Schuylkill Center Nature Preschool to Hold Open House
September 29, 2015

PHILADELPHIA � The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education welcomes community members to an open house on Thursday, November 5, from 6:30 � 7:30 pm. Since opening in September of 2013 as the first nature preschool in Pennsylvania, the Schuylkill Center Nature Preschool has seen tremendous growth. In its inaugural year, 39 children were enrolled in Nature Preschool; now in its third year, with three classrooms, 67 children are enrolled. At Nature Preschool, 3 � 5 year-olds are outdoors every day, playing and learning in nature, while becoming fully prepared for the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical challenges of kindergarten.

During a time when children are more disconnected from nature than ever before, scientific research in early childhood development is revealing the critical connection between exposure to nature and a child's developing brain. Immersive time in nature fosters children's growth and helps them to be less anxious and better able to focus. Parents have witnessed the transformation in their children after experiencing Nature Preschool's progressive approach, which features an emergent curriculum and multi-age classrooms. "I noticed such a difference in my son this year. He was much calmer and more engaged. I have to think that it is true what research has proven with giving the kids a nurturing setting and nature at their fingertips for exploring," said Stephanie, a Nature Preschool mom.

Nature Preschool opens directly onto the 365-acre nature preserve of the Schuylkill Center, allowing children to explore the natural world in a risk-managed environment. Shannon Wise, Preschool Manager at the Schuylkill Center, describes the Tall Tree Playscape, which fosters children's desire to learn, saying, "Part of what makes Nature Preschool so special is our outdoor space. We incorporate nature into the children's vision of community and with walks and hikes allowing room for the children to be guided by curiosity."

To better serve the needs of working parents, the Schuylkill Center offers a flexible schedule with half-day or full-day options and before care and after care.

To learn more about Nature Preschool, see the classrooms and meet teachers, join the Schuylkill Center for their open house on Thursday, November 5, at 6:30 pm or call 215-482-7300, x110 to schedule a tour.

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. In 2015 the Schuylkill Center is celebrating 50 years of connecting people and nature, with a series of events highlighting the Center's work and vision for the future. For more information: www.schuylkillcenter.org.

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