Simply Beautiful: Our Story

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.

Growing Alongside Our Children

Today, our little farm girl is seven years old. She is witty, curious, incredibly smart, and has never attended traditional public school.

And just as she has grown, Hidden Trails has grown right alongside her.

What began as a small outdoor program has expanded into new classroom spaces, farm and animal experiences, nature-based learning, programs for older children, hiking adventures, field trips, enrichment opportunities, and summer camps.

Through every stage of that growth, our philosophy has remained simple:

School can look different

Children don’t only learn sitting behind a desk.

They learn while exploring a forest, caring for an animal, conducting a science experiment, creating art, building something, reading beneath a tree, asking questions, solving problems, playing with friends, and experiencing the world around them.

Our own daughter essentially learns year-round. During the traditional school year, she attends outdoor school. During most of the summer, learning continues through experiences such as Science Camp, Farm Camp, Junior Horsemanship, Art Camp, and other adventures.

To a child, it may feel like play.

But play is full of learning

As our students grow, academics continue to be an important part of what we do. We want children progressing educationally while also developing confidence, independence, resilience, responsibility, creativity, curiosity, kindness, and a lifelong connection to the natural world.

We believe children can receive a meaningful education without giving up their childhood to get it.

The Next Chapter

Our story is continuing to grow through the Hidden Trails Learning Foundation, our Washington State nonprofit organization.

We have applied for federal tax-exempt nonprofit status and, while that application is pending, plan to work under a fiscal sponsor to begin pursuing eligible grant opportunities.

Our goal is to expand educational opportunities, continue improving our learning spaces, support our community, and make programs like ours more accessible to children and families who may otherwise face financial barriers.

There are more children here today. More teachers. More classrooms. More animals. More books. More muddy boots. More questions, friendships, discoveries, and adventures.

But the heart of Hidden Trails hasn’t changed.

We want children to learn.

We want them to explore.

We want them to get dirty, ask questions, care for animals, read books, solve problems, build friendships, try hard things, and discover what they are capable of.

Most importantly, we want them to have a real childhood.

When we purchased these 10 acres, we had no idea they would one day become a place filled with children learning beneath the trees.

Looking back now, it feels like this land was always supposed to become something more.

Simply put, it was meant to be.