Nurture And Nature Children's Center

As new parents with a relatively small village, my husband and I can’t say enough about the wonderful teachers and the warm environment at Nurture and Nature. Our son began attending N&N at about 13weeks old; a tender time for us as I was returning to the workplace. My one requirement for his care was that he be safe and feel loved while I couldn’t be with him; I truly feel that the staff and director at N&N have delivered in so many ways. They are candid and transparent. They nourish his growth and development with daily sensory play, outdoor time (which we love!), creative weekly themes for learning and exploration. We feel that everyone at N&N is genuinely invested in the wellbeing of kiddos and parents and we are so grateful for their approach childcare.

Our toddler recently started at Nurture & Nature and we can't say enough positive comments about our experience so far. We've been on wait lists for over a year and were thrilled when a spot opened up at N&N. The teachers have gone above and beyond to make our daughter and us as parents feel comfortable. The children do many educational activities throughout the day and spend so much time outside. In just a few weeks, we've already seen such positive developments with our daughter and we love that she's making some toddler friends, too.

We LOVE Nurture & Nature! We started taking our kids in August 2019. They were ages 4 and 2 at the time, and had had at-home care up to that point, so we were nervous. Of course they were upset at first, but before long we went from tears at dropoff to not wanting to leave when we picked them up! The staff is amazing. They have done great work to help our kids learn how to process their emotions, and they are always coming up with new & interesting activities to do. A constant favorite is when Zippity Zoo brings in wild animals and teaches the kids about how they live. They also do a great job helping the older kids transition to kindergarten, socially and academically--my son learned his letters before he turned 4! On top of all this, they were our heroes through COVID--I don't know what we would have done without them. The facility is tucked into the woods, offering plenty of shade for hot summer days and plenty of nature to explore--to my mind, exactly what kids need. N&N is a wonderful place, with a wonderful team of people committed to helping children learn and grow. My only complaint is that they don't teach K-12!

I have been sending my kids here since 2019 and we love it here. There was a change in administration that seems to have made a huge, positive difference. All of the teachers have been amazing, accommodating of our needs, and so caring. I’ll also add that during Covid they were completely understanding of our decision to keep our kids home and still saved a place for us, which I have not heard of any other centers doing. I can’t say enough good things about the people who work there. I am so thankful for Jennifer, the new director, and all of the amazing teachers that we have come to know and that our kids love!

I have two boys that are currently enrolled at Nurture and Nature full time. My oldest is in the preschool room and has been enrolled since he was 11 weeks old. My youngest is in the infant room and has also been enrolled since he was 11 weeks old. Being a full time working mom is difficult, but Nurture and Nature has made it much easier for my family and I to balance our life away from home. I wouldn’t trust my kids in full time care anywhere else. When I was pregnant with my first, we toured many centers. The feeling I got touring N&N was much different than how I felt touring other centers in the area. These teachers truly care about the children. The teachers in the infant room are so nurturing and caring. My little man’s face lights up when he sees Miss Jess each morning. My oldest boy is super sensitive and has a hard time being away from his Mommy. The toddler and preschool teachers work with my son to ensure a smooth transition to school on days when he misses me most. He loves to be outdoors and the children spend lots of time enjoying nature. Nature walks and water play in the playground are the highlights of his day. The culture at the center has helped establish a feeling of community. I have become friends with many of the other parents at the center, and I believe our kids will be continue to be friends throughout the years. Parent involvement is significant. Many parents dedicate lots of hours to the center, whether it be on the board of directors, fall/spring cleanup, monthly pantry contributions, or small odd jobs here and there. You can tell how much parents of the children at the center value the community here. There’s been some leadership change over the past few years, but our current Director, Jennifer Blackwood, seems to be the perfect fit to continue to foster our great culture here at N&N.