Outdoor Education
“The land is where our roots are. The children must be taught to feel and live in harmony with the Earth.” - Maria Montessori
At Cedars Montessori, the outdoor environment is deeply woven into the daily life of our students. From Monarch waystations to vegetable gardens to chicken coops, our outdoor curriculum is not just learning
about nature, but learning
in
and
through nature. Our largely wooded 16-acres are regarded as an extension of the classroom, offering children opportunities to form relationships with the land and experience the reciprocal nature of caring for all forms of life.
Gardening Class
In addition to native plant and pollinator gardens nestled throughout the campus, each classroom has its own gardening space that students visit on a daily basis. On any given day, you might see children pushing wheelbarrows down the path, watering herbs in the garden beds, or tasting mustard greens. Through hands-on, inquiry-based, and sensory-rich experiences they are able to explore, observe, plant, tend, prune, harvest, and taste! The gardens are living laboratories, where lessons in science, math, literature, and art arise spontaneously and children’s unending wonder and curiosity is nourished.
(This class is a part of our curriculum for all of our primary and elementary classrooms and is included in your tuition.)
Wilderness Class
Through Wilderness Class, children are invited to further enrich their connection to the natural world and their interaction with the land. They learn skills such as how to build shelters, follow animal tracks, navigate the ropes course, identify plants, tie knots, camouflage themselves and work together collaboratively. They hear oral stories, some of which are new and some of which are thousands of years old. The curriculum follows them from Kindergarten through Upper Elementary, the freedoms and responsibilities growing right along with them. They learn to identify risk, practice safety and cause less disturbances while interacting with the landscape and its inhabitants.
(This class is part of our curriculum for all primary full cycle and all elementary children and is included in your tuition.)
Fire Scouts
We know that children are inherently curious about the world around them, and many families choose to further foster this interest through our scouting group: Fire Scouts. This program is based in wilderness survival and natural connection and strives to create families that are bonded in their connection to nature. At each meetup, families will play a game, discuss one of their Fire Scouts character values, and work on skills. A few of the skills practiced are constructing shelters, purifying water, building fire, food preparation, and camping competence. Fire Scouts is for the whole family!
(This is an extracurricular activity for children who are in their primary third year and above and you can sign up at the beginning of the year. This is not included in your tuition.)
“The child who has felt a strong love for his surroundings and for all living creatures, who has discovered joy and enthusiasm in work, gives us reason to hope that humanity can develop in a new direction.”
- Maria Montessori
Parent Reviews
Our oldest has an amazing bond with her guide! The guide is more than just a fantastic teacher, they've worked together through the years to help my child discover her passions and strengths, and to develop her strong sense of self- that's priceless!
— Teddy W.
The phenomenal teachers, expansive campus, quality education, close-knit community, and emphasis on valuing the whole child make Cedars Montessori the perfect environment for our kids to solidify their love of learning and be their best selves!
— Michelle M