Nature Preschools
Nature preschools are a growing trend in education, and Natural Start is happy to support the role they play in developing happy, healthy children. If you are a nature preschool or want to help support the work they do, join our Alliance to help this movement grow.
Nature-Based Preschool Professional Practice Guidebook
A new report from Natural Start reveals outdoor, nature-focused preschools have grown 25-fold over the past decade. Read more
Elements Preschool was created to provide children living in the heart of NYC with daily access to nature and nature-based activities and education. Read more
Image credit: Best Day Ever movie
The recently published "A Forest Days Handbook" demonstrates that young children can learn their letters and numbers AND get stronger, healthier, and more resilient in a nature-based learning environment. Read more
Nature-based preschools and kindergartens continue to rise in popularity in the United States. A national survey of nature-based early childhood educators conducted in 2017 identified more than 250 nature preschools and forest kindergartens operating across the country. Read more
A recent evaluation report on the Forest Days initiative in Vermont and New Hampshire schools finds that programs not only support academic learning but also offer social, emotional, physical, and community benefits to participants. Read more
Nature-based education is, by definition, place-based education. And no matter where we are, when we enter into a classroom, we bring our place, and the history of that place, with us. Read more
An E-STEM public school district near Minneapolis now also offers half-day nature preschool programs. We were naturally curious to find out more! We asked Anna Dutke, Nature Preschool Teacher and the programs’ developer, to share with us the impetus behind the programs and any advice she gives to new teachers. Read more
Are you considering opening a nature-based preschool? Here are some ideas for thinking through the programmatic decisions you will need to make. Read more
Business planning consultant David Catlin shares what it takes to develop a business plan for a nature preschool that can take you from a great idea to a successful school. Read more
Peter Dargatz
Peter Dargatz is a nature kindergarten teacher at Woodside Elementary, a public school in Sussex, Wisconsin Read more
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