Nourished Oaks sprouted from the belief that the adaptive, holistic teaching methods at the heart of many home education philosophies should carry over into social learning times – in ways that are accessible to more children than typical class environments.
We believe that all children – whatever their abilities or quirks – deserve a sense of belonging. A place where they can simply be themselves.
We believe discovery and wonder are at the heart of learning.
We believe all children benefit from building friendships and working in community with peers who think, play, communicate, and move in diverse ways.
We believe families of children with support needs should be met first with a warm desire to understand and know them – with a spirit of exploring how they can be included.
We believe connection comes first, sensory needs are real, and some people learn best when they’re not sitting still.
We believe that, for many, a nature-based setting lowers stress, cultivates happiness, enhances focus, soothes the senses, and opens doors to growth.
We believe good learning involves the whole child, mind, body, and soul.
We are also eager to see more homeschool groups, church programs, and extracurriculars provide group learning opportunities for children with a wider range of backgrounds, skills, and needs. (Click here for resources that may help your group expand its circle).
About Jenni
Jenni Burks
founder + facilitator + tutor
I love watching kids flourish as their unique selves – and I love sharing my enthusiasm and joy in nature and the natural sciences!
I’m “just” an uncredentialed mama – not a licensed teacher or healthcare professional – who wants to cultivate a unique, inclusive homeschool community.
As a veteran home educator of four (three grown, one currently elementary age) and brand-new grandmother, I have over 20 years of experience teaching and supporting children with varied neurotypes and support needs, including autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, anxiety, selective mutism, and more. My teaching and co-teaching experience includes nature-based classes, church children’s programs, sewing, art, and a wide range of academic subjects. I enjoy adapting curricula and activities so they “work” for everyone. I also love engaging learners through play, imagination, and special interests.
I live in Waynesboro, Virginia, with my husband, daughter, and our adorable puppy, Sunny Days.
Our Story
Nourished Oaks began with a simple need: a social learning community that truly worked for our family.
We’d been homeschooling for over a decade and had participated in a variety of homeschool groups and extracurricular opportunities. Overall, these worked well for our family at the time – including those of our children who had a range of neurotypes, learning challenges, and support needs.
However, as our journey continued, it became clear that the structure and sensory environment of traditional groups weren’t a good fit for all of us. For some, they’re simply overwhelming.
We longed for a place where community learning could happen in a setting that supported regulation, inclusion, and joy. We also began to notice that being outdoors created a sense of calm and openness that made learning possible. Many of our best homeschool moments happened outside—with read-alouds under the trees, lessons on a blanket in the grass, and discoveries along the trail.
We began looking for nature-based homeschool groups, hoping they’d be a better fit. We discovered a gem of a group just as we were preparing to move. It was not only nature-based, it also had support woven into the whole program. The setting, program, supports, love, and inclusion there created one of the most joyful and supportive communities we had ever experienced. Sadly, though, after our move the commute was unsustainable, and the many wonderful homeschool groups in our area weren’t a good fit for our needs.
Inspired by the impact of the former group, and motivated by the desire to build community closer to home, we decided to create something new.
In 2023, Nourished Oaks was born. What started as a Tuesday outdoor homeschool enrichment group has since expanded to include indoor interest-based clubs, park days, and moms-only gatherings.
Our mission is to cultivate deep roots of belonging and grow strong, sheltering branches of community where families are empowered and children flourish together.
Nourished Oaks: nature based homeschool group 