Now Enrolling! Child Care, Daycare, Preschool
Locations
CENTENNIAL FIELDS PARK & RAIN GARDEN
Centennial Fields, adjacent to Meadowbrook Farm, is an award-winning park, sitting majestically in the shadow of Mount Si, across the street from the Three Forks Off-leash Dog Park. Your children will have real Elk and bugle calls to witness before their eyes and ears. The Rain Garden is a whole eco system just waiting to be explored and learned about. There are bunnies, squirrels, raccoons and Garter snakes, plenty of slugs, bugs, spiderwebs and earthworms for our zoology, botany and ecology exploration lessons. The trees are climbable and raise self esteem with every storybook read and lunch eaten up inside a beautiful, mossy tree. There's spectacular views and so much space to run freely in this fully fenced, safe and friendly park. This park and the forest will ensure a gleefully muddy childhood for your child's happiness.
Natural Wonderland
DROP-OFF & PICK-UP POINT
DROP-OFF & PICK-UP POINT
DROP-OFF & PICK-UP POINT
The little red house at the far end of the parking lot is where we meet for drum circle transition.
PARKING
DROP-OFF & PICK-UP POINT
DROP-OFF & PICK-UP POINT
Park close by and follow the sound of the drums & shakers to our group of little drummers on instruments which we provide.
WHEN IT RAINS
DROP-OFF & PICK-UP POINT
WHEN IT RAINS
If we need to take shelter, we will use this awesome space in the park.
JUNGLE GYM
TOILETS & WATER FOUNTAIN
WHEN IT RAINS
Certain age groups are allowed to use the jungle gym, however, we encourage all the children to get all their fun in nature.
TOILETS & WATER FOUNTAIN
TOILETS & WATER FOUNTAIN
TOILETS & WATER FOUNTAIN
Safe, clean restrooms & drinking water fountains are available at the park.
STREET CROSSING
TOILETS & WATER FOUNTAIN
TOILETS & WATER FOUNTAIN
We sometimes cross the street twice - to get to another forest, and return to the park. We cross as a group, with a buddy system, where the children glean safety awareness as we learn the protocols of safely crossing a street.
Nature’s Bounty
FOREST WALK
BEACH EXPLORATION
NATURE TRAILS
The Rain Garden Forest & Hike is where we explore nature as a group. The Natural surroundings provide the healthy, magical dose of beauty, space, exercise, sunlight, freedom & fresh air.
NATURE TRAILS
BEACH EXPLORATION
NATURE TRAILS
The view on our pathway to the forest, wherein we sing, tell stories, dance, play games, read, process lessons learned, learn about nature conservation, is with the natural world
BEACH EXPLORATION
BEACH EXPLORATION
BEACH EXPLORATION
Our fully supervised Children are encouraged to explore the beach and puddles, but not permitted to get too close to the river.
WATER PLAY
LUNCH IN THE FOREST
BEACH EXPLORATION
Fun water puddles & dams away from the main river have our group of children exploring the world of water and its ecosystems therein. Expect wet and muddy clothes, hands, etc and please provide a change of clothes in your child’s backpack for after their Forest play.
NATURAL BEAUTY
LUNCH IN THE FOREST
LUNCH IN THE FOREST
At every footstep, there is magic to be discovered! WE ENCOURAGE TEAMWORK and have the children remember to stick together as part of a team, with team breaks, hands all in: "Go Team Montessori Forest School!"
LUNCH IN THE FOREST
LUNCH IN THE FOREST
LUNCH IN THE FOREST
The best place to connect with the earth and eat your food! We are an allergen-free school so please pack nut-free, plant-based lunches & snacks in your child’s backpack. *Sun butter & sunflower seeds are allowed. WE LEAVE NO TRACE & teach Recycling & Composting.
Have questions? Awesome! Click FAQ to explore our frequently asked questions.
Watch This Space For Our Future Partners!
The Parks of Mercer Island
Luther Burbank Park
Located on the northeast end of Mercer Island, Luther Burbank Park features spectacular views of Lake Washington. With three-quarters of a mile of a pebbly Lake Washington beach full of hidden treasures, Luther Burbank Park is an ideal location for exploration and hands-on learning. Your adventurer will ramble through 77 acres of big mossy trees, get muddy and giggly in the hidden meadows, wetlands & beach, and search for a variety of wildlife, including 135 species of birds, 50 species of waterfowl, raccoons, beaver, muskrats, tree frogs and rabbits. Many of these animals live in the wetlands that occupy the north and south ends of the park.
At Luther Burbank Park, the majestic landscape is an additional teacher – presenting ample opportunities to learn math, science and art concepts through the natural world.
In our awe-filled outdoor classroom, your young explorer will play with symbols, letters and ideas. They will play in a language rich environment with written words for the names of the trees, plants and creatures that make the forest home. And to explore the world of science, and test the possibilities of the natural world, your child will plan their own experiments and share what they have learned with classmates through daily plan – do – review sessions.
Music and sounds are incorporated through ukulele play and songs, listening to nature and the call of the abundant creatures great and small during our adventures.
Pioneer Park
Island Crest Way and SE 68th Street
Pioneer Park is a 113 acre forest purchased by the City of Mercer Island in 1964. Ownership of the park was transferred to the Mercer Island Open Space Conservancy Trust in 1992. It contains 6.6 miles of trails. The Park has been kept in a natural state so that Island residents can easily “get out” in the woods through the course of their daily lives. Roads divide the park into three distinct quadrants.
The Northwest Quadrant is the most popular quadrant. It is on the west side of Island Crest Way, but it also may be found by its location across from the QFC Village. Parking is available on 84th Avenue SE at the north end of the park. The forest is primarily deciduous, with conifers interspersed. This quadrant contains a perimeter trail that is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. Horses are only allowed on designated equestrian trail along Island Crest Way and SE 68th Street. Off-leash dogs (under voice control) are allowed in this quadrant -- click here to read the MI City Code (MICC 7.04.110), or learn more from this overview page.
The Northeast Quadrant has the most variety. It is East of Island Crest Way. Parking is available on the North side of SE 68th Street mid-block, near a large maple tree. The forest is a mixture of conifer and deciduous habitats. The “backside” of the quadrant also contains a ravine and stream. The main trail crosses the quadrant diagonally, skirting the top of the ravine, offering views into the ravine from two overlooks. The newest trail in the park takes visitors into the ravine and around wetlands, with overlook of the creek at the bottom. This quadrant is closed to horses.
The Southeast Quadrant is the equestrian quadrant. It is on the east side of Island Crest Way, south of SE 68th Street. Parking is available on the east side of Island Crest Way just south of SE 68th Street. While the trails are open to all users, they have been designed and maintained specifically for horseback riding. The forest here is predominantly Douglas fir. Root rot is active in this quadrant, and gaps in the canopy indicate where trees have fallen over as a result.