Nature Play & Learning

Nature play at TCS is play with purpose!

In our classrooms, in our science program, in our outdoor play space and gardens, in the woods, on field trips -- no matter the venue at The Children's School, our time in nature is time well spent.

We learn cooperatively and creatively. We navigate healthy risk-taking. We build our muscles for climbing trees, experiencing joy, and asking questions. Our health and our curiosity are nurtured along the way as we build community and learn to take action for the environment and our neighbors.

Here are some of the many ways we connect kids with the natural world at The Children's School.

Explore with us!

Nature and Science Weave Throughout our Curriculum

Our front yard on Oak Park Avenue holds a raised garden bed (thanks to a grant from Deep Roots Project) and a pocket prairie (thanks to a grant from West Cook Wilds Ones). The TCS community comes together to plant, water, and care for our gardens as our students learn about life cycles, native plants, food insecurity, conservation, and eco-justice.

Our raised bed garden with edible plants

Students built a 'hoop house' garden for cooler weather.

Vegetables do taste better when you helped them grow

Our raised bed garden with edible plants

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The Gardens

Regular class trips to the woods spark children's imagination, creativity, and sense of wonder. Free play and exploration in nature develop observational skills, an appreciation for life and the environment. Group time in the woods builds collaboration and leadership ability. Students also help the forest preserve district in stewardship activity, cleaning out opportunistic plants and litter.

We go to the woods weekly if we can

We experience the forest's changes through the seasons

Friendship time experiencing the outdoors

We go to the woods weekly if we can

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The Woods

Class field trips to botanic gardens, green industries and architecture, agricultural co-ops, and more, are often part of our school year. This demonstrates to our students the wider applications an understanding of nature can bring to community building, solving today's problems, and new career opportunities.

Expeditions to Chicagoland centers of nature learning

Visiting an urban goat farm

Learning the historical impact of natural resources like the Chicago River

Expeditions to Chicagoland centers of nature learning

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Field Trips

Classrooms are indoor venues for sprouting new plants, caring for a class pet, hatching butterflies and praying mantises, or raising trout minnows for conservation studies. Nature sciences frequently form the foundation of both group and individual project work. Whenever possible, teachers look for ways to integrate related nature studies and environmental stewardship into project topics.

Older students share discoveries with younger classrooms

Hatching and raising trout to release in the wild

Exemining the tiniest life forms

Older students share discoveries with younger classrooms

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Academics

We added Kayaking to
our Woods program,
and it's a great success!

Follow "Forest News"
with Mr. Will Hudson

Meet Mr. Will Hudson, who for many years has led much of our outdoor education program. Enjoy his insights in "Forest News" on science-based exploration both during our time at school and in the woods.