OUR PHILOSOPHY
Mountain School’s approach to early childhood education focuses on social-emotional, whole-child development. We believe children learn and grow by playing, trying new things, and exploring nature!
CHILD-DIRECTED PLAY—We believe play is how young children learn best and that school should be a joy-filled experience.
NATURE—We believe natural outdoor settings are ideal for physical, social-emotional and cognitive growth and allow imaginations to soar.
THE POWER OF “TRY”—We believe “mistakes” are learning experiences and that we all gain confidence through risk-taking and adversity.
DIVERSITY and INCLUSION—We believe all families bring value to the school community.
COMMUNITY—We believe everyone benefits from being an active part of a supportive community.
PARENT EDUCATION—We believe parent education is equally as important and complementary to a child’s growth and development.
Founded in 1956, Mountain School has been operating a nature-focused, play-based preschool for families across the Bay Area. As a cooperative parent participation program, Mountain School believes in families, parents as children's best teachers, and the wonder a nature classroom can provide. Mountain School utilizes the fabulous outdoor classrooms among Live Oaks and Redwood trees at their Santa Cruz Mountain home base, spends time at local creeks and area parks, and teaches both parents and children. The needs of young children to choose their activities, explore the natural world, and learn through first-hand experience and play are as real today as when the school first opened 71 years ago.