What is a Nature Preschool: A nature preschool refers to any program that combines practices from early childhood education and environmental education. Best practice in ECE emphasize learning through play and utilizing an emergent- curriculum approach. This approach allows teachers to plan activities and projects based on the interests and skills of the children they are working with. Environmental education is focused on developing individuals who are stewards of the planet. It includes teaching skills and knowledge and fostering emotional connections to nature that lead to pro-environmental behaviors. When put together, the program at Leesburg Nature Playschool provides our families with a setting that is developmentally appropriate (i.e. play-based) and a curriculum that follows the lead of the children. We spend time outside every day and have weekly field trips to parks, preserves, and nature centers in the greater Leesburg area. We get dirty, we pick up sticks, we squish in mud, and we explore and enjoy the beautiful world around us.

Why Choose a Nature Preschool: Children today spend more time than ever indoors. Our local school system provides 30 minutes of recess each day, however, it is up to the principal to determine what temperatures are “too hot” or “too cold” to go out in, so many hours of recess are spent inside as well. In order to understand and embrace the wonder of the world around us we need to spend time out in it. Nature preschool provides young children with the chance to do just that…explore the properties of mud, notice the colors and textures of plants, learn about “sink” and “float” in a puddle. Why use plastic toys and photos when you can manipulate the real life thing? Nature preschools also allow children to engage all of their senses and developmental domains. Children build social-emotional skills like self-regulation while engaging in climbing or hanging. The develop problem solving skills while working as a group to move a large rock. Language and literacy are learned though the use of stories, nature guides, and journals kept by the children. Science and math happen while observing and classifying insects, building with sticks and logs, and using rope to create simple machines. Finally, artistic expression is part of every day: creating patterns with flowers, structures with sand, or drawing with markers and crayons. A quality program allows children to interact with all of these domains on a regular basis in a way that is important and meaningful to the child – not the adult who is watching.

What Makes LNP different: Loudoun Nature Preschool respects the child. We meet each child where they are socially, emotionally, and physically and grow from there. We do not require seatwork. We do not stay inside. While we do have large group meetings we respect children’s need to move in order to concentrate and welcome wiggly children to the carpet or blanket for story. We do pick up sticks and bugs and interesting leaves and we encourage messes and experiments. We definitely get wet. We learn through experiences and follow the child’s lead as far as safely possible. 

Our program hours are 9:30am – 1:00pm. Tuition for the 2022-2023 school year is $425/month for the 4-day program and $250/month for the 2-day program. We have a $100 registration fee. Nature preschool does require purchasing some specialized gear – rain boots and a rain suit (OAKI makes a good one), snow pants/boots/coat and waterproof gloves, and your usual jackets for fall/spring. We ask that children bring a packed lunch and water bottle every day.

LNP is in the process of becoming  licensed as a Family Day Home by the VA Dept. of Social Services.  

Benefits of Nature Education: 
https://wehavekids.com/education/Preschoolers-Learn-Best-Through-Play

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/04/early-childhood-outdoor-education/558959/

https://naturalstart.org/sites/default/files/benefits_of_connecting_children_with_nature_infosheet.pdf

http://naturalstart.org/