Welcome to Sunrise Nature Preschool
Enrollment Information
We are filled to capacity for 2024-2025.
If you are interested in 2025-2026 enrollment, please fill out the contact form below indicating so and information will be sent to you. Thank you!
Mission
The mission of Sunrise Nature Preschool is to provide children with an outstanding early childhood experience that focuses on divergent thinking and creative problem solving while fostering self-confidence, strong social/emotional development, and a long standing relationship with nature as our teacher and guide.
Sunrise Nature Preschool will promote learning by:
Developing divergent thinkers who are able to create many different solutions to any given problem
Playing and learning outdoors every day unless the weather is dangerous
Learning and understanding the Inquiry Learning Approach (learning through questioning, doing, and identifying how to get and make sense of the information around us)
Preparing children for kindergarten in a setting that is developmentally appropriate and encouraging
Utilizing art, music, and other creative outlets every day
Posing open-ended questions and engaging with children's curiosity in a meaningful, cooperative way
Celebrating the diverse array of students in our group and appreciating the many ways we are alike and different
Experimenting, discovering, and encouraging the view that mistakes are welcomed and are an opportunity to learn, adapt and improve
Focusing on the practice of respecting yourself, those around you, and nature
Encouraging children to trust themselves and to listen to their body and intuition through the short practices of developmentally appropriate daily yoga/meditation
Why a Nature Preschool?
As the world around us continues to change and evolve, children need to be able to be constantly adapting as well. Nature, in its ever-changing ways, is an excellent teacher of creative problem solving. Additionally, outdoor exploration and play allows each student to develop physically in a unique way that indoor learning alone cannot. As children interact with one another, their teacher, and the environment around them, they will develop social and emotional skills that will last a lifetime.
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About Sunrise Nature Preschool
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Land Acknowledgement
At Sunrise Nature Preschool, we acknowledge with gratitude that the land we are using was originally home to the Wahpekute people. We are committed to continued learning regarding this history and believe it is essential for the children of SNP to know the land they are using is the occupied homelands of the Dakota Nation. We strive to honor and appreciate the traditions and contributions of the Wahpekute people as the original keepers of this land.
Please consider visiting https://native-land.ca to learn about the Indigenous history of the
lands you are occupying.
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At Sunrise Nature Preschool, we follow the natural curiosity and interest of the students as well as the seasons of Minnesota as our learning guide.
Topics we may explore include:
butterflies, bees, apples, farm, pumpkins, harvest, snow/ice, animal tracks/signs, plants/seeds/flowers/gardening, maple syruping, insects, ponds/lakes/streams, birds, spiders, reptiles/amphibians, trees, weather, woods, senses, animal care, and more!
Our program is a half day preschool and class takes place from 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM.
Class takes place on Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday.
At SNP, we are able to serve children ages 3-5 who are fully toilet trained.
Children must turn three by September 1st in order to enroll for the school year.
The Sunrise Nature Preschool property is over an acre and has a forest for exploration and an outdoor classroom. We back directly up to Lake Elmo Park Reserve, which offers an additional 2,000+ acres for outdoor adventures and learning. We are located just outside of Woodbury, off of Inwood/Radio in Lake Elmo.
A sample of what a day together may look like:
9:30 - Arrival
9:35 - Morning Meeting
9:40 - Discovery/Play
10:40 - Snack Time
10:55 - Story Time
11:05 - Group Excursion (hike/outdoor study/play)
11:50 - Closing Meeting/Gratitude Circle/Yoga
12:00 - Pickup/Goodbyes
Meet Ms. Jen
My name is Jen Sterner and I am extremely excited to welcome you to Sunrise Nature Preschool.
This idea came to life for me from a combination of two things. The first was teaching kindergarten and pre-k in the public school system and feeling a strong need to encourage kids to learn and develop through play, nature, exploration and curiosity rather than traditional academic tasks alone. The second was my own son attending farm school for his preschool experience and being absolutely amazed by what he took away from the program.
On a personal note, I have a very deep appreciation for nature and spend most of my spare time camping, hiking, kayaking, reading in my hammock, swimming, going on walks with my dog (Cooper the Beagle mix), playing with my own children outdoors, and just about anything else that gets me outside. I would love to share my love of nature with you and your family!
More about Ms. Jen:
20 years of childcare and public school teaching experience
Bachelor's Degree in early childhood and elementary education from Winona State University
Master's Degree in education from Saint Mary's University
Piloted and taught the pre-k in the elementary schools program in South Washington County
Named Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Elementary Educator of the Year
Nominated for Washington County Provider of the Year (2023 & 2024)
Contact SNP
Interested in learning more about Sunrise Nature Preschool? Please feel free to get in touch, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Sunrise Nature Preschool
8875 27th Street N.
Lake Elmo, MN 55042, USA
651-592-7217