We’re Moving to North Idaho!
Surprise! Cedarwood Outdoor School (COS) is migrating north.
After a season in Southern California, COS is preparing for an exciting new chapter in the Pacific Northwest. In many ways, this move represents both a fresh beginning and a homecoming. More than ten years ago (2015–2016), Cedarwood Outdoor School first took shape in the Pacific Northwest through a variety of outdoor learning opportunities. The school led edible and medicinal plant walks, homesteading classes, firemaking workshops, and other hands-on experiences. Those early days planted the seeds of a much larger vision, but the goal has always remained the same: to build a place where students gain real proficiency in wilderness survival and sustainable living — all grounded in a faithful Christian worldview.
Why North Idaho?
After much prayer and careful consideration, North Idaho—particularly the greater Coeur d’Alene area—clearly rose to the surface as the right setting for Cedarwood’s next chapter. We have been asking the Lord for a place where the mission of Cedarwood could take deeper root and serve families for the long term, and again and again this region kept coming into view.
One of the most compelling factors in this move is North Idaho’s deeply rooted outdoor culture. Here, time outside is simply part of everyday life. Families in the Coeur d’Alene region already understand the rhythms of the seasons, the importance of caring well for the land, and the lasting value of practical wilderness skills. That kind of cultural soil allows a school like Cedarwood to take root and grow in meaningful ways. Rather than introducing something entirely unfamiliar, we have the privilege of building alongside a community that already values the very things we aim to cultivate in the next generation.
Moreover, the physical landscape itself makes the Coeur d’Alene region especially compelling. Surrounded by roughly 2.5 million acres of national forest, the opportunities for field-based learning are truly exceptional. From forest ecology and wildlife tracking to bird study and bushcraft, this setting naturally supports the kind of immersive, boots-on-the-ground training that has always been central to Cedarwood’s vision. Few places offer such immediate access to diverse, living classrooms, and we are excited to steward these opportunities in ways that serve local families well.
At the same time, Idaho consistently ranks among the top states in the nation for homeschooling participation per capita. For Cedarwood, this is significant. Our programs are intentionally designed to come alongside homeschool families by providing structured, hands-on outdoor education that can be difficult to replicate at home. The strong homeschool presence in North Idaho signals a community of parents who are already thinking carefully about their children’s formation and who are actively seeking thoughtful, high-quality enrichment opportunities.
We have also been encouraged by the region’s broader openness to alternative and family-directed models of education. Throughout the Coeur d’Alene area there is a clear appreciation for hands-on learning, small-group instruction, and skill-based training that extends beyond the traditional classroom. That posture creates particularly fertile ground for the kind of experiential, creation-focused programming Cedarwood is seeking to cultivate in the years ahead.
Taken together, these factors make North Idaho a providential fit. The culture, the landscape, the families, and the educational climate all align in ways that strongly support Cedarwood’s mission. We are grateful for the Lord’s clear leading and increasingly confident that this is the right place to continue building a school dedicated to immersive, Christian outdoor education.
What to Expect in the Coming Year
As Cedarwood Outdoor School begins establishing roots in North Idaho, programming will roll out gradually and intentionally. Our first priority is simple: to meet local families, build relationships, and introduce the Cedarwood experience to the community.
Over the coming months, much of our activity will center around smaller gatherings that allow people to experience Cedarwood firsthand. Families can expect a variety of outdoor events designed to bring people onto the land together—things like blacklighting nights, guided bird tours, and other nature-based outings that highlight the richness of the local environment.
In addition to these community events, Cedarwood will begin offering a series of workshops for both youth and adults. These hands-on sessions will focus on practical outdoor skills such as firecraft, herbalism, wildlife tracking, navigation, woodworking, and other traditional skills connected to wilderness survival and sustainable living.
We will also be offering private sessions for youth and adults, who are interested in more personalized instruction. These customized outings allow participants to focus on specific interests related to our four pillars (wilderness survival, homesteading, herbalism, and creation studies).
Alongside these offerings, the Cedarwood Birder Program will begin its initial launch, providing students with a structured and immersive introduction to the world of bird watching.
During this initial season in North Idaho, our focus will be on laying a strong foundation. That means building relationships within the community, becoming well acquainted with the landscape, and serving families through thoughtful, hands-on experiences that reflect the heart of Cedarwood.
We are grateful for the opportunity to begin this new chapter in the Coeur d’Alene community and look forward to seeing how the Lord shapes Cedarwood in the years ahead.
Prayer Requests
The move to North Idaho represents years of prayer, preparation, and patient development coming together at the right time. If you have been following COS, we would deeply value your prayers in several key areas:
That awareness of Cedarwood Outdoor School would spread quickly in the region
That the Lord would provide the right property for long-term operations
That the right volunteer staff would come alongside the mission
Above all, that God would graciously use these efforts to cultivate humility, gratitude, and a growing love for Him in the lives of our students
Thank you for being part of the Cedarwood journey. The best chapters are still ahead!