Pedagogy & Philosophy
Our nature-centered philosophy encourages children to explore, inquire, and discover the wonders of the world around them. With experienced educators who share a deep love for nature, we provide a nurturing space where children flourish.
"Children are intrinsically motivated to learn. They do so through play and exploring the world around them."
Research shows that abundant time in nature yields long-term benefits in children’s cognitive, emotional, and social development. Our fully outdoor program provides young children with a unique and enriching educational experience, fostering a meaningful connection with the natural world and their community. Through a blend of outdoor exploration, hands-on activities, and a nurturing environment, we cultivate a lifelong love of learning and a deep appreciation for the nature.
Our seasonal curriculum is rooted in nature and guided by play-based learning principles where daily activities are shaped by each child’s unique needs and aptitudes. We seamlessly weave science, math, literacy, and art into our outdoor adventures, tending to the holistic development of the child. Our experienced teachers observe each child's interests and adapt the curriculum to meet their unique needs, interests, and curiosities. Whether it's a nature hike, a hands-on science experiment, or an art project inspired by the changing seasons, our preschoolers are always active participants in their own learning journey.
With experienced, nurturing educators by their side, children learn to self-regulate and navigate interactions with friends and others. We maintain a low child-to-staff ratio so children have more opportunities for meaningful interaction. We create an atmosphere where children are empowered to explore the natural world, learn to ask questions, develop problem-solving skills, and learn how to live, work, and communicate cooperatively.​​​
We prioritize the social and emotional development of each child. By engaging in cooperative play and group activities, children build essential social skills, such as communication, teamwork, and empathy. The natural setting provides countless opportunities for children to learn about resilience, problem-solving, community, and environmental stewardship. Our goal is to create a supportive community where every child feels valued and inspired to explore their potential.
Our Values
Emergent Learning - Children are naturally curious, asking questions and discovering the world around them through their senses, play, and exploration. Our curriculum is responsive to children’s interests in order to create meaningful learning experiences.
Emotional & Physical Safety - We create safe places where children can thrive while being able to engage in reasonable risk-taking during play.
Families - Families carry and pass down their wisdom from generation to generation. We honor the beautiful diversity of families and encourage family involvement through participation in annual celebrations and festivals, volunteering, and family classes, workshops, and events.
Excellence - We use methods and practices that are evidence-based and supported by quality data in order to cultivate learning. Our staff are educated and experienced in a variety of areas that enable a diverse learning experience.
Nurturing Individuality - Your little ones are unique. We embrace and encourage each child’s uniqueness by providing kids with a variety of experiences and choices. Our educators work hard to inspire and nurture individuality, one connection at a time.
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Equity in Education - We strive to create a safe and equitable space for all children and staff to be able to be their best selves. We define equity as the opportunity for every individual to have the ability to reach their full potential. Our definition of equity encompasses race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nation of origin, ability and alterability/disability, language, experiences, education, socioeconomic status, social/emotional or developmental experience, and physical appearance. We live out this value by providing a warm, nurturing, inclusive and child-centered environment
Daily Rhythm
​Routines offer security and help children regulate their energy.
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9:00 Arrival: Children settle in and start exploring the classroom or engage in a hands-on welcome activity.
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9:35 Group Circle and Snack: Teachers share the plan for the day based on our seasonal curriculum theme through songs, games, and stories. We sing songs, play a game, or practice one of our key social and emotional regulation skills.
For snack time, we bring food packed from home (in a squirrel-proof pack) and wash our hands thoroughly before eating.
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10:20 Exploration and Adventure: Most days, after about an hour of classroom exploration (in our sectioned-off outdoor classroom space), we go on an exciting adventure hike. Some days the children might vote to stay in our outdoor classroom and spend more time on their interests such as digging, bug hunting, reading, building, climbing or dramatic imagination games. This is a time where children's interests and curiosities take the center stage.
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12:00 Lunch and Story: Packed in a (squirrel-proof) backpack or lunch sack, children bring their own lunches from home. We eat in a circle, listen to a story, and enjoy each others company.
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12:40 Clean-Up time and Closing Circle: After a brief tidying up, which connects us back to our environmental impact, we gather as a group and share our experience of the day.
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Evening: After school, learning continues as the lead teacher writes a StoryPark* post, shared within our school community (parents, grandparents, nannies, teachers, etc.). These posts share a summary of the day, complete with child quotes and photos.
