2026-27 Enrollment Guide

2026–2027 Enrollment Guide for Early Childhood

At Nature Connect, we honor each child’s unique developmental needs. Our enrollment process is designed to place children in the classes where they will feel confident, supported, and excited to learn. Please note that class placement takes into account several factors, including the student's age, developmental readiness, family goals, and the distribution of students who enroll for the year. Nature Connect reserves the right to adjust student placements after the enrollment period ends based on these criteria. Please review the readiness questions and enrollment options for the upcoming school year below.

Is your child ready for Nature Connect?

Your child is likely ready for Nature Connect classes when you answer “yes” to all questions!

Is your child able to regularly communicate their needs to others?

Given the nature of our program, it is imperative that children can communicate when they need anything: bathroom use, thirst, hunger, pain, etc. We continually remind children to address those needs. For example, if we are on an adventure and a child needs to use the restroom, they need to be able to share that with us. We can then get them to a location where they can go in a timely manner.

Can your child use the restroom with minimal to no assistance?

Your child should be able to perform the actions necessary for using the restroom (i.e., manipulating clothing, wiping, etc.). If a child needs assistance, they need to be able to ask for help. It is necessary that children are fully potty-trained and proficient in toileting. No diapers or pull-ups allowed.

Can your child change their clothes mostly independently?

We are constantly working with children to encourage independence and develop self-help skills. Your child should be able to change their clothes, be willing to try, and ask for help if they have difficulty.

Is your child able to regularly communicate their needs to others?

In our program, children must follow directions from our teachers to keep them safe. Your child will be required to stay with the group and follow the instructions.

Which Class Is Right for My Child?

Placement Guide

Interested in future years?
Join our waitlist here

Class	Birthdate Range
Kindergarten	Sept 2, 2020 – Sept 1, 2021
Jr. Kindergarten	Sept 1, 2021 – Mar 1, 2022
Early Childhood Age 4	Mar 2, 2022 – Dec 1, 2022
Early Childhood Age 3	Jan 1, 2023 – Sept 1, 2023

Determine your child’s age on September 1, 2026

• Age 3.0–3.7 → Early Childhood Age 3
• Age 3.7–4.5 → Early Childhood Age 4
• Age 4.5–4.11 → Jr. Kindergarten
• Age 5.0–5.11 → Kindergarten
• Age 6+ → Not eligible for Kindergarten (join our Homeschool Enrichment class!)

We understand that placement decisions can feel complex. Our admissions team is available to help! We are committed to supporting each family in finding the class where their child will flourish. Please reach out to brittany@natureconnectalabama.org or call the office at 251-513-7802 with any questions.

Early Childhood Age 3

Birthdate Range: January 1, 2023 – September 1, 2023
Age on September 1, 2026: 3.0–3.7 years

The Early Childhood Age 3 class provides a nurturing, play-based environment for young preschoolers as they build social-emotional foundations, independence, and curiosity.

Early Childhood Age 3 is best suited for children who:
• Are 3 years old
• Are fully potty-trained & toilet ready
• Are developing communication, cooperation, and basic routines
• Thrive in imaginative, outdoor, play-centered experiences

Jr. Kindergarten

Older 4 / Almost 5

Birthday Range: September 1, 2021 – March 1, 2022
Age on September 1, 2026: 4.5–just under 5 years

Jr. Kindergarten serves older 4-year-olds who are approaching Kindergarten readiness and are ready for more structure while still learning through exploration.

Jr. K is best suited for children who:
• Show early academic curiosity (letters, numbers, storytelling, counting)
• Demonstrate increasing independence with routines
• Handle transitions with growing ease
• Are ready for a step between Early Childhood and Kindergarten expectations

Early Childhood Age 4

Older 3 & Young 4 Class

Birthday Range: March 2, 2022 – December 1, 2022
Age on September 1, 2026: 3.7–4.5 years

Early Childhood Age 4 offers an enriching, nature-based environment for children who are gaining confidence, practicing peer collaboration, and expanding problem-solving and independence skills.

Early Childhood Age 4 is best suited for children who:
• Will be between 3.7 and 4.5 years old in September
• Benefit from hands-on learning rooted in outdoor play
• Are still developing the ability for longer structured activities
• Need consistent but flexible routines

Kindergarten

Birthday Range: September 1, 2020 – September 1, 2021
Age on September 1, 2026: 5 years

Children who are already 6 before the first day of school are not eligible for Kindergarten, but may join our Homeschool Enrichment program.

The Kindergarten class curriculum was developed by our 1st beloved certified kindergarten teacher, Ms. Meg Murphy, who taught our kindergarten class for three years. It is a tried-and-true curriculum that meets Alabama kindergarten academic standards and prepares students for first grade. Kindergarteners begin their academic work at 8:00 AM and join Jr. K for shared learning at 9:00 AM.

Kindergarten is best suited for children who:
• Are five at the start of the school year
• Show readiness for early literacy and numeracy
• Demonstrate independence and social readiness
• Can follow routines and participate successfully in group learning

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 early childhood program incorporates age-appropriate academics using nature as our classroom. Our teaching methods are inspired by a wide variety of teachers and ideologies. We have a flexible inquiry-based facilitation style, and we follow the children's lead much of the time. Some teaching philosophies that are similar to ours are Montessori and the Reggio Emilia Approach.Our curriculum meets state academic standards and is uniquely crafted using the following resources:

Blossom and Root
Heggerty
Phonics
Zoophonics
Exploring Nature with Children
Wild Math
Our Nature Connect curriculum