Eastern Ridge Nature Preschool

Eastern Ridge Nature Preschool Small Boots. Big Adventures! More than a preschool, Eastern Ridge is a community.

Inspired by the “Forest Schools” and nestled on three sprawling acres in Great Falls, Virginia, Eastern Ridge Nature Preschool is a full-time, year-round nature-based preschool and summer camp for children 2 - 6 years old. Nestled in a quiet neighborhood in Great Falls, Virginia, Eastern Ridge Nature Preschool is a full-time, year-round nature-based preschool, also known as a “forest school.” In a

ddition to being an outdoor school, Eastern Ridge is a play-based program. We believe that “play is the work of early childhood,” and provide an environment ripe for creative problem solving and imaginative play with plenty of support from their teachers along the way. We offer social and educational gatherings throughout the year, and parents and caregivers serve on committees and attend community work days, helping with projects around our three-acre property.

08/22/2026

Thank you to our two-legged and four-legged friends at Spirit Open Equestrian Program (Lauren Wong and all the wonderful volunteers) for hosting another thoughtful experiential workshop for our staff. We learned a lot about verbal and nonverbal communication, expectations, respect, and meeting individuals where they are…all lessons that translate to our work with the children and with each other as colleagues. Special thanks to our patient equine teachers: Cocoa, Luna, Pumpkin, and Skye!

08/18/2026

Kicking off another Professional Development Week with our annual team building workshop using clay as our medium for communication, connection, and collaboration. Always an amazing process! #

07/30/2026

Nature is art and art is nature. Ask any toddler.

07/27/2026

Through play, our summer camp students sometimes show us important life lessons. If your stick fort doesn’t turn out quite how you imagined it, no worries! You can always try again, and again, take a break to pet a frog, and then try AGAIN! With every attempt, there is valuable practice in patience, social cooperation, and of course problem solving.

07/09/2026

It’s STEAM-y out here at Eastern Ridge Nature Preschool summer camp, and we’re not just talking about the heat and humidity! Our nature-based camp has its fair share of frogs ‘n’ toads (16 spotted in the last two days 🐸), garden delights, and sand and mud. But some folks might not realize how much STEAM related activity is baked in as a natural result of giving kids autonomy, loose parts, and time and space to experiment with the materials and elements in their surroundings.

We’re hiring an Assistant Teacher! Excellent opportunity for early childhood educators passionate about nature based edu...
05/29/2026

We’re hiring an Assistant Teacher! Excellent opportunity for early childhood educators passionate about nature based education and the forest preschool philosophy. Visit our website for information about how to apply or email [email protected] to inquire directly. https://www.nature-preschool.org/careers/

04/24/2026

Infants, toddlers, and their grown-ups had a feast for their senses today as we explored winding paths through a native garden in full bloom, then hiked over a bridge and past a busy racoon (!) to a nearby creek in the woods for some toe-splashing, pebble-tossing fun on a warm spring day such as this.

04/22/2026

Anyone care for “everything but the kitchen sink” nature soup?

04/20/2026

When we slow down, get quiet, and become still, something beautiful happens. We begin to notice the little things we may have otherwise missed. In these moments, we’re not just watching nature from the outside, we are reminded that we are part of it!

04/17/2026

We so often stop to watch the water, but actually experiencing the feeling of the mossy rocks and cold moving water opens a whole new world of natural learning!

Address

9201 Vernon Drive
Great Falls, VA
22066

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

(703) 757-7900

Website

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