"Nature Kids" preschool open house set for Feb. 6 at Nature Center

The Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District will soon accept new registrants for its popular nine-month nature preschool program.

The Tualatin Hills Nature Center (15655 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton) will host an open house on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 10 am to noon to showcase Nature Kids, the district’s only nature-based preschool.

This program – for ages 3-5 – provides kids daily interaction with the natural environment throughout the school year while developing their social, communication and motor skills. Their “classroom” will be the 222-acre Tualatin Hills Nature Park.

“Nature is a classroom that changes every day and provides endless opportunities to explore,” said Karen Munday, program coordinator at the Tualatin Hills Nature Center. “The Nature Kids program gets children ready for kindergarten by combining preschool learning with exploration that fosters a life-long connection to the outdoors.”

The half-day program is offered mornings and afternoons, Monday through Friday. The Feb. 6 open house provides an opportunity to meet instructors, visit classrooms, tour the grounds and enroll for the 2016-17 school year.

Curriculum focuses on experiential learning through exposure to nature and the changing seasons. Participants thrive in a safe, active and natural environment at Tualatin Hills Nature Park.

The Tualatin Hills Nature Park features evergreen and deciduous forests, creeks, wetlands, ponds and meadows. The park is home to a variety of birds, mammals and smaller creatures. Its five-mile trail network includes 1.5 miles of paved pathways and 3.5 miles of well-maintained, soft-surface trails.

About THPRD
THPRD is the largest special park district in Oregon, spanning about 50 square miles and serving 230,000 residents in the greater Beaverton area. The district provides year-round recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Offerings include thousands of widely diverse classes, more than 90 park sites with active recreational amenities, 60 miles of trails, eight swim centers, six recreation centers, and 1,400 acres of natural areas. For more information, visit www.thprd.org or call 503-645-6433.