Blake School, a Pre-K-12 independent school in Hopkins and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Learn more at blakeschool.org

Our theme music is A Burst of Light by Blue Dot Sessions.