The Nature Explore Classroom at Children’s Country Day SchoolNature education is an important part of daily learning at Children’s Country Day School in Mendota Heights, MN. Adding a certified Nature Explore Classroom only seemed natural to the staff at Country Day. 
In the Nature Art Area, children create beautiful masterpieces with natural materials. “Country Day’s mission to serve the whole child has always included the imperative to teach respect to the young and this has naturally gone hand-in-hand with caring for animals and our environment,” said Marlais Brand, nature program coordinator at Country Day. “We continue in our mission to serve the whole child, building our own Nature Explore Classroom to meet his or her important needs for nature.” Located in the Twin Cities, Country Day’s Nature Explore Classroom encourages children to discover the wonders outside their own back door. At school, the children enjoy exploring many aspects of nature in the Maka Play at Country Day (Maka is the Dakota word for Earth). Children play in a messy materials area that has a Minnesota north woods theme, enjoy a natural art area nestled under mature red pine and spruce trees and explore the beauty and mysteries of nature throughout the classroom. 
Children enjoy playing instruments on stage in the Music and Movement Area. 
The Messy Materials Area has a Minnesota north woods theme where children can explore piles of hay and grasses. 
Children can make wonderful connections with nature by feeling a caterpillar crawl in their hand. |
