I originally thought her idea of 4-6 hours a day outside was utterly preposterous.  It is a far cry from typical child activities these days, most of which last no longer than an hour.  At the invite of a friend we began to spend large immersive chunks of time in nature and immediately my eyes were opened.  Children who are allowed this freedom of time outside get lost in nature.  They get lost in their imaginations and they get lost in wonder.  And then they rapidly develop.  There are many factors why but one reason is due to the rich sensory environment that nature always provides.

We first contacted Greenbelt Academy to register our daughter for summer camp. Since our daughter was too young for camp, Joelle was very helpful to find room in the daycare program instead. Our daughter loved being there. We immediately saw an increased interest in learning and an improvement in her tonus overall. We ended up registering for the whole year, full time. Joelle and her team are very kind and go above and beyond to accommodate any needs and they are very responsive to any parent concerns. We are impressed with the attention given to every child, the focus on play-based learning, and all the nature immersive activities that foster resilience, awareness and kindness for others and the environment. We are very grateful for everything they do to help our daughter prepare towards the school years.

I just wanted to say that I didn’t realize at the time when I put the kids on the waitlist but I understand now…is how important/imperative forest school is for development. Regardless of how we ended up at Greenbelt, from the depth of my soul, this is the best school for all our children and I am so grateful to be able to send Leonardo there. You/your staff’s hard work has not gone unnoticed over the past few months. Our child was always a happy child but it’s happy on a whole other level these days. Thank you.

We will forever be grateful for the experience our girls have had at Greenbelt Academy. They absolutely love attending and we have seen such a difference in their growth! From the confidence they have gained from the rich experiences that the educators provide, to their ability to self-regulate and name their emotions, it truly provides growth and learning opportunities with the whole child in mind. We know they are more connected to nature now than ever before and we are witnessing the positive impact this has had on them on a daily basis. The thoughtfulness of every educator leaves us with such a sense of gratitude knowing they are well cared for! What a joy it has been for our children to have these experiences in their earliest years.

Greenbelt has truly given our children a place to thrive in the great outdoors. Their nature based programming fosters a true connection to the environment while allowing them the freedom to explore and create using organic tools – teaching them to think outside the box! We have seen a real change in our children since joining the program – from language, imagination, writing, gross motor skills, socialization, and physical play just to name a few. We look forward to many more years growing and learning with our Greenbelt Family!

Our family could not be more thrilled that we found Greenbelt when we did. Our oldest son, who is now five, started in the Seeds program and is still attending their summer camps today. His respect for nature, our planet, and ecosystems from a young age is all thanks to Greenbelt’s programming. You could see the excitement and pure joy he had while attending the forest and exploring the outdoors.

Now, our youngest son has been in the Seeds program for over a year, and we can see the same passion growing within him. They both chant with excitement every day, eager to see what new adventures await. Regardless of the weather—hot, rainy, snowy, or cold—my children love being outside and exploring. I don’t believe they would be this way without Greenbelt.

I cannot say enough good things about how happy my boys are from attending Greenbelt. The owners truly feel like family, running a seamless program both outdoors and indoors. They learned to be kind and respectful to themselves and others. Not to mention, they now eat almost anything, thanks to the healthy meals the school provides.

If you are contemplating enrolling your child here, don’t wait. Greenbelt truly brings back the essence of “being a kid,” and I guarantee your child will explore, adventure, and live like one here.

My child started at Greenbelt academy when she turned 18 months.  My husband and I started recognizing the benefits immediately. Her increase in social skills, emotional skills, problem solving skills, and creativity skills improved immensely. She is very excited to share her new skills with us every evening when reviewing her day. Nature based learning encourages her to focus and makes learning fun! Our daughter loves going to daycare everyday, making the transition back to work very easy!