Our Programs
Elementary Nature School
Our flagship program, the Elementary Nature School gives children the opportunity to participate in dynamic nature based learning for three (fall, winter, spring,) or four (fall, winter, spring, summer) seasons.
​
Elementary curriculum uses "The Great Stories" as a springboard for interdisciplinary learning.There are five Great Lessons that are introduced: The Coming of the Universe, The Timeline of Life, The Timeline of Humans, The Story of Math, and The Story of Language. In this way, children learn about their place in the universe.
​
Each of these lessons initiates curiosity or interests connected to other academic areas. These stories spark the imagination of Elementary students and give them a context for deeper engagement and learning.
Instead of approaching schoolwork as discrete subjects, Montessori Elementary students discover the interrelationship between subject areas and understand how math, language, science and history are connected and important for understanding and learning. With nature as our primary resource, we are always rediscovering the interconnectedness of all things.
The Elementary Nature School begins at 8:30 AM and ends at 3:15 PM.
​
Nature Based Before and After Club
Children are able to arrive at 8 AM for a chance to play outside, engage in a nature art activity, or go for a neighborhood walk.
​
After club, which runs from 3:15-5:30 provides children with another chance to interact with their peers while riding bikes and scooters around the property, engaging in creative play and art projects, gardening, or sitting on the stoop with a good book.
Trout Lily Summer Camp
Trout Lily started as a weekend nature based program during COVID. This evolved into a partnership with Norwood grows that became Trout Lily Summer Camp. Offering five distinctly themed weeks of camp from July through mid August, we serve over 100 children per summer. Camp registration opens in February.
The child who has felt a strong love for his surroundings and for all living creatures, who has discovered joy and enthusiasm in work, gives us reason to hope that humanity can develop in a new direction.
- Dr. Maria Montessori
