Adventure. Skills. Stewardship. A school day in the mountains.
Dogwood Mountain School is a weekly outdoor adventure program for ages 8–15, based at Dogwood Climbing in Dayton, Tennessee. Climbing, hiking, navigation, and mountain exploration.10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Free family day · Saturday, November 1410:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Meaningful time outdoors — not another indoor afternoon.
Your child will spend each week learning real climbing and mountain skills, building relationships with peers and mentors, and growing in confidence, responsibility, curiosity, and connection to this landscape.
Specialized outdoor recreation — climbing, hiking, and mountain exploration — not drop-in childcare.
A Day in the Mountains
Advance enrollment in one six-hour session per week. You handle drop-off at Dogwood Climbing. We handle the rest.
Arrival & Briefing
Drop-off at Dogwood Climbing in Dayton, Tennessee at 10:00 AM. Kids reconnect, review the day, and get a safety briefing. Bring water and any snacks they need.
Climbing & Mountain Recreation
Bouldering and rope climbing are the backbone. Some days stay at Dogwood; others travel as a group to outdoor crags, trails, forests, creeks, and waterfalls.
Stewardship & Gear Care
Organize equipment, clean the area, practice Leave No Trace, and care for the climbing or trail environment before heading back.
Reflection & Pickup
Return to basecamp, a short reflection, then pickup at 4:00 PM to an authorized parent or guardian.
Meet the Program Director
Dogwood Mountain School is directed by Garrett Price — an educator, outdoor professional, and climbing coach with 16 years of high-level rock climbing, former USA Climbing Level 2 Coach credentials, a former EMT, and current Wilderness First Responder certification.
Wilderness First Responder
WFR-certified to manage medical emergencies in the backcountry — safety is the foundation of every outing. Former EMT.
USA Climbing Coach
Sixteen years of high-level rock climbing and a former USA Climbing Level 2 Coach — climbing is the principal activity, taught by someone who has lived it.
Educator and Coach
Tennis coach, climbing coach for ages 7 and up, Dean of Students for grades 7–12, and Program Director at a school for adventure athletes — about five years working with young people.
“My heart is with the community that nurtured me; I desire to help kids get outside, have an educational experience, and fall in love with their home.”
Instructor
Meet Sophie
Sophie grew up in Los Angeles, California, where she discovered climbing at the age of nine. She spent practically every day after school at the climbing gym and joined a competitive team at age thirteen.
She attended Yale University and majored in Humanities, focusing on interdisciplinary learning and English literature. While at Yale, Sophie served as the co-head coach of a local competitive youth team in New Haven, Connecticut.
Read Sophie's full bioCome climb for free
Saturday, November 14
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM · 306 Dogwood Trail, Dayton, TN
A free, hands-on introduction to outdoor climbing at Dogwood Climbing, 306 Dogwood Trail, Dayton, TN. No climbing experience necessary. Meet the team and learn about the program for homeschooled families. All families welcome.
Save my spotThe spring program runs January 23 – March 20, 2027. See how a season works.