Our Philosophy

We believe children learn best through play and that the natural world is the ideal “classroom,” providing endless opportunities for play and learning in an ever-changing environment.  Outdoor play stimulates the senses for healthy growth in all areas of development.  Play is how children begin to understand their world and make connections.  Children are naturally motivated to learn and when we allow children the freedom and time to follow their own natural play urges, they are motivated, enthusiastic and engaged.  This is when the real learning happens.  Our whole child approach supports all areas of child development including social, emotional, cognitive and physical.  We aim to build warm, nurturing relationships with children where they feel safe, supported and challenged. Our role as teacher is to act as an observer and facilitator, while following the child’s lead as much as possible. We share in children’s curiosity, ask questions, encourage problem solving and model empathy for all living things.  Our environment is thoughtfully designed to foster creativity, imagination, discovery, critical thinking, healthy risk taking and teamwork. We plan our play invitations based on the children’s interests and the natural rhythm of the seasons. Hands-on, sensory rich, exploratory play experiences are critical to brain development in the early years. When children play in this type of environment, it supports the development of self-regulation, problem solving, independence and confidence. These are the skills that prepare children for success. Play builds the strongest foundation for lifelong learning.