Why Nature Preschool?

What is the difference between traditional preschool and nature-based preschool? The MN Zoo Nature Preschool has the same goals for development and success as traditional programs but bases these goals and daily learning through experiences in, and with, the natural world. We base our programming on the most current developmentally appropriate practices for young children as well as the current best practices in environmental education. Current research shows that children’s development across all domains improves when instruction takes place in a natural setting.

In the Nature Preschool, we will spend 50+ percent of our day outside of the classroom, in all types of weather. Our class day is structured to allow for child-driven exploration of outdoor spaces in order to discover, learn, and reflect. We also believe that building empathy and love with the natural world deepens children’s understanding of the concepts they learn and creates a lifelong connection with the world around us.