Tide Change: Cumberland opens its trails to a nature preschool

At this time, a park-use permit for Cumberland’s Coal Creek Historic Park has been approved, an Early Childhood Educator has been hired for the position while more are still being interviewed for the second available position, registration has officially begun and classes will begin September, 2015.

Hand-In-Hand Early Years Nature Education Program is an outdoor educational program that is designed to offer a unique early childhood learning experience for 3-5 year old children.

“Our classroom is the natural environment of Cumberland’s Coal Creek Historic Park. Our chairs are the logs, our pencils are the sticks and our possibilities are endless,” he said.

The program is offered Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm in the outside environment, as this is an outdoor environmental educational program. If there is severe weather, it may be necessary to use the picnic shelter. There will be two certified and experienced Early Childhood Educators that will teach a maximum of 16-children.

Expanding on the BC Ministry of Education’s Early Learning Framework, the emphasis of the program will be on a nature and play-based curriculum and will encourage preschoolers to engage their environment through art, music, games, physical activities and group learning.

The model for our nature educational program is comprised of two components: Ecology and Adventure Education and 2 stages: Seeds & Roots. Seeds are 3-year olds and meet Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 12pm. Roots are 4-year olds and meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 12pm. The price for Seeds is $169/month and Roots is $244/month.

For more information, please find us online at www.hand-in-handeducation.com.