Habitat Nature Preschool
What could be more magical than a preschool where each child's innate connection to nature is celebrated? At Mass Audubon's Habitat Nature Preschool, children learn through hands-on nature-based experiences that address the developmental needs of children ages 3-5.
Preschoolers explore the varied habitats at the sanctuary, including forests, ponds, and meadows across the 88-acre wildlife sanctuary. Give your child a fun, unique, and adventurous learning experience that will last a lifetime.
Now Enrolling
Join today! Space is available for the 2024-2025 school year.
Applications are also open for the 2025-2026 school year
Nature Preschool Activities
Our nature preschool program provides ample opportunities for indoor and outdoor play—both structured and unstructured—to develop cognitive, physical, social, and emotional growth in each child.
A sense of self and community is created through cooperative experiences and shared discoveries. Through outdoor adventures, art and cooking activities, books, music, and movement, children learn emergent math, science, and literacy skills as they investigate stimulating natural history topics.
Outdoor Exploration
Investigating the forests, meadows, ponds, and gardens encourages emotional connections to the land, promotes physical development, and fosters a sense of discovery. Children learn to identify plants, flowers and wildlife while developing a long-lasting respect and care for the sanctuary and the natural world.
Nature Play
Children have the opportunity to play, use their imagination, and interact with one another while exploring the changing landscape and various habitats around the sanctuary during all seasons.
Make Meaningful Connections with Animals
We are fortunate to be able to provide a variety of authentic opportunities for children to share meaningful connections with animals. On a regular basis, we visit and care for the resident goats, welcome a wildlife ambassador from Mass Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center at Drumlin Farm, discover wildlife like turtles and frogs by the pond, and observe wildlife like deer and birds in the forest.
Photos from Nature Preschool
Quality Teachers & Small Class Size
Each class is taught by highly qualified early childhood educators licensed by the MA Department of Early Education and Care. Our class size is 10 students with two teachers, giving a teacher-to-child ratio of 1:5.
Part Time Preschool Schedule
Our 5-day, 2-day (Tuesdays & Thursdays) and 3-day (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) preschool programs provide a variety of options to fit your schedule.
5-Day Preschool Program
Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
3-Day Preschool Program
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
2-Day Preschool Program
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
The preschool year runs September-June; specific start dates, end date, holidays, and vacation week schedules are provided in our Family Handbook, which is made available the summer before school starts.
Nature Preschool Age Requirements
Habitat Nature Preschool is open to children ages 3-5 years old. Children must be 3 years old by September 1 of the school year they are enrolling for.
Now Accepting Applications for the 2025-2026 Preschool Year
Mass Audubon members enjoy benefits like free admission to wildlife sanctuaries, discounts on programs and shop items, and access to community programs like Habitat Nature Preschool. All families who have children enrolled are required to have a current Mass Audubon family membership level (or higher) by the start of the school year in September.
5-Day Preschool Program ($18,579/year)
Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
3-Day Preschool Program ($11,321/year)
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
2-Day Preschool Program ($7,258/year)
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
Prospective students should be at least 3 years old by September 1, 2025, in order to enroll.
All families who have children enrolled are required to have a current Mass Audubon family membership level (or higher) by the start of the school year in September.
How to Enroll
First, fill out our enrollment application. You will receive an auto-generated message immediately after completing the form confirming that your application has been received.
The registration deadline for returning families, currently enrolled children and their siblings is January 10, 2025. The deadline for new families is February 7, 2025. After this date, enrollment is ongoing and based on available space.
Each family will receive an email with their child’s enrollment status around late January/early February. At this time, you will be notified as to whether your child has a space in our program or is on our waitlist. Waitlisted families will be notified if a space becomes available.
Apply for the 2024-2025 School Year
Enrollment priority is given to currently enrolled returning children and their younger siblings. Then, to our alum families. Additionally, as we continue toward our goal of making our programs accessible to all, some programs may employ additional prioritization tools or status for underserved communities. All returning or alumni families must apply or re-apply for each child enrolling.
All families who have children enrolled are required to have a current Mass Audubon family membership level (or higher).
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance is available through our scholarship fund and is based on economic need and available funds. Financial assistance applications are accepted and awarded on an ongoing, rolling basis based on need and available funds.
Tour Habitat & Meet Preschool Teachers
Due to the uniqueness of our nature program, we encourage all interested families to attend an in-person tour.
We are excited to offer in-person tours this winter. We will spend some time in our two indoor classrooms, outside in our outdoor play-spaces, and learning more about our preschool.
Thursday, November 7, 11:00-11:30 am
Wednesday, November 20, 11:00-11:30 am
Thursday, December 5, 11:00-11:30 am
Thursday, December 12, 11:00-11:30 am
Thursday, January 9, 2:00-2:30 pm
Wednesday, January 29, 1:30-2:00 pm
Thursday, February 13, 11:00-11:30 am
Contact Us
If you would like to learn more about the Habitat Nature Preschool, you can email us or call 617-207-2160.