PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS
Ages 3-5
Wild Life Forest Preschool at Earth Native is Central Texas’s first true forest preschool. Set in the hardwood forests of Bastrop along beautiful Cedar Creek, our forest preschool offers children ages 3-5 the chance to take their first steps towards long term nature connection.
Like forest preschools in Europe and around the world, Wild Life Forest Preschool at Earth Native is play-based, child-led, and earth-conscious. Children learn as the mammals do, by following their satisfaction through play, by challenging their bodies, and by experiencing the patterns of their environment, both natural and social, in a forest they themselves care for.
Three program options are offered: M/W program, T/Th program and Friday Program. 4-5 year olds are welcome to enroll in more than one of these programs.
The vision of the forest preschool at Earth Native is simple - every child can find themselves in the forest. We believe each child is already equipped with the tools to learn through play, exploration and natural curiosity, and that the best way to bring out the unique spirit of each child is to allow them to be free in the forest.
PRESCHOOL/KINDER MONTHLY nature PROGRAM
October - april
Ages 3.5-5
If you have a little one, you already know that young children explore and learn using all of their senses. At Earth Native, your preschooler will become fully immersed in the natural world. Here, they will follow clues to solve exciting nature mysteries, use natural materials to wildcraft their own art supplies, munch on native wild edibles, and practice blending into the environment so that they can sneak about the forest, quietly observing wildlife.
Each day will include a sharing circle, story, and time to hike and explore. We'll use developmentally appropriate games and activities to enrich our learning about the day's theme. Using our fox feet, owl eyes, deer ears and raccoon hands, we'll be having fun and making new connections with every step!
Let's bound like bunnies, dig like javelina, watch like hawks, sneak like bobcats, howl like coyotes, build like beavers, climb like squirrels, smell like raccoons, and most importantly, DISCOVER. Who knows where a shimmery spider web or flitting butterfly could lead us for the day? Your child will walk away with knowledge about local flora and fauna, new friendships, and an inspired sense of connection to nature!
MUDDY SHOES
NATURE explorers...in Bastrop!
Ages 3.5-5
Does your little one love playing outside? Come track animals, munch on wild edibles, and call out at circling hawks this fall! We won't miss a teachable moment as we explore the natural world together and wonder at the magic all around.
Each day will include a sharing circle, story, and time to hike and explore. We'll use developmentally appropriate games and activities to enrich our learning about the day's theme. From frog eggs to fox tails, we'll be having fun and making new connections with every step!
Let's create, touch, watch, get quiet, be loud, move, build, climb, smell, and most importantly, DISCOVER. Who knows where a shimmery spider web or incredible egret sighting could lead us for the day? Your child will walk away with knowledge about local flora and fauna, new friendships, and an inspired sense of connection to nature!
Join us for 1 day of class or more! We will explore different areas of our beautiful wooded campus in Bastrop at each class for a new adventure each time.
Wildlife detectives
one day class
Ages 3.5-5
Does your little one enjoy investigating the natural world? Do they love holding creepy crawlies or collecting feathers? Perhaps their curiosity has them looking to the sky for our aviary friends or simply admiring the beautiful wildflowers on the ground below their feet? If so, join us for a day of exploring and discovering the local flora and fauna of central Texas!
We’ll go on a safari discovering all sorts of natural mysteries from plants, to animals, to fungi, to birds, to insects and much more! We’ll use field guides, magnifying glasses, binoculars and other tools to help us create a master species list and learn all about our woodland friends.
So, grab your explorer backpack and become a Wildlife Detective with us!
SUMMER Day CampS
JUNE-AUGUST
Ages 4-5
Is your little one a nature lover? Then they will love our Forest Explorers Camp at McKinney Falls State Park.
They will track animals, munch on wild edibles, and call out at circling hawks this summer! We won't miss a teachable moment as we explore the natural world together and wonder at the magic all around.
Each day will include a sharing circle, story, and time to hike and explore. We'll use developmentally appropriate games and activities to enrich our learning about the day's theme. From frog eggs to fox tails, we'll be having fun and making new connections with every step!
Let's create, touch, watch, get quiet, be loud, move, build, climb, smell, and most importantly, DISCOVER. Who knows where a shimmery spider web or incredible egret sighting could lead us for the day? Your child will walk away with knowledge about local flora and fauna, new friendships, and an inspired sense of connection to nature!
Have them join fellow nature lover friends from ages three and a half to five for a summer of fun!