The Children’s Burrow celebrates every child’s innate sense of curiosity and wonder by opening the doors to learning in the natural world.

We believe children learn best as part of a nurturing community that fosters joyful explorations, strong connections, and meaningful investigations. We meet children where they are in their development and support their learning through the following key concepts:

Children’s play fosters every aspect of their development.

We believe that creating space and time for children to play in nature opens a world of possibilities. Children experience the joy of discovery, the excitement of following their curiosity, and the confidence that comes with finding the bravery to take risks. We invite them to be active learners as they engage with the world around them, think creatively, problem solve, and connect with each other.

Supporting young children, at its foundation, is about partnering with families.

We understand that we can only truly see young children within the context of their families, and we view families as our most important partner in supporting the development of young children. Through open communication, daily interactions, volunteer opportunities, and family gatherings, we forge strong partnerships with families that enable us to get to know them and their children. When we welcome children to The Children’s Burrow, we welcome whole families.

Children grow when they feel known by and connected to those around them.

We cultivate relationships and create opportunities for children to connect with each other and our community. Children are encouraged to use their voices to advocate for themselves and others. We actively listen with respect and compassion to one another and honor each individual. Together, we build a caring community rooted in nature. 

Childhood experiences in nature cultivate meaningful and lifelong connections with the natural world.

We believe there is no limit to what young children can learn when we open the doors to the natural world. Their intimate knowledge and early relationship with nature foster a lifelong curiosity about and commitment to natural spaces. Learning to care for our natural world gives children the sense of their own value as a part of something larger that connects us all.

We believe that our differences are a source of strength that foster new opportunities in education. It is the policy and commitment of The Children’s Burrow that we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, socioeconomic status, age, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, cultural background, religion, or physical or intellectual disability. Our commitment to equity and respect for all creates a climate that is safe and welcoming for all.