Join today and get outside at one of our 60+ wildlife sanctuaries. New Individual and Family memberships are just $35! Start your membership
Join today and get outside at one of our 60+ wildlife sanctuaries. New Individual and Family memberships are just $35! Start your membership
Tall yellow flowers in a green garden with a red barn in the background.
Drumlin Farm, Lincoln

Drumlin Farm Community Preschool

Give your child a fun, unique, and adventurous learning experience that will last a lifetime. At Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm Community Preschool, children learn through hands-on nature-based experiences that address the developmental needs of children ages 3 to 5 as they explore the varied habitats at the sanctuary.

Enrollment Information

All families who have children enrolled are required to have a current Mass Audubon family membership or higher by the start of the school year in September.

2023-2024 School Year

We have limited spaces available in our 3-day program for the 2023-2024 school year. To start the enrollment process, please complete the online enrollment application.

2024-2025 School Year

Online enrollment for 2024-2025 will be announced soon. Fill out the Interest Form to get alerted when enrollment opens.

Please note: the entry age for enrolling in our 2024-2025 school year (September 2024-early June 2025) is 3 years old by September 1, 2024.

Drumlin Farm Community Preschool Interest List

Virtual Open House & Info Nights

We invite you to join us from the comfort of your own home for an evening focused on learning more about our school program. Our evening together will include a presentation and opportunities to hear from our faculty, see our program in action through photos and videos (including video tours of our indoor and outdoor classroom spaces), and understand more about our philosophy and overall daily schedule. We will conclude our time with a question-and-answer session. Meeting link will be sent to all families who RSVP for these virtual events.

Tuesday, December 5 • 8:00-9:00 pm
Monday, January 29 • 7:30-8:30 pm

All families must RSVP for these virtual events at least 2 days prior to the event date. Sign up here

In-Person Tours

We will be offering some in-person tours in December 2023 and January 2024. Please sign up here if you are interested in attending one of these tours.

  • Four preschoolers in the woods
    © Emily Haranas
  • Drumlin Farm preschoolers reading a book
    © Emily Haranas
  • A young child standing in a farm field proudly holds up a plant and smiles
  • A brown baby goat stand in front of a white baby goat in green grass.
    Drumlin Farm, Lincoln
  • Drumlin Farm preschoolers at tables
    © Emily Haranas
  • Preschooler blowing on a dandelion puff in spring at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary

Teachers & Class Size

Each class is taught by highly qualified early childhood educators who are licensed by the MA Department of Early Education and Care. Our class size is 10 students with two teachers, giving a teacher-to-child ratio of 1:5. We have two classrooms of students each day at our school.

Curriculum

Our emergent and nature-based curriculum provides opportunities for indoor and outdoor play—both structured and unstructured—to develop cognitive, physical, social, and emotional growth in each child. 

A sense of self and community is created through cooperative experiences and shared discoveries. Through outdoor adventures, art and cooking activities, books, music, and movement, children learn emergent math, science, and literacy skills as they investigate stimulating natural history topics.

Outdoor Exploration

Investigating the forests, fields, wetlands, and farm encourages emotional connections to the land, promotes physical development, and fosters a sense of discovery.

Nature Play

Children have the opportunity to play, use their imagination and interact with one another while also exploring the changing landscape and various habitats around the sanctuary.

Planting & Harvesting

Children are involved in the life cycle of growing food on the farm—from planting to harvesting and tasting. Along with these hands-on experiences, they are also learning about farming, soil, water, and plants. 

Meaningful Connections with Animals

We are so fortunate to be able to provide a variety of authentic opportunities for children to share meaningful connections with animals, including:

  • Visiting with a resident animal ambassador from Mass Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center at Drumlin Farm (a long-term care facility for injured or human-habituated wildlife that cannot survive in the wild). 
  • Learning how to care for Drumlin Farm’s farm animals by visiting with our sheep, goats, chickens, pony, cows, and pigs.
  • Caring for resident animal friends include Alice the Rabbit, a year-round resident in our indoor classroom, and the hens that live in the school play-yard classroom in the fall and spring.
  • Observing wildlife by the pond, in the forest, and on the trail.

Contact Us

If you would like to learn more about the Drumlin Farm Community Preschool you can email or call 781-259-2224.