Irvine Nature Center

Introducing - the nature Place at Irvine!

We invite you to explore The Nature Place at Irvine, daily classes of nature-based curriculum for 3 to 5 year olds! 

The Nature Place at Irvine is a child-centered approach to early childhood education with  an emphasis on a balanced curriculum that seeks to develop the "whole child" focusing on cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and creative activities.  Our nature-based curriculum benefits learners of all modalities through hands-on experiences both indoors and out.   We believe that children have an innate curiousity to learn; to nurture new learning, we:

* provide a supportive, safe learning environment to encourage discovery, question-asking, and experimentation

* provide sensory experiences with live animals, natural objects, artifacts, trail activities, and art materials for students to utilize all five senses

* develop cognitive growth and motor skills

* develop problem-solving skills through hands-on games and activities

* introduce language through songs, stories, and dramatic play

* cultivate social skills and positive self-image through group play and cooperative learning across ages

* encourage family involvement to help students appreciate the wisdom of their first teachers - their parents/guardians

* appreciate diversity of living things and celebrate individuality of children and families.

Curriculum

Our days are full of fun! We explore weekly topics through a wide array of activities
that appeal to every learning style.

Activities include:

* outdoor exploration on the trails
* up-close encounters with live animals
* science experiments and use of manipulatives
* language, literacy, and writing activities
* creative arts and music time
* interactive puppet play and story time
* healthy cooking and food tasting experiences
* hands-on math activities
* movement and games to promote physical fitness
* Imagination Stations for self-guided learning

Class Schedule

We offer flexible morning or afternoon class options for children ages 3 to 5 years old. All participants must be 3 years old by September 1st in the year of enrollment.

Morning Classes: 9:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
* 2-Day Classes: Tuesday and Thursday
* 3-Day Classes: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
* 5-Day Classes: Monday thru Friday

Afternoon Classes: 12:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
* 2-Day Classes: Tuesday and Thursday
* 3-Day Classes: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Lunch Bunch (11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.)

Call 443-738-9224 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

For more complete information on The Nature Place, click here to download the brochure.  Click here to download a registration form.