A limited number of children will have the opportunity to experience a unique, nine-month nature-based preschool beginning next fall at Cincinnati Nature Center’s Rowe Woods in Milford.
CNC officials announced Nov. 8 that they will open Nature Preschool in September of 2012, and the program has been a long time coming.
“We recognize that it is really important to expose kids to nature at a young age,” Connie O’Connor, education director at CNC, said. “It is a wonderful introduction to learning in the real world for kids.”
O’Connor said they have been researching and planning to open a licensed preschool for more that five years.
In addition to visiting similar preschools, they developed a structured program that will cover all of the learning areas required at a regular preschool, including math, language development, music and more, as well as provide children the opportunity to learn about nature.
CNC also opened its Nature PlayScape before opening the preschool, and organizers have been able to see how well children respond to exploring nature and creating things in an outdoor environment.
“Many preschoolers are trapped between four walls,” O’Connor said. “Our preschool is nested in a one-room classroom in the woods. It’s a magical site for the kids.”
Unlike other preschools, O’Connor said, Nature Preschool is like a having a field trip everyday, because each day allows plenty of time for nature excursions and outdoor play time.
Tisha Luthy, director of the preschool and lead teacher, said this provides many benefits for young children including increased confidence, a desire to explore and even improves mobility skills.
“It is the first one of its kind in this area,” Luthy said. “The goal is to make sure you bring in the early childhood philosophies. To match that with nature is the perfect combination.”
Luthy will teach the preschool classes along with an associate teacher. Classes will be limited to 15 students because the nature activities require closer supervision.
There will two preschool sessions for children 3-5 years old in 2012, including a morning session from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and an afternoon session from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Both sessions will run from September-May. Tuition is $5,800 for the morning session and $2,000 for the afternoon session.
Both O’Connor and Luthy said they are excited for preschool to begin at CNC, and are looking forward to giving children a unique preschool experience.
“We’re giving them skills they will apply throughout their lives,” O’Connor said. “Children who learn the value of nature will grow into adults who take care of the world they live in.”
Preschool sessions are filling up fast, to enroll a child, or get more information about the program visit http://cincynature.org or call Tisha Luthy at (513) 831-1711.