Stomping ground
Muck and Wonder Farm School is a licensed full-day preschool program, offering care for children 2 years of age through entry to first grade.
Taking place on our historical and beloved acre of property (with 2 silly goats, Dandelion the pig and 5 friendly chickens), children experience community, nature-based play, process art, explorations and play invitations, caring for animals, farm chores, gathering times and EVEN MORE PLAY.
Our teachers design curriculum that is specific to the group of children and their interests and needs. Throughout the year we also revere the seasons as they come and pass—through community celebrations and events, gardening, songs, movement, herbology, and forest craft.
Our school day takes place mostly outdoors.
We believe in Playful Learning.
We believe the best early childhood environments are focused on children doing what they were born to do, which is to PLAY and connect to the natural world.
We believe children (and parents!) yearn for a connection to community.
We believe children need to feel safe and supported by the adults in their lives, in order to learn to trust their bodies and feelings.
We believe children deserve to have their family woven into their lives and learning environment.
We believe children are the natural risk-takers, explorers, creators, thinkers, doers, artists, and social change makers of the next generation.
We believe children should be allowed space to ask questions and come up with their own answers.
We believe that PLAY IS PRACTICE and WHOLE-BODY LEARNING.
Children chase their ideas.
We believe that the best learning opportunities take place when a child’s whole body is engaged, and they are excited and passionate about their ideas. Children are welcomed and empowered to explore a wide range of experiences and feelings as they build friendships, test strengths, experiment, experience disappointment and try new experiences.
Children derive value and meaning from their play when they are given an opportunity to offer their energy, creativity, voice, and ideas to the world.
Children Need Nature.
We believe children feel an innate connection with nature and deserve to be outdoors as often as possible. Our outdoor space has fruit trees, sand, water, mud pie stations, a community garden, Muck Mountain, Log Land and many open-ended opportunities for exploring, creating, climbing, sensory, and swinging.
The animals that live with us on our property have much to teach us about unconditional love, stubbornness, and silliness.
Outdoor Classroom: Our school is located on an acre of land with lots of space to spread out. Our school garden is a work in progress but coming along through the help and support of our community.
Indoor Classrooms: Our schoolhouse includes a dramatic play area, loft, process art center, community room, quiet room, loose parts space, and homestyle kitchen.
Snacks and meals: Children are offered three opportunities to eat with their group throughout the day. We provide morning and afternoon snack for our students and parents provide lunch. We eat all of our meals outdoors (weather permitting).
Daily Rhythm: Our preschool day consists of numerous elements including: settling in, gathering together, explorations and play invitations, cleaning up together, resting time, meals, stories, group games, joyful work, music and dance, yoga, and more.
Toileting: Our children’s bathroom has a single enclosed stall for privacy and a few open toilets for potty training learners.
Covid-19 Safety Protocols: Throughout our program we will continue to monitor and observe safety protocols, following information guidelines from the CDC, Public Health Department, Governor Newsom’s directives, and Child Care Licensing of California as we manage Covid-19. Daily health checks, sanitizing, hand washing, and keeping children happy and healthy through the day will be our top priority.