Wildflower Early Learning Center

Wildflower Early Learning Center is nestled on 8-acres of beautiful land in Savage, MN

On our property, multiple ecosystems converge (prairie, forest, grass, pond) and allow us to witness a wide variety of wildlife and natural phenomena throughout each season. We have designed our outdoor classroom with these ecosystems and child development in mind.

All year round, our students enjoy activities, such as: taking regular hikes around the property to observe the natural world, utilizing sticks for play or as tools, creating nature art, and climbing trees. In the fall, our students enjoy harvesting vegetables from the garden, saving seeds, and raking leaves. In the winter, we spend much of our time sledding, ice skating, shoveling snow, painting snow, and building snow people. In spring, we get excited as the natural world begins to wake from winter slumber. We rejoice in the return of birds, begin planting seeds, dig for worms, and jump in rain puddles. In the summer we bathe in the glorious warmth and sunshine, we stick our toes in the sand, splash in our “Wildflower River”, weave wildflower crowns, decorate our playground with chalk, run through sprinklers, catch frogs, dig for worms, and enjoy not having to put on gear, unless it’s raining!

Each year we welcome new families to Wildflower Early Learning Center. The outdoor space is designed for kids to choose activities that interest them. From climbing, swinging, and sliding to baking, digging, and painting the children have the room, resources, and support to explore, try, succeed, solve problems, and collaborate. Our teachers observe, engage, and ask questions, and with all these factors staying the same each year, it’s such a delight when we see kids using the spaces differently from the prior year. At Wildflower ELC we believe that opportunity and exploration is paramount to a child’s development. We seek new opportunities to engage and provide new ways of teaching and connecting with nature.

We welcomed the community to explore our outdoor spaces by hosting The Lil Fall Festival & Apple Dash last fall. During the event, families participated in a fun run complete with apple treat finish and race medallions. We worked with the City of Savage to provide race finishers with t-shirts and popcorn. We partnered with Gray’s Hobby Farm to introduce their goats to families. We gave away nature journals and encouraged families to participate in our nature scavenger hunt and explore the woods. We are blessed to have such wonderful and creative teachers, kids, and families.