Explore Our Programs
Nature Preschool
Nature preschool and summer program outdoors on the grounds of the beautiful Arnold Arboretum
Forest Days
Weekly nature-play and learning adventures for elementary schools and childcare programs
Consulting
Customized support to help schools and organizations design and launch nature-based early education programs
Nature Preschool
Overview
Our nature preschool is based in Roslindale and Jamaica Plain. Our mornings are spent outdoors at the beautiful Arnold Arboretum, immersed in nature; in the afternoons, we return to our cozy Community House on Delford Street for rest, games, and projects.
We nurture resilience while fostering kindness toward one another and the earth. We bring families together in community and offer children a joyfully muddy childhood under the guidance of dedicated teachers. Our program supports physical and mental health, encourages environmental stewardship, and cultivates habits of mind such as curiosity, initiative, persistence, creativity, problem-solving, and responsibility.
Our preschool also serves as a place of shared learning for the field of nature-based early education. Teachers, researchers, and higher education students develop and refine best practices, while educators from other programs visit to observe and exchange ideas.
Gardening
In addition to our adventures at the Arboretum, our preschool class enjoys gardening at a vacant lawn at the end of Colgate Road. We grow tomatoes, carrots, beans, radishes, nasturtium, and marvelous orange cucumbers. We are eager to continue developing this community space in collaboration with families, neighbors, and other education programs nearby. Ideas include installing rainwater storage, pollinator and herb gardens, a mud kitchen, and maybe even chickens. We invite you to join us in bringing the “green learning center” vision to life!
Schedule
School Year 2026 - 2027:
September through June, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Ages 2.9 - 5
Tuition: $24,500 (please inquire about vouchers)
Summer 2026
We may run a separate summer program in August 2026. Stay tuned for details!
Admissions
We welcome families who are excited about ECO’s mission. Our programs thrive when parents actively contribute.
Families may volunteer through:
Classroom support
Gardening
Community outreach
Fundraising
Hosting social events
Sharing skills and expertise
We strive to make involvement flexible and accessible for all families.
Applications are reviewed with the goal of creating a balanced class. Factors considered include:
Age and developmental stage
Sibling enrollment
Language or cultural background
Learning needs
Family engagement
Please submit our interest form. We will respond within three business days.
Forest Days
ECO Forest Days brings outdoor learning to public schools and childcare programs through weekly field trips to natural areas. Research shows that experiences in nature enhance academic learning, physical fitness, personal development, and environmental stewardship. Children who visit natural areas regularly develop a sense of care for themselves, others, and the places they visit, along with the ability to reflect on environmental issues and propose solutions. These benefits are especially pronounced for children who experience difficulties in traditional classroom settings. Since structural barriers often limit equitable access to outdoor environments, Forest Days helps to narrow this gap by guiding our partner-school children, teachers, and family volunteers in playful, nature-based learning. In doing so, we offer hands-on professional development that helps teachers build confidence and skills in outdoor education.
Interested in bringing ECO Forest Days to your school? Let’s connect!
Consulting
We offer tailored support for schools, organizations, and individuals seeking to:
Design and launch nature-based early education programs from the ground up, including site selection, program and business planning, fundraising, staffing, and implementation
Integrate outdoor learning into existing early childhood and elementary school settings
Develop sustainable business models, including funding strategies and financial projections
Design and enhance natural play environments and develop nature-based curriculum
Provide hands-on professional development that builds a culture of outdoor education
Our team provides on-site visits and remote coaching for clients in the United States and abroad. We work with schools, land trusts, entrepreneurs, and a wide range of mission-driven organizations seeking to design or strengthen nature-based early education programs.
Our consulting work builds on years of leadership in nature-based early education by ECO founder Sarah Besse. Earlier in her career, Sarah established and grew a network of nature preschools to serve over 600 children each year, with an annual budget of $2.4M. Under her leadership, the organization launched nature preschools at eight locations and developed a Forest Days program for public schools. To expand access to nature-based early education, she secured foundation and government grants, supervised and mentored a staff of over fifty, and built key partnerships with several other nonprofits.
From early vision to full implementation, ECO partners with clients at every stage. Let’s connect and explore how we can bring your ideas to life!
