Our Policies

Registration, Withdrawal & Refund Policies for Fox Walkers Forest Kindergarten and Fire Keepers Homeschool Enrichment Program: 

A non-refundable deposit of 25% of the tuition is required at registration.

If you decide to withdraw your child from a program for whatever reason, our refund policy is as follows:

Withdrawal up to the start of the program and within the first 30 calendar days of the program's start date:  

You're entitled to a refund for payments over 25% of course tuition.

Withdrawal during the first 31-90 calendar days of the program:

You're entitled to a refund for payments over 50% of course tuition.

Withdrawal during the first 91-130 calendar days of the program:

You're entitled to a refund for payments over 75% of course tuition.

Withdrawal after 131 calendar days of the program:

No refund.

Note: If you are paying on a payment plan, you will still be responsible for paying the remainder of your scheduled payments until your commitment has been met.

To withdraw from a program, please send an e-mail to [email protected]

Weather Cancellation Policy

We typically follow Bellingham Public School's lead regarding weather-related cancelations. If public school is canceled, our program day will likely be canceled. If schools are delayed, we're also likely to do so, and we may even cancel. If there's a need to cancel a class or delay the start time for any reason at all, each family will be contacted via e-mail by 7:30 am. While we intend to be out in most weather conditions, we certainly don't want to put your safety at risk when roads are bad. 

Smoke/Air Quality Cancellation Policy 

As an entirely outdoor school, we cannot guarantee access to an indoor space. Due to the increased regularity of poor to hazardous air quality caused by wildfire smoke in the summer and early fall, our policy is as follows:

We'll monitor updates on local air quality conditions from the Bellingham-Pacific St Air Quality Monitoring Station run by the Washington Department of Ecology. This printable infographic from the WA Department of Health and the Department of Ecology offers guidance around activity and air quality levels.

If conditions are "Moderate," we'll limit running games and strenuous activities in our programs.

If conditions are "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or worse, we'll cancel programs for the day

(According to the Washington Air Quality Advisory, children under 18 are considered a "Sensitive Group"). We'll e-mail all families by 7:30 am if we need to cancel programs for the day. 

Please let us know if your child has additional health concerns or sensitivities and must remain indoors when air quality is at the "Moderate" level. We're unable to offer a refund in this case.

If we must cancel two or more days of a program due to air-quality concerns, you may request a 50% refund per day for the total number of canceled days. To request a partial refund, please e-mail [email protected].

Low-enrollment Cancellation Policy

If a program is canceled due to low enrollment, we assume total responsibility, and your tuition will be fully refundable or transferable to a future program. This is the only instance where your deposit would also be fully refunded.

Clothing Policy

We are an entirely outdoor school operating in all weather conditions. 

Being in the Pacific NW, we plan on getting wet at some point. Moisture often saturates the ground throughout the school year (even on a clear and sunny day!). Your child must be dressed for comfort in wet conditions, as we spend much of our time making direct physical contact with nature and the elements. You can expect your child to sit directly on the earth, splashing in puddles, hiding in bushes, and playing with mud. 

To ensure the safety and enjoyment of the entire learning community, please outfit your child according to our recommended gear list, which you can find in our Family Handbook. 

We strongly discourage dressing your child in cotton during the wet winter months. Cotton does not wick away moisture, nor is it very effective as an insulating layer. 

We require all children to be equipped with waterproof clothing and footwear. 

If we feel your child needs to be adequately equipped for the weather conditions, we reserve the right to contact you and request that you immediately bring adequate gear. Failing to dress appropriately for the weather is a safety risk for your child and potentially the rest of the group.