Welcome to Singing Nettle Forest Stewards!

We are a small, part-time learning community that savors in the learning bounties that nature, music, and language have to offer! Leaps and bounds! We have 501 (c) (3) status and have the Twin Cities area as our lifelong learning community!

Paving the Way

For Our Future Generations

Think of a world in which future generations would be built up to be confident Forest Stewards – tending to the land, mending our spirits, and keeping students and our planet healthy for years to come. We envision this and so much more here at Singing Nettle!

From the bog blog!

Stay up to date with the latest from our bog blog.

Mission Statement

At Singing Nettle Forest Stewards, we strive to bridge the wild natural world with the manmade world by using each of our voices to lift each other up!

We foster a learning space for liminality and creativity!

Singing Nettle Forest Stewards (SNFS) aims to promote holistic development by integrating nature-based, music-based, and multilingual activities into our curriculum. Studies show that these three modalities of education enhance engagement, confidence, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, resiliency, and a sense of safety and community in children.

Meet Our Director and Learning Guides!

Christine Ambrutiene, FSTI-Certified Director & Teacher, and Learning Guide (Mrs. Christine)

I have always felt a deep connection with nature and have had a range of profound learning experiences in the outdoors, from a fascination with tadpoles and raising pigeons as a girl to numerous nature-based pursuits as an adult. These pursuits bring me joy and fulfillment, a sense of being alive, and the feeling of being a kid again. By practicing the art of rewilding and bridging the natural world with the human world, I strive to cultivate community and a sense of being for all of us.

Some of my pursuits include:

Certified Forest Therapy guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT)
- Sky Meets Water Forest Therapy LLC
WRFA/CPR/AED certified through the Red Cross
Forest School Teacher and Forest School Director certification through the Forest School Teacher Institute (FSTI)
Intermediate forager (mushroom certified in MN and WI)
Has a Minnesota Trapping Education Certificate through the Minnesota Trappers Association
Beekeeper and Youth Beekeeper Scholarship Committee Chair of Minnesota Hobby Beekeeper’s Association
Herbalist / grower / farmer / vendor of Thistle Bear Honey & Herbs LLC
- Oakdale Farmer’s Market, Lake Elmo Farmer’s Market, and Mahtomedi Farmer’s Market
Private music teacher at Shu-Bop Studios LLC (teaching piano, flute, vocals, aural skills, sightreading, music theory, music history, musical enjoyment, etc.)
- Classically trained in piano since I was four, flute since I was nine
- Instrument Instructor for Saint Paul Public Schools during 2018-2019 school year
- Attended Augsburg University Master of Music Therapy Graduate Program 2016-2018
B.A. in Philosophy and minor in Biology at Gustavus Adolphus College

Deb Shoemaker, Learning Guide (Mrs. Debra)

I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors and wildlife! From fishing and camping to wilderness hikes and exploration! My husband and family enjoy the outdoors and exploring Minnesota and national parks and preserves!
I enjoy learning and sharing knowledge and experiences with others about wildlife including bird migration, identification, songs/calls and habitat and animal burrows and dens found in grassland and forests.
I believe exposing and experiencing nature and the outdoors at a young age promotes health and wellness for a lifetime!
I am certified by the American Red Cross in wilderness first aid/rescue, CPR and AED.
I have taken numerous courses in wilderness survival and shelter building, wilderness cooking and food harvesting /preservation including fermentation with wild plants and berries and tea making. I have taken courses in foraging, mushroom identification, root and plant foraging and harvesting.
I assist with local farmer market vendor stands and served as a volunteer/employee at MN State Fair Horticulture’s Bee & Honey exhibit the past 7 years.
I have a law degree. My legal career spanned almost 40 years. I started my legal career as a tax attorney at a CPA firm and next, became an associate at a mid-size law firm. The majority of my legal career was in the general counsel office of national health care company and most-recently, a local health coverage/insurance company, where I served as its general counsel, chief legal officer and a senior vice president.
I enjoy family time, biking, birding, boating, hiking, cooking and canning vegetables and preserves.

Emergent

CORE & WILD

Curriculum ~

Flow & Grow Learning ~

Inquiry-based ~ Individualized ~ Organic

Tentative schedule

– Tuesdays Fall Session (begins Sept 15th)

– Thursdays Explore Day Fall Session (First 3 Thursdays of every month, begins Sept 17th)

(Monday Half Day Session (starts Sept 14th) and Wednesday Full Day Session (starts Nov 4th) to be added if sufficient enrollment)

Mon, Tues, Weds Schedule:

9:00am – 9:30am: Quiet Homework Time or Getting Settled into Day – Bring Homeschool Work or Review / Recap
9:30am – 11:00am: Lesson / Subject of the Day (Nature and Music-based learning, Spanish Enrichment, etc.).
11:00am – 12:00pm: Lunch and Free Time
12:00 – 1:00pm: Review & Apply Lesson(s)
1:00pm – 3:00pm: Hands-on Nature-based Application of Lesson of Day, Our “Nature Walk” (inquiry-based, emergent)
Geared towards 6- 13 year olds ~ can be flexible & adapt