203.966.2937 BLOG ALUMNI CAMP JOBS FAMILY LOGIN REQUEST INFO ABOUT PLAYLAND ACTIVITIES & EVENTS REGISTER NOW CAMP FAMILIES At this time enrollment for Summer 2022 is complete. Please fill out our online registration form if you would like to join the waiting list. Thank you! ×

Newsletter Sign Up | My Account Sign In Welcome to the Nature Center Preschool The New Canaan Nature Center Preschool was founded in 1967 and is the oldest nature based preschool in the country. Preschool Video If you are interested in learning more about our Preschool: Please Contact: Anna Zielinski Preschool Director EMAIL Anna PROGRAMS Art, music and movement, language, math, dramatic play, hands-on science, creative activities & more! LEARN MORE OUR STAFF Meet the teaching staff at the New Canaan Nature Center Preschool. OUR STAFF ADMISSIONS Click here for information about our admissions process and enrollment forms. LEARN MORE CALENDAR See what is happening at the New Canaan Nature Center Preschool. GO TO CALENDAR FAMILY HANDBOOK See what is happening at the New Canaan Nature Center Preschool. FAMILY HANDBOOK Our Philosophy At the Nature Center, we focus on creating an awareness of, and appreciation for, the natural world. Our unique preschool accomplishes environmental education goals while addressing the whole child’s developmental needs. We integrate environmental and nature education into our curriculum – not as a separate subject, but as a pivotal element of language and literacy, math, art, music, dramatic play, and other areas of the curriculum. Our curriculum accomplishes this by utilizing… Direct, hands-on experiences with the natural world. Compassionate, nurturing and caring professionals dedicated to young learners. Staff members who possess knowledge of child development and its impact on individual learning styles. Staff who understand and respect the importance of experiential learning, offering opportunities for concrete, meaningful experiences. Staff who understand that the emotional life of children cannot be separated from their learning, interests, and motivation. Why Nature Based Early Education? Our nature-based preschool provides children with special opportunities to learn about themselves and the world. By connecting young children with the natural world, we instill in them a love of nature that will help foster an environmental ethic, a caring, empathic attitude and an inquisitive mind that will stay with them throughout their lives. We offer unique preschool experiences… Children will have daily experiences with animals Children will have daily experiences with plant life Expertise of “buddy” naturalists and teachers Hands on seasonal program activities 144 Oenoke Ridge New Canaan, CT 06840 (203) 966-9577 Thank you to our sponsor Sign up to receive Nature Center news and updates © 2021 New Canaan Nature Center | Site by nurenu | Thank you to the New Canaan Community Foundation for their generous grant for our website. | Privacy Policy