Hands-on.

Nature Based.

Community Focused.

At River Grove, students enjoy daily hands-on nature based learning. We utilize the forest as our canvas to unlock our students understand of the world around them. Our surroundings influence our curriculum and inspire the next generation of environmentally appreciative community leaders.

Two River Grove Elementary students pose with a handmade stick fort in the woods, showcasing the school’s forest campus and connection to nature-based outdoor learning.
Teachers and students gather in a snowy pine forest on campus, highlighting River Grove Elementary's year-round commitment to outdoor learning in Minnesota.

Our Story

Founded in 2017, River Grove Elementary was created to provide Minnesota families with a unique place-based learning experience rooted in curiosity, connection, and community.

From the beginning, our vision has been to create a school where students build strong academic foundations through engaging instruction, hands-on experiences, and meaningful connections with the natural world. Our forest campus provides an inspiring setting where students can explore, discover, and apply their learning in authentic ways.

Today, River Grove continues to support the whole child through nature-based learning, student-centered instruction, and a strong community that helps students grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

Elementary students examine a mossy log with a magnifying glass, demonstrating River Grove’s hands-on environmental education and place-based science curriculum.

  • At River Grove, our goal is to get the students outside and engaged with our beautiful setting multiple hours of the day! More time is spent outdoors during the warmer months of the year, but even during winter, dedicated time outside is part of the daily schedule.

  • No! River Grove is a tuition-free public charter school!

  • We are a public school. All students who reside in Minnesota are eligible to attend. Space is limited to classroom capacity. Learn more about enrollment here

Interested in enrolling your child?

Fill out the form below and we will be in contact to start your enrollment process.