Curriculum
We're all about making learning an exciting adventure, right here in nature's incredible classroom.
What Will Your Child Learn + Explore?
As the Natural Start Alliance highlights, nature preschools like ours hold "dual goals of promoting child development and developing children’s environmental literacy." For us, that means using nature as the central organizing theme for our entire program, and spending all of our instructional time outdoors!
Here's a peek at how your child will learn and explore with us:
Sensory Fun: Touching soft moss, listening to birdsong, or smelling wildflowers. We engage all five senses for truly hands-on learning!
Child-Led Discovery & Problem-Solving: They'll get plenty of chances to explore, experiment, and figure things out on their own, building independence and clever problem-solving skills. We also embrace the benefits of children’s healthy, appropriate risk-taking as they navigate and learn in the outdoor environment.
Early Learning, Naturally: We mindfully weave in numbers (like counting acorns!), letters (finding shapes in nature!), patterns, and storytelling inspired by the world around us.
Caring for Nature: Your child will build a real connection with the outdoors, observing local plants and animals, understanding how seasons change, and developing a lifelong love for our planet.
Creative Play: Using sticks, leaves, and everything nature offers, they'll create art, build amazing structures, and dive into imaginative play.
Growing Together: Through shared outdoor adventures, they'll learn to cooperate, share, and build friendships, forming lifelong social and emotional skills.
Getting Active: From climbing and balancing to digging and exploring with natural "loose parts," they'll expand their physical development in the most fun way possible!
Nature Preschool FAQs
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We believe in gently guiding children as they explore, play, and discover the natural world. When it comes to little learners having big feelings or losing focus, we lean on supporting them in the moment + redirecting back to their natural center (and back to having fun with friends!).
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Absolutely — your child’s safety is our top priority. All Sprouts staff members will be CPR and First Aid certified.
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Due to food allergies and the individualized needs of preschoolers enrolled, we ask that parents provide a packed lunch for their child. We will have cold water (when it’s hot) so they can fill up their water bottles —depending on the season we may offer a fruit or veggie-related snack for them to share.
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For our Monday-Friday program, tuition rates are:
Full-Time (5 days/week): $650 per month
Part-Time (3 days/week): $500 per month
We also welcome drop-in days for enrolled students for $50 per day, with a minimum of 2 days per week. This offers flexibility if you need additional days beyond your regular schedule.
Please note that a non-refundable deposit is required to secure your child's spot, which will be applied directly towards their first month's tuition.
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While we welcome the rain and cold (above 32 degrees) we also follow WCPSS closures for snow, ice, and thunderstorms. During our summer session we also keep an eye out for heat advisories for Southern Wake County. We send out alerts through text and the Brightwheel app to parents as soon as possible.
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One of our goals this year is to build a fence as a visual reminder for our little ones to “stay as a group” like our orange rainbow rule suggests. If we are making art under the carport, then we all join. If our friends are playing hide and seek in the backyard, we all call the backyard our basecamp until the next activity.
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Potty training is a natural part of preschool! We’re here to support them wherever they are on their journey. Whether your little one is still navigating pull-ups or ready for big kid undies we just ask to pack an extra pair or two for when an accident does happen. Our yellow rainbow rule “we listen to our body and go to the potty” seems to help too.
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Yes, we do! We are happy to offer a monetary discount ($45 off monthly tuition for part-time or full-time students), barter for baked goods + books, or accept any art supplies you want gift for the school.
Ready to Get Wild About Learning?
Completing this form is the first step in our enrollment process. A formal deposit ($100) will be required to secure your child's spot. The deposit will be applied to 1st month's tuition.