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A girl walking with a hiking stick in the woods in the winter.

several young children lined up in the snow smiling at the camera. One is throwing snow in the air.

A group of Nature School students play outside at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park.

A child climbs a tree at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park in the winter.

A woman teaches a boy and a girl about nature in the woods.

Nature School

Nature School is an outdoor, inquiry-based preschool program that supports child development through nature play and exploration. Designed for children ages 4–6, it helps the next generation foster connections with themselves, each other and the natural world.

How To Register for Nature School

All Nature School spots are now filled for the 2026–27 program.

Online enrollment for the 2026–27 program began on Wednesday, March 11 at 8 AM.

If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please call Reservations at 763-559-9000.

Class, Schedule & Tuition Information

Ages

Mixed-age class for children ages 4-6.

To enroll in the 2026–27 school year, children must be 4 or 5 years old (not yet 6) by Sept. 15, 2026 and fully potty-trained.

Class Size and Ratios

12–15 students with 2–3 teachers.

2026–27 Schedule

Start Date: September 15, 2026

End Date: May 20, 2027

Frequency: Tuesdays and Thursdays*

Time: 9–11:30 AM

*No class on:

November 24 and 26
December 22, 24, 29 and 31
March 9 and 11

You can also view our daily schedule.

Class Format

Classes will take place outdoors, in all seasons, rain or shine. We may spend time inside the Gateway Center for specific activities when conditions are unsuitable for a full session of outdoor learning. See the Frequently Asked Questions to learn more.

Tuition

Total tuition for September–May is $1,600. Tuition is paid monthly; monthly payments are calculated based on the number of classes ($25 per class) and range from $125 to $225.

Tuition is billed in advance on the 15th of each month and due within two weeks. An initial deposit equal to the first month of enrollment is due upon registration and will be applied as the first month's tuition.

Financial assistance is available through Three Rivers' Recreation Pass Plus program.

Our Staff

Nature School teaching staff have professional experience in both early childhood and environmental education. All staff are certified in CPR and First Aid, and have passed a background check.

Meet the Nature School Staff

Megan

Hello, friends! My name is Megan. I have a degree in biology, with a minor in music. I began working at Three Rivers Park District in 2008 and have specialized in leading early childhood programming throughout the park system. I have previous experience with a nature-based preschool, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, a zoo, and several Minnesota-based nature centers. I am a Certified Interpretive Guide through the National Association for Interpretation and certified in teaching The Cedarsong Way Nature Pedagogy. My favorite part of Nature School is witnessing the growth of confidence, creativity and empathy in children throughout the school year. Outside of work, I enjoy gardening, paddling, home improvement projects and spending time with my family.

Anders

Hi, Nature School families! My name is Anders. I majored in biology and environmental studies and minored in secondary education with the goal of becoming a classroom teacher and coach, but I have since been drawn to experiential and environmental education roles due to my love of the outdoors. I have been with Three Rivers Park District since 2012 and a member of the Mississippi Gateway team since 2017. In the past, I have worked at traditional preschools in downtown Minneapolis and small-town Iowa, taught at a nature-based preschool, and facilitated nature-based preschool programs at a variety of nature centers in the metro. I live in North Minneapolis with my wife, Katie, and our cats, Finn and Charlie. In my free time, I like to ride bikes, see live music, travel, fish, camp and ski. I am thrilled to spend time learning and exploring together. I cannot wait to see what our curious and adventurous Nature School crew discovers at Mississippi Gateway.

Paula

Hi! I'm Paula. I have worked for Three Rivers Park District as a naturalist since 2012, working with school and preschool groups, as well as the rafting program. I like to explore and be creative. I am willing to try just about anything and find joy in attempting it. I am a Certified Interpretive Guide through the National Association for Interpretation and certified in teaching The Cedarsong Way Nature Pedagogy. When I'm not at work, you can find me in the woods or on the river. Just look for the flash of my favorite color: pink!

FAQs

What will my child learn at Nature School?

During our time together at Nature School, our priorities are:

Promoting kindness and safety
Connecting to nature
Supporting students in learning about their interests and curiosities

Nature School teachers take an active role in modeling kindness for others, self and the living earth. With the environment as a guide, invitations are extended to explore the seasons through natural phenomena (falling leaves, snow, decomposition, spring melt, blossoms, etc.) and complimentary recreational activities.

The extent to which we present teacher-curated learning focused on literacy, math or science concepts is dependent on how much Nature Schoolers demonstrate interest in learning more about a topic. During class, teachers take note of what activities, tools, habitats and conversations get the students buzzing most and then develop plans to provide more resources, ideas and energy to support those interests in the following weeks.

Throughout the year, students learn how to be advocates for themselves and manage their body and wardrobe. Nature Schoolers have endless opportunities to practice communication, teamwork and problem solving. Additional areas we often observe growth in Nature Schoolers include curiosity, flexible thinking, confidence, risk-assessment, observation, creativity, independence, resilience, empathy and grit.

What Happens in Challenging Weather?

We appreciate that changing weather helps children develop resiliency. We find that when children are dressed comfortably for the weather, they enjoy rain, snow and mud just as much as sunshine.

When weather does not support a full session of outdoor learning, we may modify class in the following ways:

Significant Cold: In significant cold, we follow a sliding scale of wind and temperature developed by the National Weather Service to determine the appropriate amount of time to spend outdoors. Some winter days may result in 1-2 shortened outdoor visits, with indoor warm-up time, to help balance safety and fun.
Storms: In the event of a thunderstorm, our class will remain inside the Gateway Center for 30 minutes after the last lightning strike or boom of thunder. Time spent inside may include a story, nature investigation, snack time or free play.

Should My Child Bring Anything to Class?

Students should bring a backpack with a snack, a filled water bottle and a full change of clothes each day.

What Should My Child Wear to Class?

See our recommended gear list.

To help increase access to outdoor learning, Nature School has an outdoor gear lending program available for families interested in borrowing needed outdoor gear for the year.

What If I Need to Cancel My Child's Registration?

Cancellations made less than 30 days before the first of the month are not refundable.

How Will I Know About My Child's Day?

Teachers will share your child’s adventures through weekly photos and communication within a parent/teacher app.

With a focus on experiential learning, there will be little-to-no paper evidence of our learning to send home in backpacks. In contrast, your child’s backpack will likely include wet socks or mittens!

Testimonials

Knock-your-socks-off good. Incredibly caring naturalists (three for 15 kids) empower kids and facilitate social emotional learning alongside environmental exploration and stewardship.

–Michelle

We are so grateful for Nature School! Our child has really opened up and thrived in the year-round outdoor classroom environment. The teachers are phenomenal and bring gentle encouragement to problem solving, team building, and the social skills needed at this age. We love the pictures and questions that are sent to us after every class to further learn about our child’s day from their perspective! We highly recommend this class!

–JoAnna & Robert

Nature School has been an exceptional experience that exceeded our expectations! We love that the children spent time outdoors no matter the weather. Our son loved exploring the park and learning through play. The teachers encourage imagination and creativity using nature as the playground. It was a unique experience that we highly recommend!

–Sarah & Zach