Brooklyn Park Nature Preschool to Increase Outdoor Learning This Fall

Brooklyn Park Nature Preschool plans to move even more of its curriculum outdoors this fall due to COVID-19 precautions. Staff members are working on things like new touchless check-in systems and new rules for parent drop-offs.

Brooklyn Park Nature Preschool opens this fall with COVID-19 safety precautions

On Wednesday, 5-year-old Wyatt and 2-year-old Brooks got up close and personal with geese and ducks. They are attending the school’s summer camp.

Summer camp is similar to the Brooklyn Park Nature Preschool program, with Mother Nature leading the lessons. In the fall, students will get to spend more time outdoors. Teachers are trying to spend the entire class time outside. Minnesota health officials say the outdoors has shown to mitigate the spread of the virus.

“Things we normally have in the classroom, which are learning centers, we will be bringing six of those outside,” explained teacher Sheri Gulenchyn.

Brooklyn Park Nature Preschool combines early childhood education with environmental awareness.

Educators will wear protective gear. However, students won’t be required to wear a mask.

“There are two times we’re going to ask if they could try to wear a mask, and that is when we have circle time, and we’re closer together and when we do our small group times,” said Gulenchyn.

The preschool, which also added a kindergarten curriculum this year, says only one parent can drop off students to reduce the level of person-to-person contact. And of course, there will be plenty of hand-washing throughout the day.

Brooklyn Park