For those who love the wild.
This path is for the family who loves collecting rocks, naming birds at the feeder, digging for dinosaurs, or asking a hundred questions on every hike. Camping trips, animal biology, ecosystems, wilderness, living off your own land, and natural medicine — while also diving into history, ELA, biology, ecology, geography, and more.
My teen has loved dinosaurs forever and is actually planning to study paleontology in college. He thought there wasn’t anything left for him to learn but this unit proved him wrong! In lesson 2 it challenged a thought he had, and it snowballed from there!! Every lesson went deeper, and he was captivated! My 6-year-old joined right in too and loved all the stories and activities. Honestly, I never thought I’d be able to school both of my kids together like this… -Sarah P.
Real customer photos from Campfire families from our FB page. Hands-on application is optional, not required. But when your child wants to go further, Campfire includes simple application ideas often using items you likely already have at home.
This is not your average curriculum! I was immediately hooked! ...amazing conversations with our kids. …they went into the library last week, my 7 yr old asked the librarian for a book about Cephalopods. At which my 5 yr old comes over, and says, “Yes! Definitely Cephalopods!” Needless to say, she was quite impressed that they actually knew what they were talking about! -Kira C... -Kira C.
How to Count Credits
Choose any of the units from the list. Think of each unit like an oversized chapter in a year-long course. You complete multiple “chapters” to earn 1 full credit by the end of the year. Because each full unit covers multiple subjects, you can earn a credit in each school subject.
Use it your way:
- All-in-one: Use the main guidebook + Core Connections Companion when included.
- Single subject: Use the guidebook on its own.
- Full-year credit: Choose about 8 units per year (or 4 per year semester). ~8 units = 1 full credit in each subject (history/social studies, science, ELA, geography, ethics, Bible, and elective).
Most families can cover the year in about 8 units — all ages and subjects except math — and still land under $400. Mix and match as desired.
Other curriculum charges by age bracket: if you have three kids at different stages, you’re buying it three times (and again when the next sibling catches up). Campfire is one purchase, used by every child in your home, at every age, indefinitely.
★ If you choose units from this path, a good first unit to start your year is: Zoologist or Survive off the Land
Academic Portfolio available for pre-order — Zoologist, Survive off the Land (expected release: 2026)
Academic portfolios are optional and include additional note-taking support as well as a record of lab reports, learning extensions, and transcript-ready documentation. The pre-orders have a planned released in 2026.
ACADEMIC & CREDIT HIGHLIGHTS: This course provides core school subject instruction while expanding beyond the classroom into field-based natural science and applied biological study. Students investigate zoology, entomology, paleontology, botany, and wilderness medicine through naturalist field guides, case studies, and expert-modeled instruction. As they build toward biology and applied science credit, students develop observation and classification skills, practice scientific writing and evidence-based reports, and strengthen evidence-based inquiry. Core Connections companion units further support differentiated instruction in grammar, composition, and analytical writing across all levels, while also offering historical connections to African antiquity, ancient civilizations, and other key cultural and historical contexts.
Have questions?
Here are a few of the most common ones we hear from families just like yours.
Because Campfire is integrated, the science credit doesn't need a specific name right away. Many families temporarily list the course as "Integrated Science" while their student is still working through high school.
When your high schooler is ready to graduate, you can separate those credits. They naturally fall into biology, chemistry, foundational physics, and applied science. Some units will also directly apply to health or pre-med.
Another option: list a specific science course and award partial credit per unit, as shown on each product page. For example:
Biology — 1/6 credit for Holocaust
Over time, those partials add up. Your simplest approaches:
- Option 1 — Use "Integrated Science," then separate credits into subjects once the student is approaching graduation (biology, chemistry, foundational physics, etc.).
- Option 2 — Keep "Integrated Science" permanently. Many public and private schools now do this intentionally — Integrated Science 1, 2, 3, 4.
- Option 3 — Track each unit under a specific science category and award partial credit as you go along.
All approaches work. US transcripts use the Carnegie method (credits based on time spent in a subject). Visit the High School & Newcomer page for more.
Great question! Many parents of younger students opt to complete that unit on its own, pausing other subjects for the duration.
Older students may layer it on top of a regular unit — think "Finance Fridays" or 20 focused minutes a day. Set a timer, stop when it goes off, and it can carry you throughout the year.
Yes. Our Classic units come from our original catalog when the units were structured differently. They include a gentler Core Connections Companion for full subject coverage (except math) and will take less time to complete than our Signature units. They are also organized slightly differently.
Our Signature units carry our deepest, most comprehensive coverage. We plan to move all units into the Signature category over time, and if that happens, you'll receive the Signature version FREE of charge if you purchased Classic.
Check out our History pathway — it shows you exactly how to approach sequence! For any similar questions about structuring your high school years, the High School & Newcomer page lays out everything you need.
…doing Through the Eyes of a Zoologist and I wish I had found you sooner. It’s amazing for my 8 and 13 year old sons. They’re actually enjoying sitting down to do their work. This was the missing puzzle piece I’d been searching for.”