2026-27 Extended Day

Early Childhood Extended Day:

Wonder Workshop

Wonder Workshop is Nature Connect's extended day program, offering families flexible care from 8:00–9:00 AM and 1:00–3:00 PM before and after our regular school day. Morning Wonder Workshop is a gentle, unstructured invitation to explore, where children arrive and head straight into the woods for creative, imaginative play in nature, easing into the day at their own pace. In the afternoon, students transition into a restful quiet time where they relax on cots in the barn while listening to soothing stories or instrumental music, giving their bodies and minds the space to recharge. Families are asked to send a nap mat and an extra snack for this cozy wind-down time.

Once rest time wraps up, Wonder Workshop comes alive with a dedicated teacher, fresh, energized, and ready to lead, who brings a rotating lineup of enriching activities to complement what students experienced during the school day. Each afternoon spotlights a different area of learning, including music, art, Spanish, science experiments, STEM, gardening, and storytelling and theater, so children always have something new and exciting to look forward to. This intentional mix of rest, creative exploration, and stimulating hands-on learning makes Wonder Workshop an engaging and joyful extension of the Nature Connect experience.

Enrollment Options:

2 days per week (Tuesday/Thursday)
3 days per week (Monday/Wednesday/Friday)
5 days per week (Monday-Friday)

2026-2027 Extended Day Year

Dates: August 20, 2026 - May 13, 2027

(Calendar similar to Baldwin County Public Schools)

Times: 8:00am - 9:00am and 1:00 pm-3:00 pm

Location: Church of the Apostles, 7159 McIntyre St, Fairhope

Find tuition information here.

Enrollment requirements:

Request a school tour by clicking here. All new students are required to tour prior to enrolling for an academic program.
Children must be proficient with toileting & fully potty trained. They know when they need to go to the bathroom and can communicate that.
Because we learn in an outdoor classroom without walls, children must be able to stay with the group and follow instructions most of the time.
Children must show respect towards peers, teachers, nature, and the church property.
Review our Readiness Questionnaire.

Financial aid is available and awarded annually based on need. Applications for financial aid are due by January 9th. Apply here.

Members of the Church of the Apostles receive a discount. Please let us know if you are a member BEFORE filling out the registration.

What makes us unique?

Mostly Outdoors - We spend most of our class time outdoors, unless there is severe weather. This means we get dirty and even play in the rain! We love exploring in the woods and at the creek and learning about the beautiful place where we live. We have a barn classroom with a screened in porch and many outdoor learning spaces as well.

Small Class Size and Low Teacher to Student Ratio - We keep our class size small and our teacher to student ratio is 1:8 (or better), which means individual attention and care to each child's needs.

Highly-trained Staff that love what they do - We hire the highest quality teachers in the area because we know who is with your child is incredibly important. Our teachers are well-trained, trustworthy, and experienced caregivers who love the work that they do. We provide ongoing staff development and opportunities for continuing education.

Room for Creative Play - We believe that children are meant to play and use their imaginations. That is what makes childhood special. Our staff see themselves as facilitators of the children's experience, holding the space for them to explore, learn, and play in the outdoors.

Physical Activity - We run, jump, slide, balance, and climb all throughout the day. Nature is the best playground! Children develop their physical capabilities and learn to be resilient in our classes. If the children need rest, we certainly make space for that to happen as well. Whatever the child's energy level, we work with it.

Flexible, Nature-Based, Child-led Curriculum - Our curriculum is focused on our local environment and the plants and animals that live here. If we find a turtle in the woods or a salamander in the creek, that becomes our lesson. We believe learning happens the most when children have that "spark" in their eye. Incorporated into our nature-based curriculum are Alabama's state academic standards. Read more about our curriculum and philosophies here.

Inquiry Learning - We love children's innate sense of curiosity, and we want to foster that. Therefore, we encourage the children to ask lots of questions. We then discover the answers or have fun wondering together.

What are we learning?

Our Wonder Workshop afternoons bring a rotating cast of enriching subjects to life, giving students something fresh and exciting to look forward to each day. A dedicated teacher leads each session with energy and purpose, offering a different area of focus every afternoon.

Our afternoon curriculum includes:

Music
Art
Spanish
Science Experiments
STEAM
Gardening
Storytelling and Theater

What does a day at outdoor school look like?

8:00 Extended Day Morning Drop Off
- Children arrive and head straight into the woods for creative, imaginative play in nature.
9:00 Welcome and Drop-off, Arrival Activity
- For example: working in the garden or mud kitchen, doing a nature craft, exploring the woods, learning about a local plant or animal, or playing an active, nature-oriented game
9:20 Opening Circle
- Nature Songs, Movement Activities, Sharing Gratitudes
9:30 Literacy
9:45 Bathroom/Handwashing Break, Snack and Water
10:15 Math
10:30 Nature Exploration
- For example: Adventure to the creek or woods, building a shelter, climbing up and sliding down in the gully, learning about local plants and animals, nature art, sitting still in nature, outdoor play and discovery
11:30 Bathroom/Handwashing Break. Change into clean, dry clothes if needed.
11:45 Lunch and Water
12:00 Barn Work Cycle
- Math, Language, Thematic Lesson, Practical Life
12:45 Closing Circle and Story of the Day
- We each share our favorite part of the day and sing our closing song
1:00 Goodbye and Pick-up
1:00 Extended Day Afternoon Begins
- Quiet rest time on cots in the barn with stories or instrumental music.
- Afternoon enrichment with a dedicated teacher, rotating through music, art, Spanish, STEM, gardening, and storytelling/theater.
3:00 Extended Day Afternoon Goodbye and Pick-up

Based in Fairhope, Alabama

2026-27 Extended Day

Enrollment Options:

What are we learning?

Interested in future years?
Join our waitlist here

2026-27 Extended Day

Enrollment Options:

What are we learning?

Interested in future years? Join our waitlist here

Interested in future years?
Join our waitlist here