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A private nature school in mason county, Michigan

located one mile east of Victory Early Childhood Center

nestled on 50 acres of forest, meadows, and trails

curriculum

Wilderplay is an emergent curriculum that facilitates learning through engagement, experiences, and exploration across the natural cycle of the year, season, study, and day.  Wilderplay teachers facilitate relationship-based development by assisting, supporting, and observing children as they learn and grow.

 

Our daily cycle includes a predictable but flexible routine built to promote psychological safety and meet physical and emotional needs.  Our studies carry us through the cycle of learning as skills across all developmental domains emerge, develop, and while we achieve the objectives of each study.  The cycle of each season presents us with rich and novel learning environments in woods, meadows, and wetlands.  As we cycle through the year, we build lasting relationships with our teachers and peers while forming strong connections to nature.

 

We value balance at Wilderplay.  Our curriculum is meant to provide a nature-immersive experience as a counter-balance to the mainstream school experience to come.  Throughout each study and each day we provide a balance of teacher-lead and child-lead experiences, individual and group activities, directed learning and open-ended play-based learning, and structured time vs. unstructured time.  Our lesson plans are designed intentionally in order to provide this balance.

daily routine

A half-day preschool program incorporates core routines following the natural cycle of the day.

 

Sample 2022 Routine*:

8:15:  Arrival Rituals & Opening Circle

8:30:  Packing/Potty/Dressing for Outdoors

8:45:  Hike Out
8:45-11:00:  Nature Based Discovery & Activities

10:45:  Hike Back

11:00:  Unpacking/Undressing/Potty 

11:15:  Closing Circle & Reflections

11:30:  Departure Rituals

*cold or very wet weather may keep us closer to our base for access to a heated environment as needed

2022 tuition 

Non-Refundable Deposit:  First Week's Tuition

Mon-Thurs AM Nature Preschool: 8:15-11:30 $100

Mon-Thurs Preschool & Wrap-around: 7:00-4:00 $200

Friday Wrap-around: 7:00-4:00 $50

Closings:  Labor Day, Thanksgiving Thurs & Fri, Christmas Break, Spring Break, Memorial Day, Summer break TBD

WILDERPLAY STAFF

Founder/Owner:  Lisa Burgess Cooper

 

Lisa has enjoyed a career in education and early childhood for over 20 years.  Lisa's passion for nature and respect for childhood comes through in curriculum development and daily programming.

Bachelor Degree, Group Science Elementary Education

     Grand Valley State University

Masters Degree, Early Childhood Education

     Walden University

Graduate Certificate, Teaching Adults In the Early Childhood Field

     Walden University

Certified Instructor, I/C/A CPR & First Aid, Wilderness First Aid

     Emergency Care & Safety Institute

Forest Schools Level 1 Qualified

     Forest Schools Education

Nature-Based Teacher Certification

     ERAFANS

Lisa received the Ludington & Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce 2014 Future Five Award
and a Special Tribute citation from Governor Rick Snyder for her work in developing
quality child care programming in Mason County.

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Lead Preschool Teacher: Danielle Britton

 

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Danielle holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Ferris State University.  She has been teaching preschool for over 7 years.  She has facilitated programming in both public, private, tuition, and free preschool in the Ludington area including implementing a blended free/tuition classroom from the ground up.  Danielle’s family loves being outdoors, especially spending time at their cabin in the woods. She loves outdoor sports and enjoys all of the seasons Michigan has to offer, making Wilderplay the perfect home for her skills, expertise, and leadership.

Assistant Preschool Teacher: Autumn Sanford

 

Wilderplay implements consistent caregiving practices by employing a limited number of staff in order to allow for strong relationships between teachers and students.

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Autumn has taught young children in nature-inspired classrooms in Manistee and is embarking on an adventure into the Wilderplay world this year.  She has made progress towards her Child Development Associate credential as she works towards her early childhood career goals.  She has experience implementing child-lead and play-based curriculum, providing the perfect foundation as she joins us in supporting inquiry, discovery, and exploration.  Her own children continue to participate in Wilderplay programming alongside her this year.

Application

fall 2023 
enrollment
APPLICATION

THE JOURNEY TO WILDERPLAY STARTS HERE!
COMPLETE THIS APPLICATION TO BE PLACED IN THE ENROLLMENT QUEUE.  IN LATE WINTER, CURRENT STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO RE-ENROLL FOR FALL.  IN SPRING, QUEUED FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO TOUR BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SPOTS AVAILABLE.  FOLLOWING THE TOUR, ELIGIBLE FAMILIES SECURE FALL 2023 ENR
OLLMENT WITH A NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT.

ENROLLMENT APPLICATION

Wilderplay enrollment eligibility requires children to be at least 3 years old by Sept 1 2023 and confidently potty trained.  

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Parents provide meals; Wilderplay is not an allergen-free environment.
Describe your child's prior experiences:

Thanks- we'll be in touch!

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