Get to know Our Playful Garden
"Where curiosity cultivates a lifelong love of learning."
Curiosity + Discovery + Dirty Hands
At Our Playful Garden, we believe every child deserves the space to explore freely and experience the wonders of nature firsthand. From dirt-covered hands to spark-filled minds, we encourage children to follow their curiosity and find joy in every hands-on discovery.
Program Description
Discover the wonder of nature with our unique nature-based play experiences! Our business offers engaging sensory, art, and learning activities designed to inspire curiosity and creativity in children of all ages. Each session is thoughtfully themed around holidays and seasons, creating a fun and educational environment that celebrates special occasions and natural wonders. Whether it's outdoor sensory explorations, artistic projects inspired by the changing seasons, or themed learning adventures, our programs foster a love for nature while promoting development, imagination, and environmental awareness. Join us for an enriching, playful experience that connects children with the great outdoors in a safe, supportive setting.
Our Core Values
Why Nature-Based Education?
We know the immense value of being outside. Extensive research confirms that consistent time in nature leads to significant improvements in a child’s physical health, cognitive development, and social-emotional skills. At Our Playful Garden, we don't use nature as a backdrop-it's the core of our educational program and our most dynamic teaching tool.
The Difference a Highly Qualified Educator Can Make
As the founder and lead educator, Joanne Hentnick brings nearly three decades of experience across various roles in early childhood education. This extensive background informs every lesson and interaction at Our Playful Garden. We move beyond simple supervision, offering an approach we call Guided and Supported Free-Play. This means:
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Carefully Constructed Environments: The space is intentionally designed to present engaging challenges that supports educational outcomes.
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Expert Support: Our team provides subtle guidance, asking questions and offering materials that encourage children to deepen their investigation and solve problems independently.
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Child-Led Learning: We empower children to be the leaders of their own learning, ensuring that every discovery is personal, meaningful, and exciting.
We are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of creative thinkers, curious explorers, and respectful stewards of the natural world.
Tactile Discovery
We believe children learn best when they can touch, feel, and manipulate the world around them. Whether it's the rough texture of bark or the cool dampness of moss, we prioritize sensory-rich experiences that ground children in the present moment.
Creative Confidence
By pairing the treasures of the earth with real-world tools and techniques, we empower children to become the authors of their own work. This hands-on approach builds more than just a finished object; it develops the problem-solving skills and self-reliance that stay with a child for life.
Unhurried Exploration
Curiosity doesn't follow a clock. We provide the time and space for children to follow their own trail, allowing them to observe the "tiny wonders" of nature that are often missed in the rush of daily life.
Heartfelt Stewardship
To protect the Earth, a child must first play in it. By fostering a joyful, personal connection to nature today, we are nurturing the compassionate environmental stewards of tomorrow.
