Helping Young Learners Thrive & Grow in Nature.
At Hidden Trails, we believe children learn best when they’re given the freedom to explore, discover, and connect with the natural world. Through hands-on experiences, outdoor play, and nature-based learning, we nurture curiosity, confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.
Our Philosophy
Hidden Trails Forest & Farm School follows an educational philosophy rooted in the belief that nature provides an unparalleled learning environment for children. We focus on providing experiential and outdoor education with an emphasis on hands-on learning.
Your students deserve to explore and discover the natural world around them. We provide the structure and support to help them do so safely.
By giving children direct experiences with the environment, we help foster a sense of wonder, curiosity, and a genuine connection to the Earth. Our holistic values recognize the importance of not only academic knowledge — but also the cultivation of essential life skills. Through a blend of forest and farm-based activities, Hidden Trails aims to instill a profound appreciation for nature.
Our Story
Hidden Trails began with a little girl, 10 acres, and an idea we never expected would grow into what it is today. My husband and I purchased our property in Enumclaw, Washington, in 2017. We fell in love with the land — the towering trees, changing seasons, farm spaces, and little trails winding through the forest.
Then our lives changed. In 2019, our granddaughter came into our care as a baby and would eventually legally become our daughter. She has only ever really known our little farm as home. When she was two years old, we enrolled her in a farm school so she could spend time with other children. She thrived. She loved being outside. She loved her teachers and friends. Rain didn’t bother her — in fact, rainy days became some of her favorites.
Watching her experience childhood and education that way made me wonder: What if we could give other children this experience right here on our own land? And that is where Hidden Trails began
Learning Spaces
Our covered, partially enclosed learning spaces create room for gathering, making, observing, and learning together throughout the seasons. These areas provide structure without separating children from the sights, sounds, and rhythms of the outdoors.
Nature playgrounds and mud kitchens encourage imaginative play, problem-solving, sensory exploration, and collaboration. These spaces are intentionally simple, open-ended, and inviting, allowing children to interact with materials and one another in ways that build creativity and independence.
Farm and Trail Spaces
Walking trails invite children to explore at a slower pace, notice seasonal change, and build a relationship with the land over time. These pathways create daily opportunities for movement, discovery, and reflection.
Our animal spaces introduce children to horses, chickens, goats, rabbits, and pigs, offering meaningful moments of care, observation, and connection. Through these experiences, children begin to understand responsibility, gentleness, and the interdependence of living things.
April Gihring opened Hidden Trails in September 2023, driven by a lifelong passion for nature and over 20 years of experience in teaching and caregiving. A dedicated educator and hands-on leader, April is certified in Nature-Based Teaching, CPR, First Aid, Bloodborne Pathogens, and is an OSHA-certified trainer. She also holds an Associate of Arts in Construction Project Management and Safety.
Originally from Covington, WA, April now spends her days jumping into any classroom where she’s needed most, whether leading a nature walk or tending the animals alongside the children. She loves sharing the forest and farm property she and her husband, her high school sweetheart and partner, built together since she was 16 years old. Watching children explore the land, meet the animals, and connect with nature is one of her greatest joys.
April is a proud mom to a 24-year-old son who works in Montana as an Operating Engineer apprentice, a nearly 21-year-old daughter who runs her own Farrier business, and a joyful 6-year-old bonus daughter. When she’s not at school, she enjoys camping, relaxing with her family, and sneaking away to Sunlands whenever there's a break from weekend projects.
Get to Know April Gihring, Owner and Founder of Hidden Trails
