Preschool Naturalist

You are your child’s first teacher, nature is the second teacher.

Bring your naturalist to the arboretum for A Childhood Rooted in Wonder and in community

Our Preschool Naturalist program invites young children to experience the world as explorers, scientists, artists, and caretakers of the earth. Through daily immersion in nature, children develop confidence, curiosity, resilience, and a sense of belonging within the natural world.

Set within the forest, garden, creek, and open green spaces, our outdoor classroom provide endless opportunities for discovery. Children investigate the changing seasons, observe wildlife, care for living things, and engage in meaningful play that nurtures the whole child.

overview

  • Age:

    • ranges from 3 to 5 years old

  • Days offered:

    • Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

  • Hours

    • 9am to 2pm

  • Email admin@anewleafschool.org for more information.

What Preschool Naturalists Explore

Plants & Gardens

  • Gardening and planting

  • Tree identification

  • Seasonal flowers and vegetables

  • Seeds, fruits, and pollinators

  • Food forests and edible plants

Ecology of childhood: Relationship Building

As we garden and forage together, the energy of the outdoors fuels playful interactions in our Campsite Kitchen. Our caring relationship to nature informs and guides our relationships to each other.

Every voice counts! Social interactions are scaffolded to build positive relationships with peers and adults.

Earth & Water Studies

  • Creek exploration

  • Rocks, fossils, and geology

  • Weather observation

  • Seasonal changes

  • Habitats and ecosystems

Adventure & Outdoor Skills

  • Nature hikes

  • Trail exploration

  • Orienteering games

  • Obstacle courses

  • Cooperative outdoor challenges

It’s all about walking along the creek, hiking the trails, running in the fields, climbing on fallen trees, and balancing on rocks.

We love to play collaborative games that build teamwork and self-awareness. 

Sometimes we stand still like trees. 

Wildlife & Nature Discovery

The children marvel at the wildlife they encounter leading to many inquiries and investigations:

  • Birdwatching

  • Animal tracking and signs

  • Insect investigations

  • Reptile and amphibian discoveries

  • Living scavenger hunts

  • Seasonal changes in the diversity of life at the Arboretum.

  • Growth and life cycles of plants and animals.

  • Animal and plant behaviors.

experimenting

Making simple machines we build boats and shelters to test the laws of physics. 

We make mathematical encounters of the wild kind. Counting, ordering, measuring, estimating, making equations happens every time.

We map our spaces to find our way as we forage. Collecting honeysuckle we explore woodworking, sculpting, and installations.

caretaking

Tending the earth and caring for the garden is a gentle rhythm that grounds our day. It’s a time to marvel at tiny seeds full of promise, to feel the calming movement of the soil in our hands, and to slow down in nature’s quiet company.

Creativity & Expression

  • Nature journaling

  • Nature-inspired art

  • Installation art and sculpture

  • Storytelling and dramatic play

    Connection with nature brings us to authorship, telling the stories of our adventures and discoveries.

Nurtured

As the children engage, they harvest a sense of fulfillment, having deepened their self-confidence, empathy, and connection with each other through nature.