Child-led
discovery in
nature's classroom
Our
Practice
At The Tree School, we help children reclaim the kind of wild, joyful freedom that once came from roaming neighborhood backyards and wooded trails decades ago—muddy, tired, soaked from the rain, and completely alive.
Rooted in years of early childhood practice, we understand the risks that come with the outdoors—and we respect them. But we don’t believe in shielding children from the wild. We believe in guiding them into it, with care and clarity.
Nature
Based
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Nature transforms into a child-led playground where imagination flourishes beyond traditional confines.
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Outdoor environments naturally develop essential skills including gross motor coordination, problem-solving, and risk assessment.
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Daily activities like wildlife observation and mushroom identification create meaningful scientific inquiry that supports holistic development.
play
outdoors
Dive into the world of unstructured, outdoor, play-based fun where kids take the lead. Our sessions are all about getting hands-on with nature—think messy, immersive play using natural materials and a sprinkle of simple tools. Singing, active games, and building safe natural structures. We create a world that fuels creative/dramatic play.
Create a lively nature-inspired play group where we explore, discover, and engage with friends and teachers.
Dive into the treasure trove of natural goodies—leaves, stumps, snow, rocks, sticks, mud, and more.
Form connections and nurture kindness, compassion, and respect in small, social circles.
Tonio
My practice has been shaped by deep mentorship from two lifelong educators: my mother, a preschool teacher of more than 40 years who continues teaching today at age 72, and Lele, founder of Toca Playgroup and a Brazilian researcher of children's culture who has led nature-based programs in Prospect Park for over 20 years.
Rythm
of our days
Our days are full of movement and wonder—regulating our nervous systems in the rhythm of nature. We climb, build, run, imagine, and expend our energy in the wild. We work up a real appetite, then gather together to feast like Vikings under the trees.
By pick-up time, we’re ready for the soft landing of home. Children leave with dirt under their fingernails, stories in their pockets (or sometimes rocks), and the quiet pride that comes from a day well-lived.
