New for the 2025-26 school year, Sundrop is bringing its passion for hands-on learning and love of the outdoors to the Elementary age group!
Sundrop Explorers Academy offers a dynamic, comprehensive education experience for students age 6-9 (first through third grade). In this mixed-age classroom, children are individually nurtured to each reach their full potential through hands-on, project based learning that incorporates the outdoor education opportunities that our beautiful northern Michigan setting provides.
Revolutionizing Education
This transformative, nature-based, Montessori-inspired elementary school is located on 100+ acres of forest at Gahagan Nature Preserve in Roscommon, Michigan. Learners will spend at least 2 hours (and up to the full day) outdoors each day, and there will be low to no use of screen-based technology.
Sundrop Explorers Academy implements Montessori and nature-based curricula Monday through Thursday to teach mastery in all of the core subjects, including English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, the Arts and more. On Fridays, we focus on nature exploration and project based learning on the preserve. Sundrop is dedicated to empowering the next generation to develop their innate love for learning and become passionate environmental stewards.
Program Offerings
- Enrollment is open to 6, 7, 8 and 9-year-old children.
- Full Time students meet M-Th from 8:30am to 3:30pm.
- Families who enroll in Full Time or Hybrid Elementary program may also send their children to our Friday Home School Enrichment days from 9am-3pm at no extra charge.
- This program follows the traditional school year (Sept-June).
- Cost is $200/month (if your family is below 250% of FPL, tuition is reduced to $100/month)
- A deposit of half of a month’s tuition is required to secure your spot.
- Enrollment is open to 6, 7, 8 and 9-year-old children.
- Hybrid students join our Full Time students in the classroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am to 3:30pm.
- Families who enroll in Full Time or Hybrid Elementary program may also send their children to our Friday Home School Enrichment days from 9am-3pm at no extra charge.
- This program follows the traditional school year (Sept-June).
- -Cost is $100/month
- -A deposit of half of a month’s tuition is required to secure your spot.
Options 3. Home School Enrichment on Fridays
For families who home school, we are offering a home school enrichment day once per week on Fridays from 9am to 3pm. Students will participate in mixed-age, project-based learning, forest exploration, and free play in nature. While science will be emphasized, other subjects including math, social studies, language arts, economics, entrepreneurship, and the arts will be included as well.
Tuition is $400 for the 10 week fall session (October 3rd through December 12th). A $50 deposit is required to secure your spot.