What is a Nature Preschool?

The Children’s Education Center of the Islands is a well-established, nurturing, safe, fun, and newly reclaimed “Nature Preschool.” Researchers studying nature schools have discovered that children outdoors sharpen their motor skills, stay healthier, have less conflicts, engage in more creative play, and learn to be more independent. At CECI, we can attest to this research. While our children are learning to climb trees, they are simultaneously learning how to assess risk, homing in on their gross motor skills, strengthening their bodies, developing a sense of grit and determination; the list can go on and on.

As a school we have adopted an innovative approach to early childhood education that centers on outdoor exploration and fosters environmental stewardship. Our activities throughout the day tend to be child-led and play-based. Teachers act as facilitators of learning; observing particular interests and focusing on teachable moments. Our children are learning through direct experiences in a natural environment that stimulates their intrinsic sense of wonder and curiosity.

Our philosophy as a nature preschool is to forge a bond between children and nature, so that they will grow to care and love for it as adults. Childhood should be joyful and wholesome. We believe that the earliest, most memorable kind of learning included building block communities, digging for “doodlebugs” and making mud pies from sand. We believe that empathy, love, curiosity and respect are the truest foundation of learning. When thoughtful learning through play curriculum is combined with direct experience in the “classroom,” a transformative change takes place. This connection is both powerful and empowering and this basic human connection need not be sacrificed when a child begins school. We believe it is every child’s right, as an integral part of the natural community, to develop a foundation of academic skills through encounters in the natural world.

For example, when we studied native trees we utilized sea grape trees to incorporate learning how to count objects. Our children learned how to scientifically identify the tree where the sea grapes grew from. In order to count the grapes our children had to forage for them off of our trees on property. This meant that our children had to make a decision that directly impacts the environment-do we pick the grapes that are growing on the tree, and if so how many? Other animals eat these grapes for their source of food, right? How many grapes do we notice that are growing? Should we decide to only collect the grapes that have fallen to the ground? Through this learning experience our children are not only learning and fostering their one-to-one correspondence skills, but they are making deep connections with the natural world.

So if you are new to the idea of a “Nature School” we encourage you to do your research. Then come visit our school to have a hands on look to really see what it’s all about. But first, go outside and take note on how you feel after some time. Apply those feelings to the thought of young children learning in the same outdoor environment everyday. Are you smiling? We thought so….