Juniper Root Preschool and Microschool

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Juniper Root Preschool and Microschool Partnering with families to cultivate a human-centric education rooted in nature, community, compassion, curiosity, and play.

We are:
A Montessori preschool for 3-6 year olds. A self-directed experiential learning community for children 7-12 years old.

We are so lucky to have a fossil expert joining us for this session of forest school at Juniper Root!We have loved havin...
10/07/2026

We are so lucky to have a fossil expert joining us for this session of forest school at Juniper Root!
We have loved having Jon Porter’s grounding presence to help guide our crew around the property this fall. Today, he also brought in some of his fossil collection to share with us! The crew examined and worked to identify some of the common fossils found in this area using the Field Guide to the Creek Gravel of the St. Louis Formation booklet that Jon brought along to share. Such a concise and accessible guide to stick in your back pocket on creek walks: tinyurl.com/stlfossilguide

Jon also demonstrated how some minerals found in Missouri can glow under UV light!

After the demo, the crew set off to hunt for fossils and minerals in the creek.

If you’d like to get a taste of this fossil magic, Jon is also a co-founder of the St. Louis Prehistoric Life Show. They will be hosting a FREE event at the St. Louis Science Center on Saturday October 17th, 9:30am-4:30pm! Come check out some amazing fossils and bring in your own finds for experts to identify.

This round of forest school at Juniper Root is off to such a beautiful start!Such fast friendships form in this supporti...
10/06/2026

This round of forest school at Juniper Root is off to such a beautiful start!

Such fast friendships form in this supportive space. What a wonderful way to connect with nature and each other.

Our current session of forest school is full, but Juniper Root still has open slots available!
We are now enrolling ages 3-12 years old: 2 days/week (Tues/Thurs) or 1 day/week (Friday).

This is a great opportunity for young children who would like to ease into a group care setting, or homeschoolers seeking a space to explore different interests and connect/collaborate with a consistent group of peers.

More details here: JuniperRootSTL.com

Email [email protected] to schedule a tour or free trial day!

It seems the weather got the memo that FALL IS HERE! (For now:)There is so much to say about this amazing summer. For no...
09/23/2026

It seems the weather got the memo that FALL IS HERE! (For now:)

There is so much to say about this amazing summer.

For now, here are some pictures that capture at least a fraction of the joy and learning that’s been going on around here lately.

So grateful for the opportunity to offer a presentation called "Nature Nurtures" at this beautiful event.
09/21/2026

So grateful for the opportunity to offer a presentation called "Nature Nurtures" at this beautiful event.

And we’re ready for action!! Come join us from 1-4pm! With the shade and the breeze it’s actually quite pleasant out her...
09/19/2026

And we’re ready for action!!
Come join us from 1-4pm!
With the shade and the breeze it’s actually quite pleasant out here.

See you soon!

Tomorrow's the day!!Forecast looks a bit toasty, but we'll have the sprinkler running to beat the heat! Feel free to wea...
09/18/2026

Tomorrow's the day!!
Forecast looks a bit toasty, but we'll have the sprinkler running to beat the heat! Feel free to wear swimsuits if you please.

Conquer the inflatable obstacle course from 1-4 pm, free snow cones and ice cream from 2:30-3:30pm!

Last school year our learners raised funds by putting on an art show and hosting a booth at the U City Farmers Market . They took part in every step of the process, from brainstorming product ideas, budgeting supplies, creating the products, coordinating the events, operating the ticket booth, and selling their wares at the farmer's market.
At the end of the year we brainstormed ideas and voted to spend the funds on an inflatable bounce house and snow cone/ice cream truck for our 2nd Annual Student-Funded Fun Day.

If you're curious about Juniper Root, come on out and chat with us about what we have to offer!

“We need a lot of milk crates to build this. We need to make sure we don’t get dirty again after we take a shower!”“How ...
09/17/2026

“We need a lot of milk crates to build this. We need to make sure we don’t get dirty again after we take a shower!”

“How many more do we need?”
“4!”
“How many is 4?”

She slowly counts out four on her fingers, giving him a concrete visual of the quantity she needs.
He brings 4 more milk crates.

“Oh wait! 2 and 2…we actually need 4 more than that!”

Having internalized the concept of “4,” he skips over to bring enough crates to finish out the platform.

They spent a good portion of the afternoon playing—beating this late September heat in the creation they dreamt up and built all on their own.

What a gift. Selfishly, for me to witness all of this unfold. And for them to have this time and space to realize that they can bring their dreams into reality.

Juniper Root has just a few Tuesday/Thursday or Friday slots available for 3-12 year olds.

Feel free to reach out to [email protected] to schedule a tour or free trial day.

JuniperRootSTL.com

“I can’t wait to see people buying these…just imagine seeing someone wearing the earrings that I made!”One of our 9-year...
08/28/2026

“I can’t wait to see people buying these…just imagine seeing someone wearing the earrings that I made!”

One of our 9-year-old innovators has been working on a particular product for our upcoming farmer’s market for months. In the beginning, she didn’t know what she was making. She started out by playing around with different mediums, just following what inspired her. She used a paper puncher to create a bunch of butterflies, dabbed them with marker and sprayed them with a bit of water to make an interesting tie-dye effect. Those butterflies then sat on her art tray for a month or two while she developed other projects. When we started brainstorming ideas for farmers market products, the butterflies re-emerged and continued their metamorphosis. A few coats of mod-podge transformed them into the most perfect pendants for dangly earrings!

“I didn’t even know what these were when I started!”

I supported this learner as she moved through a moment of resistance when the idea of creating earrings first came to her.
Even though she wasn’t sure what she was going to do with the butterflies at first, the end result of earrings was not one that she expected. It’s amazing how easily we can reject our own brilliant ideas just because they are new and unfamiliar. I love that these learners are able to practice the art of getting out of their own way at such an early age!

Our older crew at Juniper Root spends a lot of their time tinkering, experimenting, and fine-tuning products to sell. In the fall, we operate a booth at the University City Farmer’s Market. In the spring, they come together to coordinate an art show fundraiser at the school. Rather than giving them particular products to create, we hold time and space for their unique skills, passions, and interests to bubble to the surface. We then gently guide the process towards a polished product and support them in gaining confidence to put it out into the world.

These children are true intrapreneurs! (A word I just learned!) Intrapreneurs are individuals who develop innovative products, ideas, and designs within a preexisting organization. Moving through this unique process of product development is helping these children hone skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

The earrings and student-made hand-folded gift boxes pictured here will be available at the U City Farmers Market Harvest Fest on October 24th from 8:30am-12:30pm. Come stop by the Juniper Root booth and say hi!

Juniper Root is now enrolling for the 2026-2027 school year! We have full and part-time options available for 3-12 year olds.

For more info: JuniperRootSTL.com or email Julie at [email protected]

❤

Does your 8-10 year old still have opportunities to play? Children have ample time for play during Wilderness Wednesdays...
08/26/2026

Does your 8-10 year old still have opportunities to play?

Children have ample time for play during Wilderness Wednesdays! (And every day at Juniper Root and Wilderkids Urban Forest School : )
This session is filling up quickly! We have just 4 slots left!
We'd love to add a few more 8-10 year olds to the bunch:)
Sign up here to secure your spot: JuniperRootSTL.com/WildernessWednesdays

We are so excited to have Angela Wildermuth back for forest school at Juniper Root!
This 9-week session of forest school will be an exploration of Juniper Root's wooded property in fall. We'll observe the leaves changing and falling, track wildlife as temperatures cool, hang in the honeysuckle woods, get better acquainted with the creek, and hike to the bioswale just beyond the property. Around Thanksgiving, we’ll collect black walnuts, paw paws, persimmons, crabapples, and autumn olives for a foraged feast!
The class will include demonstrations of how to make primitive versions of bows and arrows, spears, or slingshots. We might craft quills out of feathers for writing with natural dyes or melt down wax to make floating candles out of acorn caps!

We will also take field trips to August G. Beckemeier Conservation Area and Faust Park! (Both within 10 minutes of Juniper Root.)
Perhaps most importantly, there will be plenty of time for imaginative play, social/emotional learning, and open-ended nature exploration. As children get older, they seem to have less and less time available for group activities that are not structured by an adult. But the benefits of child-led play do not diminish with age! We are so fortunate to have this time and space to share with each other. I hope that you can join us.

We have space for 12 children age 5-10 years old!

There is also opportunity for 1 or 2 teens to develop their leadership skills by becoming a volunteer counselor! Volunteers will receive a thank you stipend at the end of the session.

Head over here to register by September 4th to secure your spot! JuniperRootSTL.com/WildernessWednesdays

Questions? [email protected] or [email protected]

“Let’s play Opposite Day!”“Ok. I hate books! Reading is boring!”🥰
06/05/2026

“Let’s play Opposite Day!”
“Ok. I hate books! Reading is boring!”

🥰

Address

620 N Woods Mill Road
Chesterfield, MO
63017

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 3:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 3:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 3:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 3:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 3:30pm

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