Celebrating 10 Years, The Nature Preschool at Learning Tree Farm.

Our Nature Preschool opened its first class in fall 2016 as an extension of Learning Tree Farm’s mission to provide hands-on learning experiences for children and families within a working farm environment. We offer all the elements families expect from a high-quality traditional preschool while fully immersing students in our 85-acre farm and surrounding woodlands. With daily access to hiking trails, historic structures, gardens, open fields, and dozens of farm animals, children are invited to explore, discover, and learn through meaningful, nature-based experiences each day.

Our program is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, placing children’s curiosity, wonder, and ideas at the heart of learning. We view our environment as a “third teacher,” using our farm, woodlands, and thoughtfully designed indoor spaces to support inquiry, creativity, and connection. Learning is guided by project-based experiences and ongoing reflection by both students and educators.

We value process-based art, allowing children to explore materials freely rather than focusing on identical end products. As a nature-based preschool, we spend time outdoors every day in most weather, partnering with families to ensure children are dressed safely and comfortably for all seasons. Through these experiences, we nurture confident learners and lifelong lovers of nature.

About The Nature Preschool

We believe that daily, hands-on experiences in nature—paired with ample time to explore and build—support children’s ability to problem-solve, self-regulate, and grow with confidence. Our emergent, child-centered curriculum takes a multidisciplinary approach to learning through nature and farm life, harnessing children’s natural curiosity and engaging multiple senses to support development and meaningful connection.

Through early and repeated experiences in the natural world, children develop a strong sense of self and an understanding of the interconnected relationship between humans and their environment.

Our Philosophy

A community of learners, families and educators connected by nature.

Over time, our community has become a movement, bringing together families, children, and educators through a shared connection to nature. Below are reflections on the impact this community has made for participating families.

“It is a lovely, supportive community that was truly so special and made such a difference for our family during our time in Ohio.  Our entire family made lifelong friends through LTF—some of them have even come to visit us at our new duty station, across the country!”

— Alumni Parent

“The program exceeded our highest expectations, as we witnessed our child not only connecting with nature and animals, but advocating for them. The seed planted in our child is something we will be eternally grateful to the committed and compassionate teachers at LTFP.”

— Alumni Parent

“Our child started the year anxious and unsure. By the end of the year, he was brave, outgoing, and ready to take on new challenges. The staff was incredibly patient and kind, constantly reassuring and helping our child work through his fears. They truly cared for him in a way that I can never fully repay.”

— Alumni Parent

“The educators have a special ability to connect to each child and meet them where they are. The fact that all three of our children were honored for their unique personalities and needs speaks volumes about the teaching staff.”

— Alumni Parent

Classes & Enrollment

Below you will find our schedule for the 2026–2027 school year. All classes consist of mixed-age groups of children ages 3–5.

Regular Preschool

2 classes of 16 students each.

  • Cardinal class runs on Mondays & Wednesdays, from 9 am-1 pm

  • Blue Jay class runs on Tuesdays & Thursdays, from 9 am-1 pm

  • A daily healthy morning snack will be provided.

  • Students will bring a packed lunch each day. 

  • The majority of programming will be held outdoors and weather depending we may wrap up the day indoors.

  • We continue to follow CDC guidelines for respiratory illness (Covid-19, Flu and RSV) prevention and mitigation, including masking when extended exposures have occurred.

  • $100 non-refundable registration fee

  • $2800 paid in 8 monthly installments of $350

Falcons Enrichment Series

This add-on class is for students who are already enrolled in our Nature Preschool.

The Falcons class extends the content explored earlier in the week but has more of an emphasis on researching (reading), documentation (writing), and performing additional science experiments.

  • Offered on Mon-Fri 1pm-3pm  February-April

  • This class has an additional cost.

  • Enrollment offers will be made during fall parent/teacher conferences

  • Offers are based on the student’s age, their ability to participate, self-regulate, and move throughout their Cardinal/Blue Jay day independently.

Calendar

The 2026-2027 school year runs from the end of August to the end of May.

School Holidays include:

Fall Break, the week of Thanksgiving

Winter Break, the second half of December & all of January

Spring Break, one week during the end of March/beginning of April

Individual Federal Holidays

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Children must be 3 years old by August 1st and be fully toilet trained by the first day of school. New enrolled children cannot have turned 5 years old before August 1st.

Enrollment for Nature Preschool is done through a lottery, with returning students filling the first round of available slots, siblings filling the second round, and new families filling the third round until all 16 slots in both classes, for a total of 32 slots, are filled.

ENROLLMENT LOTTERY

Registration for the Enrollment Lottery for the 2026-27 School Year will be open from January 2-February 1, 2026

ENROLLMENT LOTTERY

TUITION

Tuition for the 2026-2027 year consists of a $100  non-refundable registration fee to be paid upon receipt of an enrollment offer and 8 monthly payments of $350 for care from August – May with no payments made in January or May. 

A SLIDING TUITION SCALE IS AVAILABLE BASED ON NEED.

PLEASE CONTACT THE PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR Nature.Preschool@LearningTreeFarm.org FOR MORE DETAILS

FUTURE INTEREST FORM

By completing this form you are signing up to be included in our email list which will send reminders about open houses, enrollment lottery, Nature Preschool programming, and preschool aged community programming at Learning Tree Farm.

FUTURE INTEREST FORM

OPEN HOUSES

We invite you to join us for our annual Open House to meet some of our staff, explore our indoor & outdoor spaces and learn more about our programs.

2027 Open House Dates Coming Soon

Our Teaching Team

René Hick

Preschool Director & Teacher, Learning Tree Farm Nature Preschool

Early Childhood Educator with over 15 Years of Experience | Member of the Learning Tree Farm Education Team since 2016

I have been teaching here at Learning Tree Farm Nature Preschool since our opening and have been serving as the Preschool Director since 2024.  I love that we have created such a special place that allows young children to cultivate their natural curiosity and sense of wonder with plenty of time and space to problem solve, self regulate and develop a lifelong love of learning.  

While I have been an early childhood educator for over 15 years, I continue to credit my education and first career as a nurse for building the foundation for my developmentally appropriate practice and holistic approach to early childhood education. I am passionate about meeting each child where they are, validating them as a multi-dimensional human being, and differentiate my approach based on their individual needs.  I love that our learning community is a place where we respect each other as individuals while learning to work together in unison for the group as a whole. 

Learning Tree Farm is such a unique setting to make discoveries about ourselves, each other and our connection to the natural world!  I look forward to watching your children develop their own curiosity, connections with nature, their world and one another.

Director & Lead Teacher

Sarah Lamont

Teacher, Cardinal & Blue Jay Classes, Learning Tree Farm Nature Preschool

Staff Naturalist | Outdoor & Early Childhood Educator with over 20 years of experience | Member of the Learning Tree Farm Education Team since 2015

“I believe everyone benefits from a connection to the outdoors, and I love watching children make their own nature discoveries. From splashing in mud puddles and counting the legs of our goats to nature journaling in the woods, young learners at Learning Tree Farm have exciting opportunities to explore and engage with the natural world. My passion for nature began in my childhood on a unique property that was both a sheep farm and a prairie fen. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Michigan Technological University, and I bring that curiosity and love of the outdoors to every learning experience at the Farm.”

Lead Teacher & Naturalist

Teacher, Cardinal & Falcon Classes, Learning Tree Farm Nature Preschool
Discovery Coordinator | Early Childhood Educator with nearly 30 years of experience | Member of the Learning Tree Farm Education Team since 2021

I have always believed that child-led, play-based learning is the most effective way to foster self-esteem, independence, social-emotional growth, and problem-solving skills in young children. I love seeing the excitement on children’s faces as they explore diverse environments, experiment with a variety of materials, and learn through hands-on experiences. At Learning Tree Farm Nature Preschool, it is a joy to witness childhood being respected, valued, and nurtured every day.

Lead Teacher

Jennifer Hartman

Teacher, Blue Jay, Cardinal & Falcon Classes, Learning Tree Farm Nature Preschool
Certified Trauma Informed Educator & Practitioner, Wilderness First Aid & Mental Health First Responder. Member of the Learning Tree Farm Education Team since 2023

There is nothing like the excitement and wonder of children exploring the outdoors, getting messy in wild spaces, and embracing curiosity through play. Learning Tree Farm is a special place that nurtures social-emotional development, imagination, and critical skill-building in young children. I love witnessing children make their own discoveries, connect with nature, and build relationships with one another. As a trauma-informed educator, I am passionate about the connection between early experiences in nature, outdoor play, and emotional wellness. Being part of this vibrant learning community is truly a gift. My passion for teaching and co learning is deeply rooted in a foundation built on community, both here at Learning Tree Farm and the Dayton region I continue to serve.

Lead Teacher

Shana Lloyd

Connect with Us

The Nature Preschool center is located just north of the original Learning Tree Farm at 3274 South Union Rd. on the southwest side of Dayton, Ohio.