Kate Strebe’s daughter, Maya, is a child full of energy and big emotions, often running laps around the living room after a busy day. When the Strebes decided to enroll Maya in preschool in 2023, they were concerned about how she would adjust. Would she be able to sit still in a traditional classroom setting?
The answer came when they discovered a nature-based preschool in the Denver area. Unlike traditional schools, this preschool operated outdoors, offering children the chance to spend their days climbing trees, building shelters, and splashing in creeks. Maya’s experience was transformative. “She just blossomed,” says Strebe. Maya practiced writing her name in the sand, learned to count pine needles, and even developed a deep fascination with the world around her, spending time watching ants in motion. The outdoor setting not only improved her social skills and reduced conflicts at home but also accelerated her learning in areas like math.
However, the Strebes faced a significant obstacle: cost. While Colorado’s Universal Pre-K (UPK) program, launched in August 2023, provided them with free tuition for 10 hours a week at a traditional preschool, it did not cover nature schools, which are not licensed by the state. To make ends meet, the Strebes used credit cards and family gifts, and also relied on federal food assistance. “This school is perfect for her,” Strebe explains. “Moving her into a traditional preschool for the UPK money—it just wouldn’t be worth it.”
In 2024, the cost of Maya’s full-time nature preschool attendance rose to $1,700 per month, creating a financial strain. The Strebes have sacrificed retirement savings and medical costs to keep her enrolled. Still, Strebe remains hopeful that future legislation may allow them to use UPK funds for nature preschools, a dream that could soon be realized thanks to new state laws.
Nature Preschools on the Rise
Nature-based preschools, also known as forest schools, have been growing rapidly across the United States in recent years. Originating in Europe in the 1950s, these schools focus on outdoor learning, with students spending most or all of their time in natural environments, regardless of the weather. Colorado is home to approximately 45 such schools, according to Jennifer Kollerup of the Colorado Collective for Nature-Based Early Education.
Parents choose nature schools for a variety of reasons, from wanting their children to connect with nature to believing that outdoor learning fosters better critical thinking and teamwork. Research supports this, showing that outdoor schools help children develop problem-solving skills, reduce stress, and increase physical activity. They are also beneficial for children with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Studies have shown that children from nature schools are just as prepared for kindergarten as their peers from traditional schools in terms of social and academic skills.
Financial Barriers and State Licensing Issues
Despite the benefits, nature schools have faced challenges with state licensing regulations. In Colorado, preschools must meet certain safety requirements, including having access to an emergency shelter—something that many outdoor schools struggle with, as their students are always outside. As Mary Alice Cohen, director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), explains, the department’s main priority is ensuring children’s safety in any learning environment.
Many nature-based schools have been operating under special exemptions to these rules, but these exemptions come with limitations, such as caps on student enrollment and shorter hours. This has often made it difficult for working families to access these programs. Moreover, many nature schools have been hesitant to seek official recognition, fearing it might draw unwanted attention from regulators. These programs are often under-enrolled by families from diverse backgrounds, as many of these schools are located in suburban or rural areas, where green space is more abundant. The cost of tuition has also made these programs less accessible to families with limited financial resources.
Legislative Change Promises Relief
This year, Colorado lawmakers took steps to address these challenges. In June 2024, Governor Jared Polis signed SB 24-078, which creates a licensing option for full-day outdoor preschools. This law makes Colorado only the second state—after Washington—to offer a formal licensing process for nature schools. As a result, these schools will now be eligible for state subsidies, including those from the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) and the UPK program.
The new law also allows nature schools to use temporary structures like RVs or pavilions to meet the emergency shelter requirement, making it easier for these programs to keep costs down. While the regulations around these licenses are still being developed, the law is seen as a major step toward expanding access to nature preschools.
Tamara Wineland, director of AdventurMe Forest and Nature School in Black Forest, says the new law will help meet the demand for outdoor preschool programs. Her school has a waiting list of more than 100 families. Advocates for nature-based education hope the new licensing will also improve teacher-to-student ratios, which are currently lower in outdoor schools than in traditional settings.
Challenges of Affordability and Diversity
While the new law is a significant breakthrough, advocates are also working to make these programs more affordable and diverse. A 2022 survey revealed that 78% of nature preschool students were white, while children of color made up the majority of preschool-aged children in Colorado’s licensed programs. Outreach and education efforts are key to ensuring these schools are accessible to all families.
Boukman Byrd, a teacher at a Denver-area nature school, says that expanding access to nature schools is crucial for families of color. He and his wife enrolled their son in a nature preschool, and Byrd now works to share the benefits of outdoor education with other parents, particularly those from communities of color. “These outdoor programs are really good for a lot of kids,” says Byrd. However, making nature schools more inclusive will require addressing historical trauma related to outdoor spaces, especially for Black and Indigenous communities.
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