Wild Haven Forest Preschool Grows in Baltimore

Wild Haven is growing! We are a forest preschool and childcare that is based out of Leakin Park/Gwynns Falls in West Baltimore. We have come so far in only 3 years. When we came to Carrie Murray Nature Center in 2017, it was at a time when the center was about to go through a complete overhaul, revitalizing the space and work to better serve Baltimore. Joining the team as a new program, we had almost no budget at all and yet we had to transform a room that housed nearly 20 rainforest reptiles and amphibians into a preschool classroom!

My cofounders and I emptied, cleaned, repainted and bit by bit our forest classroom came to life. A science table with natural artifacts to study. A library with pillows and a child’s bench. A low activity table with chair cushions on the floor to serve as seats. We could not have done it without second-hand, upcycled materials and most significantly, through donations from the community. It was hard work, but the classroom was a clean, safe, and intimate space that has served over 30 children and their families. This space was our home-base, our sanctuary within the forest and was vital to our program!
As we get ready to expand for the fall and add a full-day program to the mix, we are need of help! We have two new classrooms, one that serves toddlers (18 months – 3 years) and one that serves preschoolers (3-5 years) that need to come to life! Currently, the classrooms are bare bones, in need of a total makeover. We are in the patching, painting, and building phase now! The Wild Haven team put in the work to make these spaces beautiful. Once we have a fresh, bright foundation we make the magic happen by creating a thoughtful, inviting learning environment in which the children can thrive.
We are reaching back out to the communities that have breathed life into our beginning. Wild Haven is a wildly successful program that is growing due to the demand for high-quality care in Baltimore city that not only supports the holistic development of children but also create opportunities for them to connect with the natural world. In the words of David Sobel, “We need to give [children] time to connect with nature and love the Earth before we ask them to save it.” Our planet deserves future generations that care for its well-being. Our future generations deserve to love the planet that gives us life.

Wild Haven is just one tiny program that has started to take root and in order to spread and we need the support of our community! Crowdfunding is HARD and we DO NOT like it! We don't want to have to rely on this method forever. Do you know our big vision for Wild Haven? A program in every park in Baltimore city - TUITION FREE! In the future, we will be chasing grants that will help us expand, one park at a time. Can you imagine the benefits of Free Forest Childcare programs throughout the city that are based out of PARKS? What a wonderful way to cultivate future generations who value and want to protect the green spaces in their city and beyond! Can you help us breathe life into our childcare program for the 2019-2020 year? Will you be a part of our story and donate today?

Our Go-Fund Me can be found here, but if that’s not your style or you’d prefer to donate another way we will be collecting these materials for the new year. If you would like to make any physical donations please contacting Director, Monica French, at [email redacted].