Bēhere is thrilled to host the Freeborn Family Forest School—a sanctuary where families connect with the wild, reclaiming the ancient wisdom of nature to heal our planet and our souls.
Our mission is to rekindle a deep love and respect for the natural world by guiding children and their families on a journey through the rich tapestry of native medicinal and edible plants. Together, we explore the art of sustainable foraging and the joy of working with the Earth’s abundant offerings.
In our classroom, the only walls are those formed by towering trees and sprawling vines. We learn where the wild things grow, with the SY botanic garden serving as our perfect, living textbook. This garden, brimming with medicinal perennials—trees, shrubs, flowers, and herbs—invites us into a hands-on, heart-centered education.
A typical Forest School day begins with a warm meet and greet, followed by nature-inspired arts and crafts that encourage creativity and connection. Our foraging adventures lead us through the garden, where we gather the ingredients for a fresh brew of tea. As we walk, I pause to share the stories and wisdom of the medicinal plants in season, helping us all to see the world with new eyes.
Once our bounty is gathered, we gather around to brew our tea, adding our treasures to the bubbling water. While the tea steeps, we come together on the tea blanket, where little hands get busy with fabric markers and little voices rise in song. We sing tunes like “The Tea Song” (to the melody of Row, Row, Row Your Boat), “The Woodland Song” (sung to Old McDonald), and an original piece, “Where The Wild Things Grow.”
With tea in hand, we listen to stories that weave together the threads of herbal folklore, Native American origin tales, and nature’s eternal wisdom. Afterward, we share a meal and dive into an interactive game, letting our bodies play in the same wild spaces our minds have wandered.
Jessica Freeborn, our guide, is a certified herbalist and forager with 18 years of experience working with the healing power of herbs. Her mission is to inspire a deep love for wild places and to pass down the ancient knowledge of medicinal plants that have sustained humanity through the ages.
The Freeborn Family’s wild-crafted product line, born from this love, offers a selection of handcrafted remedies under the Freeborn Family Farms label. Every product—from Elderberry Elixir to herbal incense cones—is a testament to their commitment to quality, crafted in small, fresh batches and infused with healing love. These creations are not just products; they are the essence of a lifestyle that celebrates health, happiness, and the beauty of nature.
Find these treasures locally at New Frontiers or visit our website to bring a piece of the wild into your home.
Jessica Freeborn is a certified herbalist and forager who has been studying and working with herbs for the past 18 years. “My mission is to inspire a love of wild places and knowledge of the ancient medicinal plants that have served humanity since the beginning of time. My family and I have created a wild-crafted product line under our label, Freeborn Family Farms. We grow, forage, harvest, and handcraft quality, tried-and-true herbal remedies to share with our community.
Before joining the independent working world 3 years ago, Brooke led a successful career in advertising for 13 years helping dozens of brands find their unique voice and positioning by leading diverse teams to execute strategy, branding and multi layered marketing campaigns. She worked with titans like Disney, Softbank Robotics, Sony Pictures, Apple and many telecom/ tech brands, but her absolute favorite work was and is helping small businesses and startups get going because they’re the most passionate and soulfully connected to the work. As owner and cofounder of Behere, Brooke understands this soulful connection even more and brings this passion for entrepreneurship to the program infusing elements of independent thinking, leadership and soft skills of entrepreneurship into the workshops provided.