Chippewa Nature Center’s (CNC) Nature Preschool in Midland, Michigan is a high-quality early childhood program for 3- and 4-year olds that teaches children literacy, math, science, and social-emotional skills in the context of nature. Daily outdoor experiences in the play areas and on the nature center property help develop the whole child and create a lifelong, meaningful relationship with the natural world. The children regularly hike to wooded areas, ponds, fields, and the Homestead Farm.
The curriculum focuses on the whole child, promoting growth in physical, social, emotional, and intellectual areas. Nature Preschool uses the Creative Curriculum® model, which emphasizes purposeful and productive play experiences that help children grow in all areas. Based upon seasonal changes, the curriculum includes art, music, social and cognitive skill development, gross and fine motor skill development, and natural science exploration.
At CNC, 3- and 4-year old children attend two to four days per week, September to May, for three hours daily. It is a tuition-based program, but scholarships are available. In fact, of the 88 children in the program each year, approximately half receive some sort of tuition assistance. To learn more about the program, please visit our website.
