Nature School Program
Journey Nature School (JNS) is an outdoor educational program geared toward preschoolers and homeschoolers ages 3-7.
Rooted in Reggio Emilia and Montessori philosophies intertwined with the Forest School model, JNS’s child-centered approach emphasizes unstructured play, varied expression experiences, and group conversations within mixed-age settings. Aligned with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme's Curriculum Framework, our curriculum integrates academic content with foundational social/emotional development practices.
In collaboration with families, JNS fosters a resilient community dedicated to environmental education. Our educators facilitate outdoor experiences, project-oriented activities, and open-ended learning, regardless of weather conditions. Rain or snow becomes an exciting opportunity for unique activities.
At JNS, we cultivate a love for discovery, exploration, and learning, nurturing self-efficacy skills and instilling a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship. Join us in creating an enriching educational environment where the unique characteristics of each child are celebrated, guiding their journey towards holistic development and a deep connection with the world.
What we value
How is progress measured?
Documentation through examples of children’s work, educator observations, portfolios, and embedded assessments are all tools that demonstrate student progress. The collected information is shared at parent-teacher conferences, held twice yearly.
“We love the freedom and space our children have been given to be themselves. They have been challenged to be in the difficult elements of nature, and this is something we believe they will take with them for the rest of their lives. The ability to enjoy outside… is huge for us. We appreciate the constant encouragement for our children to take an exploratory approach to learning and relationships.”
— Matthew M., Alumni Parent
