Reconnecting Children With Nature
Year-round, 100% Outdoor school program for children ages 2-7
We provide an un-rushed, child-led, and inquiry-based learning environment. Nature Nuts offers a variety of opportunities and encouragement for young children to participate in activities that are developmentally appropriate and are enjoyable. Our approach embraces individuality, unique strengths, and taps into a child’s natural curiosity. Our small class size of 8 ensures personalized learning for each child while nature-based activities maximize academic, social, and emotional potential.
Their experiences in nature help set them up for the best possible outcomes and develop a love for nature and lifelong learning. Accommodations are gladly made for children with special needs. Children learn at their own pace without pressure or competition. Children are encouraged to take responsible risks and are exposed to risky situations such as building campfires, climbing trees, and using tools.
How it Works
When - September to June: Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday Mornings (9:00 - 11:30) or Afternoons (12:30 - 3:30) Friday once a week (10:00-2:00)
Who - Ages 2-7 Potty trained - (Limited exceptions can be made for toddlers or children with special needs. Please inquire for specifics)
Cost - Morning Classes $280/month (5 hours/week) - Afternoon Classes $325/month (6 hours/week) - Fridays once a week $245 (4 hours/week)
Class size - Maximum 8 students and 2 teachers - 4:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
Staff - Our staff are friendly, warm and have extensive experience and training in caring for young children outdoors. We are also fortunate to have a male teacher as a positive role model for the children.
Natural Science - When children’s authentic curiosity leads to their own experiential nature observations and discoveries, it encourages scientific experimentation and conclusion; lessons are understood more fully and the information retained more deeply.
New experiences - Our instructors guide students into experiences that nurture their connection to nature and build skills that will serve them for a lifetime. These experiences also build important social and academic skills.
Hands on learning - A typical day of active learning could include hiking, finding signs of wildlife, catching bugs, climbing trees, stewardship skills, building forts and hours of unstructured play.
We encourage you to come visit Nature Nuts and learn more about our nationally recognized program.
To ensure that this would be a good fit for all, families who wish to register need to first bring their child for a tour. You’re invited to let your child play their way through our variety of camps and outdoor classroom areas, ask questions, and get to know more about what it’s like to enroll in an all outdoor school.
Affiliations
Cedarsong - Nature Nuts is proud to be an Accredited Cedarsong School. Cedarsong Nature School is an award-winning leader in the U.S. Forest Kindergarten movement and has received international accolades for its groundbreaking work.
WaNPA - Nature Nuts is a member of the Washington Nature Preschool Association which is a regional collaborative developed to support nature-based and outdoor early childhood education.
Children & Nature Network - Nature Nuts is a Charter Member of the Children & Nature Network. Children & Nature Network was created to support people and organizations working worldwide to reconnect children with nature and were featured by them when we became the first accredited forest kindergarten in the U.S.
AFKA - Nature Nuts is a proud member of American Forest Kindergarten Association - the national organization bringing together educators, parents, policy-makers, and other stakeholders passionate about the forest kindergarten model. Our Director is also a founding board member of AFKA.
Nondiscrimination policy: Nature Nuts does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national and ethnic origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship program, and all other school-administered programs.