The Nature Explore Classroom at

My accreditation consultant introduced me to Nature Explore several years ago. Since then, I have made
considerable changes to my outdoor environment and worked towards a Nature Explore Certified classroom.
I removed all of the plastic climbers and toys and added more wooden materials, tree cookies, stumps, rocks and more durable materials.

As a recipient of the Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children’s Tylenol National Child Care Teacher Award in 2015, my project that won that honor was the mud kitchen. I researched, designed and built my own mud kitchen and children of all ages use this on a daily basis.

As a child growing up I remember many experiences of playing in the woods, exploring on my own, and making leaf forts with my Dad. These are fond memories I will never forget. I think that all children need to have time to explore the outdoors, time for experiences that will last a lifetime and time to connect with nature.

We have planted butterfly bushes, we observe birds, rabbits, hummingbirds and have made a special place for Mason Bees. Playing outside is a right for children and some children don’t get such experiences. My hope is that children will have a lifelong love of nature and in turn take care of the Earth we are now passing on to them.

Address

Deforest, WI 53532