Habitat Nature Preschool

What could be more magical than a preschool where each child's innate connection to nature is celebrated? At Mass Audubon's Habitat Nature Preschool, children learn through hands-on nature-based experiences that address the developmental needs of children ages 3-5.

Preschoolers explore the varied habitats at the sanctuary, including forests, ponds, and meadows across the 88-acre wildlife sanctuary. Give your child a fun, unique, and adventurous learning experience that will last a lifetime.

Now Enrolling for the 2026-2027 School Year

The entry age for enrolling in our 2026-2027 school year is 3 years old by September 1, 2026.  

Priority for enrollment is given to currently enrolled returning children and the younger siblings of children who are currently enrolled and then to our alumni families. Additionally, as we continue toward our goal of making our programs accessible to all, some programs may employ additional prioritization tools/status for underserved communities.  

Spaces remaining after current and alum families register are then filled by new families. Students are sorted into classes based on balancing age, schedule, etc. Enrollment is ongoing for both currently enrolled and new families until classes are filled. 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 2026.  

2-Day Preschool Program ($7,620/year)

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:00 am-1:00 pm

3-Day Preschool Program ($11,900/year)

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 9:00 am-1:00 pm 

5-Day Program ($19,520/year)

Monday through Friday, 9:00 am-1:00 pm 

How to Enroll

To apply, please fill out our enrollment application. You will receive an auto-generated message immediately after completing the form confirming that your application has been received. This is not confirmation of enrollment; we will be in touch after your application is submitted with next steps.

Tour Habitat & Meet Preschool Teachers

Due to the uniqueness of our nature program, all applicant families must attend either an in-person tour or a virtual open house. During in-person tours, we will spend some time in our indoor classroom, outside in our outdoor play-spaces, and learning more about our preschool.

Monday, January 12, 9:00-9:30 am
Monday, February 2, 3:30-4:00 pm
Wednesday, February 11, 9:00-9:30 am
Thursday, January 28, 9:30 am
Thursday, February 19, 11:30 am
Wednesday, February 25, 9:30 am
Monday, March 2, 4:30 pm

If you wish to take a tour after these dates, please call or email us to schedule a visit.

Save Your Spot

Nature Preschool Activities

Our nature preschool program provides ample 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, meadows, ponds, and gardens encourages emotional connections to the land, promotes physical development, and fosters a sense of discovery. Children learn to identify plants, flowers and wildlife while developing a long-lasting respect and care for the sanctuary and the natural world.

Nature Play

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

Make Meaningful Connections with Animals

We are fortunate to be able to provide a variety of authentic opportunities for children to share meaningful connections with animals. On a regular basis, we visit the resident goats, welcome a wildlife ambassador from Mass Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center at Drumlin Farm, discover wildlife like turtles and frogs by the pond, and observe wildlife like deer and birds in the forest.

Quality Teachers & Small Class Size

Each class is taught by highly qualified early childhood educators 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.