Acorns
Once Weekly
For ages 4 & younger with a caregiver
Every Acorns class is a new adventure. Together, children and their caregivers explore the changing seasons through songs, stories, hikes, nature exploration, art, and plenty of unhurried outdoor play throughout our 40-acre Woodend Nature Sanctuary. We slow down and make space for curiosity.
We listen for birdsong in the spring, splash in puddles after the rain, collect colorful autumn leaves, look for animal tracks in fresh snow, and create ice sculptures that sparkle before melting in the winter sun. Along the way, we celebrate the small discoveries children naturally make when given the time, freedom, and space to explore.
Designed for children ages 4 and younger with a caregiver, Acorns meets once each week for 75 minutes. Classes take place entirely outdoors from September through May, inviting families to experience the beauty and wonder of every season together.
Wednesdays or Thursdays
(9 am-10:15 am or 10:45 am-12 noon)
Tuition: $150/month,
plus $75 application fee
Maximum class size: 12 families
50% sibling discounts are offered for families enrolling more than one child. Younger siblings under 1 year of age are welcome to join at no additional cost. Each week, families will take home a new process-based activity to support further learning together.
What parents say about Nature Preschool’s Acorns Program:
“The Acorns program has been a gift to our family. We feel lucky to have participated in the program two years in a row (ages 2-4) and found it to be a great fit for our son at every stage. As a parent, I’m grateful that [my son] was able to connect with a lovely cohort of mixed-age children and their accompanying adults each week.
Exploring the same spot through the seasons has nurtured his curiosity, awareness, and confidence. Woodend will always be a special place for us because of Nature Forward.“
Nature Preschool Parent
“The program has been wonderful—songs, stories, crafts, and most importantly, looking carefully at our natural surroundings.“
Nature Preschool Parent
“Our daughter loves rolling logs to look for worms, snails, and slugs. She lets them crawl all over her hands. She finds them new homes. We started doing this in the Acorns program at Nature Forward, but we do it everywhere now.
I’m not sure digging for worms is something I would have thought to do with her on my own, so Nature Forward has been transformative for us.”
Nature Preschool Parent
“We really enjoyed our time with the Acorns class…Miss Marie was wonderful with the kids and very engaging.
I was able to watch my daughter’s confidence grow each month. I also loved that it was the same families every week to bring some familiarity and consistency. “
Nature Preschool Parent
Nature Forward
At Nature Forward, our 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.