Nature & The Garden
Through connection with nature, children develop curiosity, confidence, and respect for the earth. They learn to see themselves as part of a greater ecosystem — capable of observation, creation, and care.
Connecting to the Natural World
Rather than simply gardening, our Nature Program encourages children to connect with the land as scientists, artists, and caretakers. They study the changing seasons, observe wildlife, and use natural materials for creative expression.
Exploring, Creating, Discovering
From the Primary playscape to the Elementary garden, students experience nature as an extension of the classroom—an inspiring space for play, art, and imagination.
Pre-Primary & Primary: Natural Playscape
For our youngest students, daily time outdoors takes place in our Natural Playscape — an intentionally designed outdoor space for exploration, movement, and open-ended play.
The space includes sand, water, a mud kitchen, climbing areas, and gardens where children dig, pour, and build, developing coordination and confidence. Outdoor play supports gross motor development, sensory integration, and social growth as children learn to collaborate, negotiate, and care for their environment.
Gardening
Each classroom has a designated garden bed for growing flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Planting, tending, harvesting, and tasting are all part of the garden experience at MdTL.
Elementary:
Our school community garden is open as a work choice for students in each elementary classroom two afternoons a week. Located behind the main campus, the garden serves as a living outdoor classroom. Time in the garden fosters curiosity, patience, and stewardship while reinforcing scientific and ecological understanding.
Activities range from structured, small-group lessons to open-ended outdoor exploration. Students might:
- plant and harvest vegetables and herbs
- create natural dyes and teas
- craft ropes, wreaths, and sculptures from garden materials
- construct structures using natural elements
- observe animal tracks, nests, and seasonal changes
- explore soil, clay, and water cycles through direct experience
Cross-Curricular Connections: Nature studies extend into art, science, and cultural exploration. Students integrate their outdoor discoveries into classroom projects, connecting botany, ecology, and sustainability with real-world understanding.
Going-Outs: Students have opportunities to further connect with the outdoors through nature-based Going-outs—small-group excursions initiated, planned, and led by the children themselves.
Outdoor Education: Every fall, Lower Elementary students visit Slide Ranch, a unique, coastal outdoor education facility where they have a chance to engage with goats, sheep, chickens, and beehives. Upper Elementary students participate in two multi-night outdoor education trips each year: one in the fall, and one in the spring.