Nature-based education has been shown to improve cognitive, linguistic, social- emotional, motor skills, creative thinking and promotes environmentally friendly values in preschool children.
Nature-based education is a pedagogy where nature is the central organizing theme of the curriculum. This educational philosophy is where the natural world is the integrating thread that intentionally weaves together the philosophy, methodologies, classroom design, outdoor spaces, and sets values surrounding awareness and appreciation for the environment.
Goals of the Investigator Program are designed to introduce young children to a preschool setting that foster’s a supportive school environment, in which children will receive the necessary encouragement to develop increasing levels of independence. Our educational principles provide children with age appropriate learning. We focus on cognitive development, working with the children on language arts, math, science and social studies concepts, but we also emphasize social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Children will be able to start to investigate and build enthusiasm for learning in areas that include science, art, nutrition, music, basic letter and number recognition, identifying shapes and patterns, and physical education. Once the Investigator’s have completed this program, they will have the ability to move onto our more challenging Explorer Program.
A central focus of our nature based, reggio-inspired school is that the environment is a “third educator,” and the indoor and outdoor environments are carefully designed to provide opportunities for children to engage in stimulating and meaningful work in spaces that support developmentally appropriate learning and social interactions, are aesthetically pleasing, reflect the culture of the children and the community, and offer flexibility and creativity. Our nature school has an extensive outdoor environment with a playground, flower gardens, introductory nature trails, a wooden bear den, and a little creek located off the Eco-Creek Trail. The emphasis on exploration and collaborative learning in our environment fosters children’s creativity, inquiry and discovery. We look forward to sparking your child’s sense of joy, curiosity, and wonder!
Children in this program DO need to be potty trained.
There is no typical day at KGE. We are led as much as possible by the children and their interests, play, the weather and seasons. Our rhythm of the day may look something like this.
Goals of the Explorer Program includes delivering early childhood education by developing self-esteem, motor skills, creativity, self-mastery, and autonomy. Helping the child with gradual separation as their days begin to get longer in a school setting, and developing skills in language and communication, socialization, logical and sequential thinking, literacy, and mathematical concepts. The Explorer Program uses an innovative approach that is designed to spark students’ interest in generating, exploring, and answering queries that help children find answers through exploration, experimentation, and conversation. Furthermore, the end result of the Explorer Program is to guide and prepare each child on their very own journey to Kindergarten Readiness.
Our nature-based, reggio-inspired preschool environment is designed to create interactions and cooperation between parents, teachers, and especially children since social exchange is considered essential for learning. Each beautiful nature classroom is developmentally appropriate and challenges each student at their own pace. Our nature school utilizes outdoor spaces to increase children’s awareness of the natural world as they play outside and participate in ongoing projects where teachers encourage students to investigate the complexity of the natural environment. Our culture for achievement in our classrooms indoors and outdoors is to offer a child-inspired emergent curriculum that has an eloquent balance of creative play and skill-based learning. Our pedagogical approach includes the following goals for children’s development in nature. A respectful relationship with nature, a feeling of being at home in wild places, an appreciation for natural cycles, an ability to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, and a feeling of empowerment through knowledge about ways to protect the natural world. We look forward to sparking your child’s sense of joy, curiosity, and wonder!
Children in this program DO need to be potty trained.
Before your child enters Kindergarten they will have grown in these areas of development.
There is no typical day at KGE. We are led as much as possible by the children and their interests, play, the weather and seasons. Our rhythm of the day may look something like this.
The Aftercare Program serves children ages 5-8 from 3:00pm – 4:30pm. This offers children and parents a unique nurturing experience that offers more “one-on-one” interaction with children and staff. Children in this program are referred to as Migrator’s. These age groups have developed the independent skills to “migrate” from their school to KGE by the Saco School’s Bus System, and we recognize for most children that this is a special milestone. When children arrive at our facility, a Lead Educator or Assistant Educator will be waiting for your child’s arrival. The Migrator Program is mindful of the supervision expectations of working parents who want enrichment for their child, or have been recommended by the school system for families who prefer a small more private aftercare program.
This program is designed to offer mentoring and guidance by our educated facilitators, so students have the opportunity to improve academically, encourage good citizenship, while exposing them to topics surrounding environmental sustainability, earth sciences, ecology, social activities, and other educational opportunities. Our afterschool program is designed to serve the needs of both children and parents who do not need a comprehensive aftercare program for snow days, vacations, etc. Most often our aftercare students are children with parents who are teachers in the school system.
Tuesdays and Thursdays Only
Trail Day Times
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
We have a NEW program called “ Trail Days” that might be a perfect fit for a child in need of building social-skills, confidence, and days filled with exploring the outdoors. This is a multi- age group of children ages 3-5. We spend most of our time outdoors and we’re currently accepting 8 students! Our Trail Days program will be led by one of our nature educators.
Come join our pack as we spend Tuesdays and Thursdays outdoors exploring the magic of nature, creating games and training our senses to be more in tune with nature. Children will get to know the plants and animals of our extended backyard and make arts and crafts out of the natural treasures we find. We’ll enter a timeless space of imaginative play, transforming into a tribe of stewards and gatherers.
This is a simple, wonderful, experience where nature and play-based learning come together to help children build friendships, confidence , and problem-solving skills in an ever changing world.
We have a lot of dual working families that could benefit from having their child join our weekend enrichment activities. KGE is a place of wonder where children are able to engage in endless opportunities. Where curiosity, excitement, and spontaneous imagination are ENRICHED BY NATURE. Kge is place of laughter, joy, along with making new friend and wonderful childhood memories.
These enrichment activities are tailored for a small group of children ages 3-8 which provide your child more opportunities to thrive outside!
Our Summer nature camp is an outdoor camp experience where children can develop a deeper connection with nature, love and appreciate wildlife, have a better understanding of how the world works, and how to become future stewards of the planet. Children explore a variety of wildlife habitats on our introductory nature trails, named the Eco Avocado Trail, Eco Creek Trail, Endangered Species Trail, and Lotus Loop Trail. We model and encourage children to develop compassion and sensitivity for all living creatures.
Summer nature camp is an outdoor experience that strengthens physical well-being, promotes a happier well-balanced child, increases cognitive development by children having to problem solve and work in groups, and creates a better understanding of how human-nature connection. As educators, we thrive on helping each little naturalist practice good citizenship, conservation literacy, and enjoying what summer is all about!
Summer registration begins February 15th each year to current enrolled families. Beginning March 1st summer registration opens to the public. No make-up day policy.
Parents can choose any days Monday-Friday, Half Days or Full Days. A minimum of 1 day per week for the entire summer is required.
Our Little Timbers program is an enriching First Nature Camp experience for 3-4 year olds as they explore hands-on nature experiences, engage in small group nature games, and nature-based art activities. Little Timbers learn about the natural world, which improves a child’s imagination, concentration, and observation skills. Children enjoy nature walks, investigating our nature trails signs, story walks, Maine wildlife encounters, camp songs, and lots of outdoor art projects.
Camp EcoAvocado has 10 weekly themes, and our Summer Nature Camps offer a variety of options, and can be tailored to fit your schedule and needs.
Parents can choose any days Monday-Friday, half days or full days. A minimum of 1 day per week for the entire summer is required.
Our Tall Pines program is tailored for campers that investigate their natural surroundings and learn to understand the relationships of wildlife and the ecosystem. Each day lets your child be a real explorer, using science in fun ways to better know the natural world. Environmental games, animal encounters, nature based crafts, interactive stories, cooperative games, and other nature activities to illustrate and reinforce the ecological concepts covered in our daily adventures.
Our campers will learn how does a bee make honey? Where do monarchs go in the winter? Why does an owl spit up pellets? What is a squirrel’s nest called? Animals and plants have developed incredible adaptations to survive in the wild. Campers will explore the ecosystem to uncover these secrets through observation and experiments.
Our Tall Pines Program has 10 weekly themes, and our Summer Nature Camps offer a variety of options, and can be tailored to fit your schedule and needs.
When students step out of the classroom and explore the concepts they’ve learned about, they deepen their understanding of science, themselves, and the world. The children will experience how to work in groups, which will provide a powerful bond in their learning experience. Children will have every opportunity to learn and engage in their very own interests!
Age-appropriate experiments will provide children with life-altering experiences and new challenges, along with opportunities to apply skills learned in the classroom, collect data for use in the classroom, solve problems, bond with classmates and teachers and develop self-confidence. Often, these experiences give children rich topics for their writing, drawing, and conversation. Adventures in the field and outdoor education are ideal opportunities for integrated teaching and learning. Students experience outdoor play daily: explore, play, perform scientific experiments, navigate, reflect in journals, sing, and create artwork. Outdoor education is an inextricable part of the way we teach and learn.
The Reggio Emilia Approach is an educational philosophy based on the image of a child with strong potentialities for development and a subject with rights, who learns through the hundred languages belonging to all human beings, and grows in relations with others. Loris Malaguzzi was an early childhood educator who founded the educational philosophy known as the Reggio Emilia Approach. He was instrumental in the creation of a network of municipal preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Place-based education is the process of using the local community and environment as a starting point to teach concepts in language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and other subjects across the curriculum. Emphasizing hands-on, real-world learning experiences, this approach to education increases academic achievement, helps students develop stronger ties to their community, enhances students’ appreciation for the natural world, and creates a heightened commitment to serving as active, contributing citizens. Community vitality and environmental quality are improved through the active engagement of local citizens, community organizations, and environmental resources in the life of the school.
Children will discover different art techniques & famous artists, have the opportunity to try different types of art, and draw things that interest them.
This will give the children the opportunity to learn more about sign language and the importance of respecting different types of languages and language barriers.
Children will expand their understanding and appreciation of different types of music, spatial awareness, movement, balance, and coordination.
Children will experience and learn to understand the basic “poses” in yoga. This will help with fitness and help facilitate and channel children’s energy that is over-stimulated by today’s living and society.
Children will learn through the observation of living animals, insects, plants; exploring weather; and discovering the solar system. Kidz Go Eco will educate children on the importance of environmental awareness through recycling, conserving, and reducing. We “adopt” an animal that is on the “Endangered Species” list every year, and will display a photo of that animal on a bulletin for all the children to see.
At Kidz Go Eco, students are engaged and captivated by hands-on learning experiences. Learning through direct experience offers children the opportunity to actively master skills—it brings learning to life—from creating and running their own grocery market to learn about money, conduct archeological digs of mysterious cultures as a way of studying world cultures, perform field ecology research around our school, see & hold real-life animals, view life cycles to see how plants grow, see how tadpoles evolve into frogs, and children even begin to learn how to reuse items to create recycled art. These are some fun examples of how the students learn in our school.
When students reflect on their experiences, they develop a genuine understanding of what they have studied. Reflection reinforces and enhances their learning. It gives them the opportunity to better retain information and build on earlier discoveries. While journal writing is central to this process, students also reflect on their experiences through discussion, writing, drawing, and creating visual presentations. Kidz Go Eco recognizes that children communicate in multiple “languages.” Through these different channels of expression, students have the opportunity to first, individually reflect, and then share their discoveries with a larger community. Teachers love to incorporate “show-n-tell” and “star of the week” so children can reflect upon themselves and their very own interests as well.
Through a strong core curriculum, students at Kidz Go Eco become proficient in traditional subject areas: language arts, math, social studies, and science. Teachers provide themes to enhance the core academics by providing students the opportunity to apply and broaden their knowledge through studying special topics in-depth. Topics are designed based on students’ interests which provides the children the opportunity to immerse themselves in a focused area of study. Through themed studies, we incorporate science, math, writing, reading, research, visual arts, and outdoor education.
Kidz Go Eco inspires and challenges students while supporting them in a nurturing environment. Two teachers are in each classroom. Our low student-to-faculty ratio allows teachers to personally know students and respond to their individual learning styles. By working closely together inside and outside the classroom, teachers and students build strong and meaningful personal relationships that make children feel valued and appreciated for who they are. Teachers collaboratively work at each child’s level, and students are often divided into age appropriate groups for core subjects and preschool classes. Overall, students receive a high level of individual attention. The teachers challenge students to think critically. Creative problem-solving begins with valuing differences and fresh insight. Working in small teams, students learn their own ideas are often enhanced by collaboration and interest.
We provide personalized daily feedback to help you understand what activities your child participated in during each school day. We encourage children to progress at their own pace according to their individual needs and abilities. We facilitate exploration, reflect on “how the world works”, and aim our thoughts on concerning biological objects that attract a child’s attention, such as a new plant beginning to bud, an animal running, or the discovery of different foods.
As the proverb illustrates, it takes a village to raise a child and for a small independent school it takes the thoughtful efforts and creative resources of the community to educate the village’s children.We are deeply grateful for your willingness to support our nature school, whether monetary, contributions of classroom supplies/equipment/furniture, kind words of encouragement, lifting our educators spirits with a special thank you, or your own unique offering. Your donation makes a difference and with your generosity and thoughtfulness, kidz go eco is a very special place for all the children that attend our school. We want to thank you for all your in kind support!
