Nature's Child Academy

Childcare experts are recognizing that children who grow up primarily indoors and focused on screens tend to struggle later in life. This has led to an international movement for outdoor education and the growth in the U.S. of nature-based preschools. As the areas first nature-based preschool, Nature’s Child Academy caters exclusively to children ages three to kindergarten. In addition to traditio

nal indoor classrooms, our unique facility features a 2,600 sq. ft., heated outdoor learning pavilion and 40,000 sq. of tree shaded playground. This allows our students to learn and play outdoors most of their school day subject to DCFS guidelines. Our center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. making us one of the areas only preschools with extended care hours. With our students spending most of their weekday hours with us, it is important they have access to the outdoors. Our students will also participate in nature-based field trips to Lincoln Memorial Gardens, Audubon Society bird sanctuary, parks and local farms. Over the next two years our staff and students will be working together to qualify as National Wildlife Federation classrooms. Our ultimate goal is to have students fully prepared to begin kindergarten while having them return home each evening excited about their day, grubby from being outdoors and ready for dinner and bed!