THE NATURE NEST STORY
Learn & Explore
At The Nature Nest, we’re proud to provide a caring and safe environment for your children. By following our mission, vision and values, we create a nurturing, stimulating and welcoming learning environment for all children.
We provide our students with the tools they need for future happiness and success. Our unique programs incorporate a variety of educational theories, while always keeping the child’s best interests in mind and allowing for hands-on, experiential learning. Get in touch to learn more!
OUR MISSION
Innovative & Responsible
At The Nature Nest, our mission is to provide young children and their parents with the foundation for healthy development and outstanding education to live healthier, happier lives in the most natural of settings, while exploring, utilizing and learning to trust nature's abundant resources.
Nature Nest is a place to get inspired, learn and grow...naturally!
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Unique & Valuable
We believe that it takes a village to raise healthy happy families. An effective child care model is one that seeks to provide the right environment not only for the child but for the parents as well. By offering parents a community of like-minded people to connect with, find support in and a place to go for trustworthy information, education, classes/workshops, wellness & lifestyle coaching, child care services, nutrition counseling and much more... we're helping to strengthen today's family model and really setting a solid foundation for our children, our future.
In our Nursery Preschool Programs, children are met with a supportive nature-inspired environment which is safe and inviting. Paving the way for outstanding cognitive and psychosocial development, and preparing children for school and furthermore, life. We offer a home-like space with a solid foundation made up of what are known by researchers as the 6 Developmental Priming Mechanisms:
Encouragement to explore.
Mentoring in basic cognitive and social skills, such as labeling things, sorting, and comparing.
Celebration of their accomplishments.
Guidance in practicing and expanding their skills.
Protection form inappropriate punishment, testing, or disapproval for mistakes or unintended consequences of exploring and trying out skills.
Stimulation of language and other symbolic communication.
Our unique childcare program draws inspiration from Waldorf Education, Reggio Emilia, and Montessori, and offers various activities that are specifically designed to encourage each child’s growth. Through cooperative play and creative activities, kids reach their social, emotional and physical milestones naturally and with ease. The Nature Nest is not just a place to learn academic skills but most of all to learn important life-skills and concepts for healthy living from the start: Nature-connection, problem-solving, self-regulation, art expression, mindfulness, nutrition, cooking, and much more...
FAMILY SUITES
A unique model of care.
The Nature Nest's classrooms are referred to as "Family Suites". A Family Suite is a home-like educational environment where a small group of children and their caregivers remain together throughout the years. A model of care that eliminates the frequent and often stressful transitions most children experience in traditional child care centers.
Children in family suites at The Nature Nest benefit from relationship-based care and are given the opportunity to establish secure bonds and a true sense of belonging.
Family Suites, modeled after family child care homes, offer the safety and comfort of a home away from home, providing consistent caregivers throughout the years, along with a support network of other neighboring caregivers. It's no wonder this is becoming the preferred arrangement for more and more parents.
Bonding to adults who provide consistent, nurturing care during the years of early childhood is tantamount to the development of healthy relationships in youth and adulthood. Brain research indicates that “the architecture of the brain depends on a series of critical but subtle emotional transactions between an infant and a devoted caregiver…clearly formulating the elusive building blocks of creative and analytic thinking, and the sense of self” (Dr. Stanley Greenspan).
An emphasis is also placed on the learning that is cultivated through mixed-age groupings. The younger ones learn basic self-care and social skills from observing the older children, and the older ones learn basic nurturing skills by observing the caregivers tend to the little ones. Another benefit of having mixed ages is that the ratio of children to care providers enables more of a family feeling. The caregiver/teacher is able to meet the special needs of each age group.
HATCHLINGS
0-3 years of age
Our birth-three suite. A home-like environment you can trust. Truly a second home for children & families! A place to learn, be nurtured, explore curiosity, grow and thrive in the most natural of settings, where we
emphasize nurturing the child’s sense of trust and well-being through having the same caregivers throughout the early years. Relationship-based care that takes family life as its model complements your home life and provides an environment in which your child will flourish.
NESTLINGS
2.5 - 5 years of age
Recognizing that human relationship and activity are the essential tools for all foundational life-skills, our 2.5-5 suite is a place where daily life experience is the “curriculum” through which your child experiences healthy life rhythms and routines.
Beauty, comfort, security, and connection to the living world of nature form the basis for the “Living Arts:"
Domestic Arts
Nurturing Arts
Social Arts
Creative Arts
Our unique Life curriculum is rooted in nature and inspired by Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia pedagogy.
FLEDGLINGS
4.5 - 13 years of age
Our school aged suites begin with a kindergarten-first grade mix where children are introduced to academics in the following areas through play and nature exploration:
· Language Arts
· Math
· Visual Arts
· Performing Arts
· Domestic Arts
· Science
We believe in the importance of preserving childhood, encouraging imagination, as well as fostering creative play and exploration at any grade level.
Options for full time, part time, before & afterschool, or homeschool support.
ECO-HEALTHY
Recognized by the Children's Environmental Health Network as an Eco-Healthy Child Care® Provider, we take extra care to create an early learning environment that is healthier and safer by reducing children's exposure to harmful chemicals, selecting safer natural materials, cleaning products, even pest control services, and more...
That is just one of the ways the Nature Nest is meeting higher standards in child care and aspiring to set a set new a benchmark for quality in the field of early childhood care and education.
THE NATURE NEST DIFFERENCE
OUTDOOR FUN
& NATURE EXPLORATION
More than just for a "recess", outdoors is an extension of the learning and living space. A place for story time, lunch or snacks, sensory play & nature exploration, walks or even tree & rock-climbing. At the Nature Nest, we enjoy the outdoors quite a bit and we like to think that the outdoors enjoy us too! =)
OUR TEAM
SARAH MYRIAM
Owner/Director
ECE Specialist
Dr. Sears Certified Health Coach
DIANA LOPES
Fledglings Teacher
Director Designee
Doula
CAMILA PEREIRA
Nestlings Teacher
Child Psychologist
RAFAELA NUNES
Fledglings Co-Teacher
Nurse
BETHY HALL
Nestlings Teacher
CDA
Food Safety Manager
ANA SANTOS-HAAS
Hatchlings Teacher
MERI JANEVSKI
Hatchlings Teacher
Early Interventionist
Midwife
APPLY TODAY
Click to Register
2. ENROLLMENT PACKET
Next up, you'll need to download the enrollment paperwork to review and sign. Have the medical paperwork completed by the doctor and returned to us via email to sarah@naturenest.info, via fax to 862-444-2188, or in person during your child's transition visits.
PREPARING FOR THE FIRST DAY
Before the first day, we encourage families to schedule at least 2-3 transition visits or play dates. Transition visits/play dates are when the child spends some time at Nature Nest accompanied by his/her parent/guardian, playing, exploring...getting acquainted with the other children, the caregivers, and the space. The goal is to create a positive memory here in this space with your child.
Each transition visit/play date should last about an hour--just long enough to have a good time, but not too long to overwhelm. By spending time here and playing together with their child, the parents/guardians send the message to the child that this is a safe space which the parent/guardian enjoys and trusts. After transition visits, once the child begins care on their first day, they will already have had a pleasant memory of playing with their parent/guardian at Nature Nest.
To schedule your transition visits/play dates, please head on over to the Book Online section of the website and select New Student Orientation.
WHAT TO EXPECT
During transition visits/play dates, families can expect to take part in our activities of the day such as circle time, outdoor play, snack or lunch...to name a few. Your child may or may not take interest in what the rest of the class is doing and that is fine. There is no pressure to join in. Remember transition visits/play dates are simply an opportunity for you to play with and bond with your child here in this space....to make a pleasant memory. But just in case you would like to have an idea for what our typical day is like, please refer to our daily rhythm page or click here for a printable copy.
WHAT TO BRING
There is no need to bring anything for your transition visits/play dates other than perhaps a snack for your child.
There are a few items and supplies that you'll need to bring in for the first day, however. Most families prefer to bring in these items on the last transition visit so as to make the first official day easier with a lighter load.
Please refer to our Welcome Letter for a list of supplies needed. If you should need to purchase any of these items, please consider purchasing through the links provided. These are affiliate links for which a small amount goes to the school to help offset some of our costs or fund projects.
TESTIMONIALS
Hear From Our Families
Since the birth of our second, our first has been the BEST big brother. I owe part of that to the wonderful nurturing environment you all provide him!
G.'s mom
I am beyond thankful for the family we've made at The Nature Nest! Than you!
E.'s dad
I wish there were words to describe how much you've done for our family! Since we joined, we've felt nothing but love and care for our little one.
B.'s mom
Just so grateful for you and your staff. Honestly wouldn't be at such peace without Nature's Nest right now. And I fall in love more everyday. He's so happy there!