Christian Military Academy
Head Start

 

At Christian Military Academy Head Start and Early Head Start Program, education in natural environments and the development of outdoor activities is important for the growth and integral development of our participants. Our participants frequently visit the nature classroom with their educators to explore, experiment and develop their learning skills through play every week. During their visits to the nature classroom, participants plant trees, read outdoors, shake with branches, do gross motor movement activities, explore textures such as sand, water, mud, dirt, among many other activities. Teaching in the nature classroom has been so significant for participants and their educators that outdoor experiences have become our participants’ favorites.

As part of the continuous improvement of our Program, we have increased to three natural classrooms that seek to increase the capacity of participants, families and the community in outdoor areas. In these spaces, participants, families and the community carry out activities that promote contact with nature, socio-emotional development, obtain sensory experiences and enrich the brain.

The Family and Community Nature Club is the group of parents and community that care for, maintain and beautify the nature classroom. The Club plants vegetables and fruits to later harvest and sell. Sales of the crops are made in the surroundings of the nature classroom to neighbors and employees of the program. The money collected is used to buy seeds, fertilizers and tools to continue with the planting cycle. The volunteers who visit our nature room receive occupational well-being and physical activity, these are some of the benefits that nature gives them and they commit to return every week.

The efforts to keep the areas clean, green and available are mostly attributed to the Family and Community Nature Club that meets once a week. On the other hand, the Program maintenance team helps us with the cutting of grass and landscaping of the areas. The Program’s work team maintains a culture of love and care for nature and a desire to share with others the benefits that we have received in our Program with our natural classroom. This has allowed us the opportunity to offer workshops and guidance to other Programs on the creation of natural classrooms in our country and they can implement them in their spaces regardless of the barriers or limitations they may have in the development of their natural classroom. Always remembering and sharing that NATURE IS GOOD FOR EVERYONE.

 

Learn more about this classroom on their certification page!

Certification Page