Nature Preschool to Hold Open House in January
December 22, 2014
PHILADELPHIA � In the crisp December air, a group of children dash through the woods. They're building forts from fallen branches, peering under layers of bark on an old tree, and walking along a fallen log. It looks like a lot of fun � and it is � but this is also a key part of the curriculum at the Schuylkill Center Nature Preschool. Each day children are immersed in nature, learning and playing in the fields and forests of the Schuylkill Center. Want to practice learning to balance? The preschoolers do that by testing their skills on logs. Time to learn the alphabet? Children find letter-shaped twigs and start from there.
On January 15, Nature Preschool invites community members to an open house at 6:30 pm to learn about the program, meet the teachers, and find out what makes it so special. Families can get a sneak-peek at Nature Preschool by bringing the little ones � preschool staff will be offering special activities to keep them engaged.
Since it opened its doors in 2013, the Schuylkill Center's Nature Preschool has been immersing children in nature daily, offering a unique preschool for children in the Philadelphia area. Nature Preschool, the first of its kind in Pennsylvania also offers children the many benefits associated with time in nature. From improved focus and mood to lifelong emotional resilience and better academic performance, this time in nature has a profound impact on early childhood development.
The parents have been raving about the program. One parent explains, "I tell people that it's an opportunity for a preschool experience you can't get anywhere else. I love that [my daughter] has the opportunity to climb and play and test her limits. You don't get that at other schools."
The Schuylkill Center invites interested community members to an open house on Thursday, January 15, at 6:30 pm to learn more about the program. Nature Preschool offers a welcoming and flexible program, with morning and full-day sessions and before- and aftercare options (based upon sufficient interest), making it a good fit for any family's needs.
About the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
The Schuylkill Center was founded in 1965 as the nation's first urban environmental education center. Its 365-acres of fields and forests serve as a living laboratory to foster appreciation, deepen understanding, and encourage stewardship of the environment. Reaching over 36,000 Philadelphia-area residents each year, the Schuylkill Center offers a diverse collection of educational programs, including programs for school, continuing education for teachers, Pennsylvania's first Nature Preschool, and a full calendar of events for the public. The environmental art department inspires and educates, while pushing the cutting edge and using art to remediate local ecological issues. Acting as the only clinic of its kind in a four-county region, the Wildlife Clinic at the Schuylkill Center treats 3,300 injured, orphaned, and sick animals annually.
For more information: www.schuylkillcenter.org
