Children`s Classes

Nature Discovery for Preschoolers, Cross River, NY 
Nature through discovery activities and related crafts. Students aged 3-4 years. Trailside Nature Museum, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Route 35 and 121 South, Cross River. Westchester County Parks, 914-864-7322.

New Canaan Nature Center, New Canaan, CT
Early Childhood Programs.
The New Canaan Nature Center`s programs for youth foster hands-on learning about our natural world, teaching our children to enjoy and care for their environment as they master the skills needed to assume a leadership role in our society.
Nurturing Nature:
Explore the seasons at the Nature Center along with your toddler. Nurturing Nature, one of the Nature Center`s most popular programs, is designed to introduce two and three-year-old children to the delights of nature. Our early childhood instructor creates an unhurried atmosphere for parents and children to share stories, art experiences, visits with live animals and seasonal trail walks. Parents and children should dress for messy play as well as for the weather. All children must be two by the first day of class and must be accompanied by an adult. This is a special time for parents and toddlers. Kindly make other arrangements for siblings. Enrollment for each class is limited to eleven adult-child pairs, so please register early for your preferred day and time.
Beginner`s Nature Program:
In operation since 1967, the "BNP" is a unique, nature-focused preschool offering classes for three, four and five-year-olds and runs from September through May. Environmental education is integrated into a curriculum which addresses each child`s individual needs: social, emotional, physical, creative and cognitive. Based on seasonal changes, the curriculum makes extensive use of the Center`s grounds. The Beginner`s Nature Program is fully licensed by the State Department of Public Health under Connecticut Day Care regulations and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. All of our classes are half-day programs, meeting from 9:00 - 12:00 or 12:30 - 3:30. All classes include a daily nature walk through the Nature Center`s diverse habitats. We schedule special events with Nature Center teacher/naturalists on a monthly and seasonal basis and include live animal demonstrations, apple cidering, maple sugaring, pond exploration, and greenhouse projects.
Discovers: Age 3:
The Discoverers program for three-year-olds stresses developmental activities. Their curriculum is based upon the seasonal changes found at the Nature Center. Themes reflect current events in the natural world and provide the basis for daily activities. Their daily schedule allows them to explore and express themselves through art, music, movement, dramatic play and language activities. Our Discoverers may attend either a two day or a three day program.
Trail Blazers: Ages 3 - 4:
Our Trail Blazer class is a combination of three and four-year-old children. As with the other two programs, the focus is nature and the environment. Mixed-age grouping provides benefits because differences within a group of children are a source of rich intellectual and social experiences. The intention of mixed-age grouping is to increase the heterogeneity of the group to capitalize on the differences in the experience, knowledge, and abilities of the children. Young children can be encouraged and nurtured by the older children, while the older ones can demonstrate leadership and nurturing roles. The Trail Blazer class attends a four day program.
Explorers: Ages 4 - 5:
The four and five-year-old Explorers focus on active learning situations in which children have opportunities to make choices and decisions and work with teachers and other children to support their social, emotional, physical, creative and cognitive skills. We base this curriculum on seasonal changes at the Nature Center and enhance it by offering hands-on opportunities for learning in science, art, math, music, movement and dramatic play. These experiences reinforce the children`s understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Explorers may attend either a four day or a five day program.
To visit our school and our grounds, please call the Nature Center`s Director of Early Childhood Programs, Priscilla Woyke at (203) 966-9577 x 16.  www.newcanaannature.org

Stone Barns Center, Pocantico Hills, After School Programs

After-School Programs at Stone Barns Center are designed to bring students in kindergarten through 6th grade to the farm on a weekly basis. Each session includes hands-on chores, animal and plant crafts, and in-depth examinations of life on the farm. This year, students will also harvest and prepare a seasonal meal in the kitchen. After-School programs at Stone Barns Center foster a love for the natural world, teach children where their food comes from, and encourage appreciation of local farms.  Farm Explorers: Farm Life at Stone Barns, Grades K–2, examines all of Stone Barns Center’s farm life. February 23 and March 2, 9 and 16. Farmers-in-Training (FIT), Grades 3–6, help our farmers with chores such as collecting eggs and feeding the pigs. After chores are finished, these young farmers work on structured activities such as building trails, amending beds or moving animals. February 24 and March 3, 10 and 17.  *All sessions run from 3:30–5:00 PM. Space is limited. Please register early!  For more information, please contact Sara Hanna: sara@stonebarnscenter.org or 914 366 6200 x111. Visit www.stonebarnscenter.org.