Community Leaders never walk through leadership alone. Each community has a team of two leaders to help support and hold each other accountable when directing the group.
We will provide you with training, educational tools, access to special resources, a leaders manual, and guidelines to start and grow your community.
Our leadership guide
Community Leaders never walk through leadership alone. Each community has a team of two leaders to help support and hold each other accountable when directing the group.
We will provide you with training, educational tools, access to special resources, a leaders manual, and guidelines to start and grow your community.
Our leadership guide will cover everything to get you started and organize your group. You have access to Community Leader support services where we will help answer questions.
Being a Barefoot University Community Leader will benefit you more than you can imagine. There’s something special about being in charge of your child’s education and becoming a Leader will ensure you are part of a community to help you along the way.
Community Leaders receive free BU merch, BU store discounts, anniversary gifts, and more!
Community Leaders must:
One of the most common questions we get from potential leaders is, “do I have to teach?” The answer is no. You facilitate the activities and encourage participation.
At Barefoot University, we believe that parents are their child's teacher. Leaders show up, strew the supplies, and just make the activity available for families. We are la
One of the most common questions we get from potential leaders is, “do I have to teach?” The answer is no. You facilitate the activities and encourage participation.
At Barefoot University, we believe that parents are their child's teacher. Leaders show up, strew the supplies, and just make the activity available for families. We are laid back and child led.
Leaders have access to activity instructions and pointers they can share with their families before forest school. There is almost always minimal instruction the day of.
We also want our leaders to enjoy doing the activity with their own child(ren), so we aim to keep it simple for everyone.
It’s free! BU provides most of the activity supplies with the occasional requests for families to bring something from home that they likely already have. (ie: scissors, pencils, etc.)
Yes, we are a 501(c)3 non profit. All of our groups and volunteers are insured.
Start by filling out an application and doing the background check below. Once you and your co-leader have completed this step, you will receive an email to schedule a phone interview. After that you will fill out your leader agreement and park information and you’re done!
We try to spread communities out to reach other families. If you’re wanting a group in the same area as another, we will asses the current group enrollment, location, city, etc. to see if the area can support another group. Generally we suggest parks be spread out by about 10 miles in urban areas and 30 mins in rural areas.
We only open a group with two leaders. Other families are encouraged to help out in your community each week.
We recommend posting about BU in local mom or homeschooling groups and just asking if anyone wants to start a group with you. Several of our leaders started this way and it’s been a success.
Share our posts adverting enrollment, open house events, and yearly rhythms in local homeschool or co-op groups and on your personal page. Let people know about BU when families ask about nature, enrichment, science, or social groups.
Communities may meet at city, state, county, or other free-to-use parks, trailheads, beaches, green spaces, etc. All groups must obtain permission from the place you wish to meet at. For liability reasons, Barefoot University groups can not meet on private property.
We require a team of two volunteers to launch a group.
Applications will only be held for two weeks. DO NOT APPLY unless you have a co-leader also completing the application. Please complete your background check with your application. (below)
Once your team is in place and applications and background checks have been received. You will receive an email to schedule an interview.
Login and complete your annual background check. It is $6 to complete and we will be automatically notified when it’s done. Do not do this step until you’re instructed to do so.
Complete your leadership agreement. Please DO NOT do this step until you have been interviewed and accepted.
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