Bluestone Nature Playschool

Bluestone Nature Programs celebrates the whole child through unstructured play, ample time in nature, community building, and place-based learning. The natural world serves as our teacher, with developmentally appropriate opportunities to foster social-emotional development, challenge cognitive thinking, awaken our senses, and express our creativity sprinkled throughout each day.

Bluestone follows best practices in nature-based education, meaning all outdoor sites are assessed for risk, learning is documented and shared with families, safety practices are in place for all aspects of programming (i.e. families submit medical and emergency contact information, etc.) and children’s developmental needs drive curriculum.

Please take a moment to learn more about our philosophy and hear what other families have to say. Then, read on below for important information.

Is Bluestone right for your child?

We believe that every child has the right to learn, play, and grow in the great outdoors. If your family values time spent outside, recognizes that play is learning, and honors the importance of giving children the space and time to become kind, responsible, and empathic community members, then nature playschool is for you.

The following criteria are good indicators for a child’s readiness for this nature program:
Must be confidently walking
Must be able to signal their needs (even if non-verbal)
Able to follow a set of 2-3 simple instructions
Able to separate from primary caregiver
Able to feed self without the need for a bottle
Able to make it through the morning without needing a nap

Bluestone is for kids ages 18 months-5 years. We welcome children still wearing diapers and working on toilet training*. We build in time throughout the day for diaper changes carried out in privacy by our lead Mentor.

*If this applies to your child, please let us know so we can discuss this sensitive topic and how to best support your little one.

Bluestone Nature Playschool operates as a day camp in Pennsylvania. To enroll, we require up-to-date immunizations, a health record, and other paperwork relevant to providing the best possible care for your child.

What does a day at Bluestone Nature Playschool look like?

When your classroom is the great outdoors, the seasons and child interest guide exploration, interest, and inquiry. Bluestone Mentors embrace the role of observer and follow the children’s lead, scaffold learning, and build upon their experiences, skills, and knowledge. We provide the space, time, and permission for children to explore and use our knowledge of early childhood education and the natural environment to capture curiosity and wonder. While every day at Bluestone is different, we balance intentional activities and experiences with free, unstructured nature play to mindfully honor each child’s developmental needs.

The Pennsylvania Key follows a set of early learning standards that highlight development across these domains: approaches to learning through play; language and literacy development; mathematical thinking and expression; scientific thinking and technology; social studies thinking; creative thinking and expression; health, wellness, and physical development; and social and emotional development. The National Association for the Education of Young Children also follows a set of ten standards for early childhood education that inform best practice in teaching practices.

Bluestone Nature Programs looks at child development through the lens of these excellence standards as well as by nurturing skills and values including environmental literacy and ecological identity; caretaking on the land; development of empathy, gratitude, and kindness; self-help skills; mindfulness; supported risk-taking; independence; self-advocacy and consent; spirituality and gardening. Through this, we also support whole child health and well-being.

Our Daily Rhythm

As we follow the interest and needs of the children, each day will look different and time frames of this
rhythm may vary.

9-9:45 a.m.

Arrival with open-ended nature play, invitations for play, small group explorations

9:45-10 a.m.

Welcome circle gathering with gratitude practice and an intentional experience such as storytelling, artifact sharing, tool use, movement, etc.

10-11:30 a.m.

Exploration, child-led play, intentional provocations, hiking (includes time for snack, water, and restroom breaks)

11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Closing circle with story of the day and good-bye song, transition to pick-up

Get to know our Mentors!

What are my options?

2024/25 Options (September-June)

For the 2024/25 year, Bluestone programming runs Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday*. Families can choose 1, 2, or 3 day options to fit their schedule. These options are broken down as follows:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: Chickadees

Wednesday, Thursday: Robins
One-day (pick your day!): Nuthatches

Our day runs from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. We can accommodate up to 10 children each day. This allows us to maintain safety in our outdoor classroom and on trails.

2024/25 Program Rates

Chickadees: $540 per month

Robins: $360 per month
Nuthatches: $180 per month

Bluestone Village members received free tuition as part of their Village membership. Interested in learning more?

2024/25 Calendar

September 4: Classes begin

October 14th: No classes

November 27th & 28th: No classes

December 24th-January 2nd: No classes

January 20th: No classes

February 17th: No classes

March 31st-April 3rd: No classes

May 26th: No classes

June 12th: Last day of classes

We offer summer camp as well! We usually open summer camp registration in January, so please check back soon.

Summer in the Forest

Enrollment Process

Interested? Please reach out!

Before you register your child, we would love to hear from you, make a plan, and show you the space. We have a "rolling enrollment" policy, meaning we accept new children throughout the year pending availability. Priority enrollment for returning families is open January 1-January 31 each year. Open enrollment begins February 1. Applications are reviewed in the order that they are received, however, Bluestone does not admit students on a first-come, first-served basis. In making admissions decisions we are dedicated to sustaining our organization's commitment to cooperative, multiage learning environments and creating class rosters that balance age*.

Enrollment Process

Review the website and read through what our program is all about
Schedule a visit! We want families to see our space in person and get a feel for our program before enrolling. If you are ready to visit, please email our Executive Director, Emily Woodmansee.
Enroll! Everything you need to enroll your child is available online and will be shared after your tour. One month's fee will be due upon enrollment (see details below), and after enrolling you will receive paperwork to fill out for your child.
Fill out and return all paperwork by the due date. Be sure to also read our Family Handbook, sign, and return it.
Get ready! Nature play is a unique and fun experience. Start gathering appropriate gear for your student, talk about what it will be like to go to school, and spend time outside as a family!

*Bluestone Village and Bluestone Nature Programs does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity).