FIELDBROOK, Humboldt County — October 30, 2026. California’s official school directory now includes an active private elementary program called Field to Forest on Fieldbrook Road. The California Department of Education lists the organization as an active private K–4 school, with a recorded February 17, 2026 opening date. The operator describes its day-to-day offering as outdoor homeschool enrichment for children ages 5–9 on a small organic farm.
These two descriptions should be read together, not used to suggest that it is a new public school, a district-run campus or a state-accredited substitute for every family’s instructional obligations. The CDE directory entry is a school-registration record, while the provider’s website explains its actual program.
Where and what is Field to Forest?
The program is listed at 3628 Fieldbrook Road in Humboldt County. Its website describes a 10-acre organic farm setting where small mixed-age groups take part in guided outdoor play, nature observation, creative activities and project-based learning. Staff say much of the day is spent outside in a range of weather conditions.
The state education directory lists director Nina Transue as the school’s administrator and gives the California school code 12 62794 6173132. The directory associates the site’s geographic district boundary with Fieldbrook Elementary, but this private entity is not the same as the public Fieldbrook Elementary School.
What are the hours and participation options?
According to the operator’s enrollment information, the program operates Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., from September until mid-June. Families may apply for two, three or four days per week, subject to availability and the program’s application process.
That schedule is a published operating plan; California58 has not independently inspected each class day or verified that spaces are currently open. Interested parents should contact the program for the current calendar, cancellation terms and any changes to fees or group sizes.
How much does it cost?
The provider currently advertises a private-pay fee of $40 per day, plus a $200 annual materials fee, usually collected in two $100 installments. It describes a deposit equal to one month’s participation cost to reserve a place, with the deposit applied to the final month.
The listed base price should not be confused with a fixed monthly tuition amount because the total depends on participation days and scheduled weeks. The program says it currently has no general scholarship program, though it has been exploring ways to expand access and mentions a few possible work-trade opportunities for parents with relevant early-childhood education experience. Such opportunities are limited and should not be treated as guaranteed.
What does a parent have to do before enrolling?
The operator asks families to submit an application; after review, it describes an interview and site visit so parents and children can meet facilitators and examine the learning setting. This is a private enrollment process, not the enrollment procedure for public Fieldbrook Elementary or for the Fieldbrook Elementary School District.
Parents should confirm what the program includes, how core academic instruction is addressed, which private-school or homeschool responsibilities remain with the family, what supervision and safety rules apply and which documents are required. The school’s active CDE directory listing does not establish that its curriculum has been evaluated or endorsed by the California Department of Education.
How to verify the listing and contact the program
The provider lists (707) 440-9952 and fieldtoforestlearning@gmail.com. The CDE’s official record provides the recognized school name, school code, grade span and status.
Fieldbrook already has an established public TK–8 Fieldbrook Elementary School at a different address. Families comparing options should not confuse this private enrichment option with the public district’s admissions, fees or accountability system.
Original sources and reporting limits
California Department of Education school directory, Field to Forest, active, recorded opening February 17, 2026; Field to Forest official program description; published 2026–27 hours, admissions and fee terms.
Fieldbrook News education and community service report, October 30, 2026. State registration data and published provider claims are attributed to their respective sources. California58 has not inspected the facility, audited the curriculum or verified live enrollment availability.
Help this community newspaper grow
Your support helps build coverage for the people and places this local newspaper serves.
Donate once by card ↗Support Fieldbrook News
Choose how to support Fieldbrook News:
Credit / Debit Card via StripeChoose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.
Continue with PayPal Continue with ZelleZelle payments go to Vitaly Ataev Troshin. Please verify the recipient in your bank before sending. Availability depends on your bank.
Optional reader support. When possible, add “Fieldbrook News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.More from Fieldbrook News
- Fieldbrook Road Bridge Over Squaw Creek Listed for $112,000 Scour Protection; Construction Funding Is Beyond Current Program →
- Fieldbrook’s 400,000-Gallon Seismic Water Tank: Project Trackers Show Different Completion Statuses →
- Murray Road Fuel Break Work Targets Key Fieldbrook–McKinleyville Route; Parking and Forest Access May Be Restricted →
- Fieldbrook Valley Redwood Restoration Wins $1.99 Million State Grant for Thinning and Planned Fire →