Preschool Philosophy & Staff
Since 1982, the Kalamazoo Nature Center’s offsite preschool program, Nature’s Way Preschool, has been connecting young children and families with nature. Originally housed in a one room log cabin, Nature’s Way Preschool is one of the longest running environmental preschool programs in the nation. In 2011, the Kalamazoo Nature Center built our new facility, expanding our enrollment to 128 students. The stone fireplace from the cabin remains on the property as a reminder of our original school. Current families enjoy school campfire nights around the fireplace. Students enjoy daily hikes on 30 wooded acres, including a beautiful wetland area along the west fork of Portage Creek.
2 Day South Classroom: Tuesday/Thursday 8:45 am & 12:45 pm
2 Day South Classroom
Meri Morrow
Meri (she/her) graduated from Western Michigan University with a BS in Education with minor in Art, Science and Early Childhood Education. She has over 20 years of experience teaching children of various ages, PreK through eighth grade. Meri’s son PJ attended Nature’s Way Preschool which started her love of nature-based learning. She has been subbing and teaching at Nature’s Way Preschool since 2018. She is looking forward to watching your children learn and grow in nature.
2 Day North Classroom: Tuesday/Thursday 8:30 am & 12:30 pm
2 Day North Classroom
Laura Sacha
Laura (she/they) joined the NWP teaching team in 2021. She is also a former Environmental Educator at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. They have a bachelor’s degree in Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University and have taught students of all ages in various roles for almost a decade. Laura approaches education with a strong belief in student-lead, experiential learning and a commitment to fostering a connection to nature for all.
Shannon Ladouceur
Shannon (she/her) joined the Nature’s Way team in 2016. She has a BS in Zoology from MSU, an Early Childhood/Elementary teaching certification, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Miami University. Shannon has worked as a zoo educator at Binder Park Zoo and taught kindergarten in Texas. She loves working with young children and sharing her enthusiasm for animals, nature, and the outdoors with her students. Shannon is the NWP Parent Green Team coordinator and is passionate about promoting conservation values. In her spare time, she loves traveling the world with her husband, exploring local trails with her dog, running, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.
3 Day South Classroom: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 8:45 am & 12:45 pm
3 Day South Classroom
Michele VanAllen
Michele (she/her) has been teaching preschool at NWP since 2018. She was a reading tutor for Kalamazoo Public Schools before joining our team. Formerly she was an environmental policy consultant and has a BS in Environmental Science from Michigan State. She completed a Master of Early Childhood Education from WMU in 2020. She has been married to Erik for 31 years and is mom to Kara, who lives and works in Seattle, and Mia, a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh. She has a dog named Daisy and a cat named Ozma, enjoys quilting, and loves to garden.
Haley Davis
Haley (she/her) graduated from Central Michigan University with a B.A.A. in Child Development and Cultural & Global Studies. She has worked in various educational settings, including a nature-based preschool in Texas. Haley is passionate about promoting sustainability and compassion for all living creatures with her students. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, Ricky, playing tennis, reading, and exploring by bicycle with her husband, Jamie.
3 day North Classroom: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 8:30 am & 12:30 pm
3 day North Classroom
Laura Sacha
Laura (she/they) joined the NWP teaching team in 2021. She is also a former Environmental Educator at the Kalamazoo Nature Center. They have a bachelor’s degree in Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University and have taught students of all ages in various roles for almost a decade. Laura approaches education with a strong belief in student-lead, experiential learning and a commitment to fostering a connection to nature for all.
Shannon Ladouceur
Shannon (she/her) joined the Nature’s Way team in 2016. She has a BS in Zoology from MSU, an Early Childhood/Elementary teaching certification, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Miami University. Shannon has worked as a zoo educator at Binder Park Zoo and taught kindergarten in Texas. She loves working with young children and sharing her enthusiasm for animals, nature, and the outdoors with her students. Shannon is the NWP Parent Green Team coordinator and is passionate about promoting conservation values. In her spare time, she loves traveling the world with her husband, exploring local trails with her dog, running, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.
Curriculum
Our play-based activities encourage discovery and exploration. Students participate in sensory rich experiences that develop the whole child, while building cognitive, social-emotional, and physical competencies. Thematic units follow the seasons, allowing our students to help determine our topics of study based on the changing world around them. We immerse ourselves in nature, and let the life in our woods guide our studies.
Family
We value the involvement and support of the families in our program. The connections that we make with each family member are important links in creating our vibrant school community. Teachers send weekly emails that include photos and an in-depth review of the week. Family activities are planned throughout the school year to encourage family and school connections. Nature’s Way Preschool welcomes all families with love and respect.
Philosophy
At Nature’s Way Preschool, we provide a caring and positive atmosphere for young learners to thrive. Students spend the majority of their school day outdoors, allowing them to make deep connections with the natural world. Based on the knowledge that children learn through play, classroom routines encourage active involvement, meaningful experimentation, and the joy of discovery. Schedules are designed to balance structure and free choice, as well as active and quiet times. We recognize that children advance through developmental stages and allow each individual to work at their own pace without pressure. Each school day is a multi-sensory adventure.
Risky Play
Preschool children are motivated to play in risky ways. They are good at knowing their own capabilities and avoiding risks they are not yet ready to take. The Nature’s Way Preschool staff are experienced in knowing how to encourage and support students who are ready to engage in risky play. Studies have shown that children who participate in risky play when they are young have better motor skills, social skills, conflict resolution skills, physical health, mental health, cognitive function, attention span, and risk assessment in their teens and young adulthood. Examples of risky play seen at Nature’s Way Preschool include: climbing trees, playing with sticks, running games, sledding, or playing on a steep hill.