Creative Nature Project
"If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it." David Sobel
Creative Nature Playschool Philosophy
At Creative Nature Playschool we focus on recreational play and environmental education, while practicing school readiness skills. We strive to encourage children to build a positive self image of themselves and school by instilling a lifelong love for play, learning, and our natural environment.
Nature
At Creative Nature Playschool we strongly believe that nature is integral to child development. Each day is filled with plenty of time spent outside in our beautiful Nature Explore Certified indoor and outdoor classrooms, rain or shine! We spend time learning about plants, animals, the environment and how to be good stewards of our surroundings. Through positive experiences with nature, we set the stage for a lifetime commitment to caring for the earth, animals, and our communities. Early childhood is indeed the time to plant the seeds of wonder about our natural environment. Whether it is exploring for worms in the dirt, making new friends under a grapevine arbor, or expanding vocabulary through the use of earth based products; nature can be the source of better outcomes for all children. For more information on the benefits of children in nature read Benefits of Connecting Children with Nature by the Natural Learning Initiative here.
Play
At Creative Nature Playschool we strongly believe that children learn social emotional, cognitive, and physical developmental skills best through play. Play also allows children to expand their imagination and creativity. At CNP we believe in a balance of both child and teacher directed play and believe that safe risks are beneficial for the development of life skills.
Education
At Creative Nature Playschool we believe in teaching a solid foundation of school readiness skills, as each child becomes developmentally ready. In addition to CNP developed preschool curriculum we also utilize a combination of environmental education including Growing Up WILD curriculum (produced by Council of Environmental Education and Project Wild), and Woodsy Owl ABCs Preschool Supplement curriculum (produced by the US Department of Agriculture and US Forest Service).