Kennesaw Mountain Nature Preschool

Kennesaw Mountain Nature Preschool is a progressive Forest program situated at the foothills of the majestic Kennesaw Mountain in Cobb County, Georgia. Our mission is to provide a nature-based education to children aged between 3 to 6 years, fostering a deep connection with the natural world. We promote nature immersion and child-initiated inquiry in a variety of environments, with the aim of honoring the natural curiosity and sense of wonder in children as they form relationships with each other and the natural environment of the mountain and other natural habitats in Cobb County.

Our preschool is committed to nurturing the holistic development of all participants by fostering the growth of confidence, self-esteem, resilience, collaboration, logical thinking, and creative expression. Our curriculum is based on the image of the child as a competent, strong, and vibrant citizen, and we believe in the importance of providing an authentic early childhood experience where play is open-ended, valued, and revered as the work of the child. Our program follows the flow of the seasons, engaging the children's hands, heads, hearts, and holistic selves. Our aim is to inspire a love of learning, a love for the earth, and a compassion for all living things.

Our Program

We are delighted to announce our Georgia Bright From The Start licensed program, offering an innovative Nature Based curriculum to Cobb County and surrounding communities! Our program is inspired by Forest Kindergartens and the Reggio Emilia Approach, with a focus on nature immersion. Our mountain setting provides a rich landscape for children to play and learn as active stewards of the local community and environment. Our program takes place in our privately owned woodland area, as well as in the local natural passive park areas of Cobb County, Georgia.

At Kennesaw Mountain Nature Preschool, we believe that childhood is a time to recognize the importance of slowing down with children to experience the ever-changing landscapes in our natural world. We take the time to observe, listen, play, and experience nature and each other at our own pace. Our program is designed to support children in developing in a range of domains of development, including physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.

Our approach to Forest Kindergarten is based on several key principles, including nature immersion, inquiry-based learning, play-based curriculum, environmental stewardship, place-based education, Reggio Emilia-inspired ateliers, very low 1-2:6 teacher to child ratio, time is valued by slowing down, flexible curriculum development, honoring the land and natural inhabitants, year-round study of the natural world in all weather, and documentation and reflection as keys to our Pedagogical approach.

Our Use of Time

We intentionally slow down from the typical fast pace of life. We are flexible and not rushed or strictly scheduled, as children have a right to slow down and be given time to observe, listen, play, and experience nature or each other at their own pace. Our flexible curriculum development allows us to take bathroom breaks and exercise hand washing tasks as needed. We provide healthy, balanced snacks, with fresh, organic, gluten-free options available for children with food allergies.

In addition to our time spent outdoors, our program also has an indoor studio space where children are dropped off, nap/rest, or go to in times of extreme weather situations as a safety protocol. Our flow of the day is consistent in including times for rest and enjoying meals together.