I truly cannot say enough good things about Montara Kaimana School. My daughter absolutely loves it! The teachers, Pamela and Hannah, are thoughtful, kind and basically magical. They make all of us (kids and parents) feel seen and heard, and they really make the kids feel special. Communication is huge for me, and from the moment I reached out to Pamela, she has been quickly responsive, communicative, and always takes the time to answer questions.
Nature school provides so many wonderful outside of the box learning opportunities (for the kids, but also for me!). They learn through play and observation and teamwork, and in the 5 months my daughter has attended, I've noticed her communication about feelings and body awareness has really improved, as well as her problem solving skills. I was certainly a little nervous to send my daughter out in the rain, but I have to say, the rainy days have truly been her favorite school days! The kids LOVE to play in the mud! My toddler likes to hang out and play too! It really is true what they say; if you are properly clothed the weather doesn't seem so bad. The pick up/drop off location is breathtakingly beautiful and I feel pretty grateful that I get to experience it alongside my kids.
And the best part for me? The teachers send a weekly report, complete with pictures, about what they all did throughout the week. They include the songs they sang, the mindfulness activities, quotes from the kids, the books they read, etc. I look forward to it every week.
I hope that I can encourage more families to try it out, because this school is a blessing. read more