The Nature Explore Classroom at
Riverview Early Childhood Center
Welcome to the Riverview Outdoor Classroom!
Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood off the Mississippi River is Riverview Early Childhood Center. Located in the northeast corner of Brooklyn Park, access is easy – just off West River Road – yet Riverview feels far away from any metro congestion. It is one of five early learning centers in the Anoka-Hennepin School District, the largest school district in Minnesota.
The Riverview Outdoor Classroom (ROC) was first developed in 2022 with consultation from 3 Owls Outdoor Play Consultants, the University of Minnesota Master Gardener program, and a staff- and parent-based Nature Advisory Council. Utilizing the existing greenhouse, the outdoor classroom was developed to prioritize play spaces, native plants and trees, and hands-on learning experiences for early childhood students and their caregivers.
The ROC is used year-round for preschool classes and Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) parent-child classes, which include students ages birth to 5 years old and their adult caregivers. What makes ECFE unique is the parent education component – parents meet with a licensed parent educator during class time – and we have a dedicated space for parents to meet in the ROC.
The ROC features a water trough and mud kitchen, large and small climbing areas, and large and small loose parts. A unique feature of our classroom is a greenhouse and garden area, where we grow fruits and vegetables year round. The greenhouse also provides a warm space to supplement outdoor learning in winter, such as with sensory and large/small group activities. Another unique feature is the Sensory Path, which winds around the garden and has textured walking areas, herbs and plants to smell and taste, and various natural materials to explore.
Parents and children learn about the outdoors and nature, both in and out of the greenhouse, through artwork, sensory experiences, planting, watering, and weeding. A parent from the class recently shared “We love being outside in the garden and greenhouse. We don’t have this type of space at home.” Another said, “I liked exploring together. I liked trying things out of the garden and watching my child climb and move.”
We are excited to continue to bring a deeper connection to nature for the children and families in our programs and create a unique learning environment that continues to change and evolve where we can embrace the beauty of nature in every season.
