River Oak Co-op's mixed-age outdoor preschool program is located at River Park, a nature area on the North Side of Chicago. Led by two experienced outdoor educators, this co-op provides developmentally appropriate, play-based early childhood education that promotes respect for people and nature through outdoor learning. The program offers an all-outdoor learning experience that fosters curiosity, compassion, empathy, cultural awareness, creative problem solving, and environmental responsibility in children ages 3-6. We welcome families seeking an alternative to traditional Pre-K and Kindergarten.
Enrollment is now open for the 2023-2024 school year!
Start Date: August 21st 2023
Calendar: Loosely aligned with Chicago Public School calendar. Registered families will receive a complete calendar and parent handbook.
Days/Times: Monday-Friday 8:30 am-2:30 pm; part-time options available.
Age Range: 3-6 years old
Tuition: $150 per week for 2 days a week; $225 per week for 3 days a week; $375 per week for 5 days a week.
About River Oak's Teachers/Co-op Chairs:
Stacy Niemic and Sarah Bethel are so excited to lead Oak Leaf’s River Oak Nature Program. Both passionate about nature-based early childhood education, they have worked together in Outdoor Preschool programs in Chicago for the past 3 years, with experience working together to direct another Outdoor Preschool in the Chicago area. As a teaching team, they focus on creating a child-led, emergent curriculum that is inspired by seasonality and locality. They have presented together on nature-based early childhood education locally and nationally at theNorthern Illinois Natural Preschool Association conference and the Natural Start Alliance annual conference. See Co-op Leaders tab for Sarah and Stacy's individual bios.