Nature Pathways Early Learning Center – Now Open!
In December, Nature Pathways Early Learning Center opened on the former Children’s Country Day Property, creating an opportunity to build on the property’s legacy of providing high-quality, farm and nature-based early learning experiences for children and families in the community. We will continue to provide full and half-day education and care experiences for children ages 16 months through 5 years old.
As part of our program’s mission, Nurturing early learners, inspiring educators, and engaging families — together with nature, we’re striving to share the benefits of outdoor and nature-based experiences with families as well as other educators, as a way to support every child’s development.
This month, I want to highlight the benefits of fostering children’s empathy through animal interactions. Research consistently shows that children build empathy faster and more effectively through interactions with animals. Caring for animals helps children learn to recognize the needs of others, build emotional awareness, and foster a sense of responsibility and compassion, skills that naturally transfer to relationships with peers and adults.
Animal interactions are a daily part of children’s experiences at Nature Pathways. Children have the opportunity to interact with animals both indoors as well as outdoors – from tortoises to llamas. While children care for the animals by feeding, watering and creating enrichment experiences for them, they’re also building their collaboration and communication skills with their classmates.
You don’t need a pet or a farm to foster your child’s empathy, as it can start with how you approach bugs hat you encounter outside, or even in your home. A favorite book of mine to help children think about caring for living things is Hey Little Ant by Hannah and Phillip Hoose. While reading this book, children will have the opportunity to understand the perspective of the ant, and think about how we might approach our encounters with bugs in a caring way.
Bird feeders are a great way to incorporate opportunities for children to take care of animals without owning a pet. As the squirrels discover the feeder, it will create an opportunity to discuss how you might make adjustments to balance helping everyone get what they need.
Visit our website Naturepathways.org to learn more about our program offerings (enrollment is available for our 2026-2027 School Year program), and sign up for an opportunity to visit the property to meet some of our resident animals.
