For the 2026-2027 school year, Nature Forward Preschool offers two five-day, drop-off programs at our 40-acre Woodend Nature Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
At Nature Forward Preschool, we believe childhood should be filled with wonder, movement, meaningful relationships, and time outdoors.
Children have the time and space to ask questions, solve problems, follow their curiosity, and discover the world with all of their senses.
In both Saplings and Oaks, learning unfolds through play, exploration, and unhurried time in nature.
Our curriculum grows from children’s curiosity. Our teachers carefully observe, listen, and build on children’s questions, interests, and discoveries, creating meaningful learning experiences that evolve throughout the year. Children’s fascinations, whether with insects, birds, puddles, or fallen logs, become invitations for deeper exploration and learning.
Children follow woodland trails, investigate plants and animals, build with natural materials, create art, sing songs, share stories, and enjoy long stretches of imaginative play. Every changing season invites wonder, experimentation, and discovery.
Our teachers create a warm and caring environment where children feel a strong sense of belonging and are encouraged to explore, take thoughtful risks, develop independence, and grow at their own pace. Literacy, mathematics, science, and social-emotional learning are woven naturally into these meaningful experiences, helping children develop confidence, curiosity, and resilience while building a lasting sense of connection to themselves, to one another, and to the natural world.
Saplings
Ages 3 and 4
Mondays through Thursdays
8:30 am-2:30 pm
Fridays, 8:30 am-12:00 pm
Class Size: 16 Maximum
Tuition: $1,580/month
Ideal for older threes and fours who are ready for a school experience independent of their parents. Saplings applicants must be independently using the bathroom and at least 3 years old by September 1, 2026.
Oaks
Ages 4 and 5
Mondays through Thursdays
8:30 am-2:30 pm
Fridays, 8:30 am-12:00 pm
Class Size: 18 Maximum
Tuition: $1,580/month
Ideal class for older fours and younger fives who would benefit from a year of nature school before beginning a structured kindergarten or first grade. Oaks applicants must be at least 4.5 years old by September 1, 2026.
An Afterschool Program (Mondays through Thursdays from 2:30–4 pm) and an Extended Day Program (Fridays from 12-4 pm) are also available
Nature Forward Preschool offers a balanced mix of nature, nurture, and academic success. Our students learn kindness and cooperation, develop their imaginations, exercise curiosity, and build confidence, skills, and knowledge for the future and to protect our world.