June 4, 2025
Kids work on constructing a shelter during a lesson at Portland Forest School.
June 4, 2025
Dear PFS Community!
Our year is barreling towards a great finale as we put the finishing touches on YEAR TWO of the Portland Forest School. Our teachers are working feverishly to support students in final projects, final assessments, and final joys of their current grade year. We honor those rising 1st graders, rising 5th graders, and rising High Schoolers!!!
Accreditation review decisions will be coming at the end of this month (we received a preview scoring chart and are feeling pretty confident!) and our parent Board of Directors, Family Council, and Admin team are working hard to complete all needed tasks. Our school is growing in leaps and bounds as we look to add staff with returning Teacher Madeline to a full Kindergarten class.
This week, our students took part in the annual PFS Scout Game, a team-based adventure designed to explore earth skill and test their nature awareness. Pictures and videos are shared at the end of this email.
Working in small groups called clans, students were tasked with completing a series of challenges that represent basic human needs—shelter, water, food, fire, and community. Each task on the “Survival List” was completed together, encouraging collaboration, creative problem-solving, and perseverance.
The game began with students creating unique clan names then setting off with maps, flags, and a shared mission to navigate the day’s activities while staying together at all times.
Throughout the day, students collected Life Stones, which symbolized awareness and presence. These could only be given or received through a whispered “I see you,” encouraging quiet observation and awareness with their surroundings.
Clans then claimed land—a space that could provide for their imagined survival needs—and planted a clan flag in their territory. They also searched for a hidden “winter cache” to help sustain them (think chocolate!).
Highlights from the Treasure List included:
Building shelter and fire (with one match!)
Identifying and tasting a wild edible “like a deer”
Crossing a fallen log and telling its story
Hiding from other clans, tracking animal prints, and mimicking the call of a Stellar’s Jay
The day ended with everyone returning to the fire pit to reflect and tell the “Story of the Day.” Students discussed questions like:
Did we find all we needed to survive?
How many Life Stones did we earn?
What was our clan’s greatest challenge?
This Scout Game not only connected students to the natural world—it also built resilience, teamwork, and joy in learning outdoors. We’re so proud of how each child showed up with curiosity, courage, and care.
Ian Abraham
Head of School
Portland Forest School
He, Him, His
PH: 503-662-8079
Teacher Jessa leads the K-2 pod through a field, to a new learning site.
Kids from Portland Forest School start working on building a shelter out of branches.