If someone had told me that I would be grateful to drive almost an hour out of my way every time I bring my daughter to preschool only to have to sit at some fast food restaurant for the day to work until she's done, I would've said they were crazy. But grateful is exactly how I feel about this school. We discovered it by chance when our son and daughter did a summer camp at McKinney Falls a few years ago. As luck would have it, her instructor at that camp was going to be heading up the new preschool. He encouraged us to check it out, and because he was so amazing with her, we did. Every day she comes home covered in dirt and mud and paint that she made herself from materials in nature. She smells like smoke and we can't get the sand out of her hair for days. Her classmates frequently tell each other how much they love each other and work together to build things and play games. In other words, it's fantastic. Our biggest regret is how far away it is, but not because of the time spent in the car or the money spent on gas. She has made amazing friends there that we rarely see and likely won't stay in contact with for the most part because it's just too hard to get together. But if you are considering nature preschools Wildlife Forest Preschool is hard to beat. read more

Wild Life Forest Preschool is a slice of heaven that we are so grateful for. Our 5-yo has attended since September and our whole family looks forward to school drop-off and pick-up. The environment is the most wonderful, natural space for kids to explore and grow. The tree coverage provides shade on warm days and protection on cold and rainy days. The teachers truly care about the learning of each student and pull families into the fold of the community. It is an incredibly rich learning environment and our whole family has felt the positive impact of it. read more

Words can't express what this school means to us! Earth Native's Wild Life Forest Preschool (or just "nature school" as we call it) is one of those places you want to share with every other parent you know...and also no one because -- like any best-kept secret -- you want it to stay exactly the same forever (and ever). We are so grateful to know Ms. Jeanie, Mr. Britt, and the whole Earth Native community. The level of attention these teachers give to creating an environment where our boys and girls can grow and learn about themselves, about each other, and about the world around them is pretty amazing. They keep the student/teacher ratio low to ensure one-on-one attention. It's clear they spend time learning about each individual student. And they guide each one safely in the direction their interests take them, instilling self-confidence all the while. They help the kids to understand, value, and respect their peers' thoughts and interests, as well. Everyone has something positive to contribute to the community here. Our boy is learning so much more than we could have even imagined...and so are we as parents. If you have any inkling at all for your little ones to spend their earliest days of learning forging friendships, playing outside, exploring the forest...this is the place you want them to be. Pure magic. read more

Wild Life Forest Preschool has been the greatest blessing to our family. Our 3 year old loves to play outside, climb things, dig in the mud and water, examine bugs and generally take everything apart to see what it's like on the inside. When we started exploring preschool options for him, many of the spaces inside the Austin area (where we live) seemed too small and confined for him. We were worried that his outgoing, interactive personality couldn't be supported in such places. When we discovered WLFP, we knew we had found the right place for him. A close connection with nature, plenty of space to play and climb and run and jump, plus teachers who support and encourage free play--our dreams come true. Even though our son is still a little young to always understand the lessons, he comes home with the ability to recognize the sound of a woodpecker and identify edible plants. I know some of the older children (age 4-5) have also learned to tie knots and identify animal tracks. However, I think many of the parents would agree that these skills really seem secondary to the overall independence, confidence, social skills and deep respect for nature that our children learn at WLFP. WLFP truly is a special, meaningful experience for our son and our whole family. At WLFP, we feel like we are a part of something bigger than us. The preschool director, Mr. Britt, uses the curriculum and community to keep the families and children connected to one another and to nature. I would say he is an admirable leader of early childhood development in the greater Austin community. *I want to make an extra, special note about the teachers, especially Mr. Britt and Ms. Jeannie. They are very kind, loving, and skilled at supporting children of all different personalities, learning abilities and social skills. They also truly love and respect nature and I feel they do a tremendous job of instilling that love into our son.* read more

I'm not sure I can imagine a more perfect preschool. The teachers are thoughtful, kind, and welcoming. They care very deeply for the children. My three-year-old is always excited to go (not always the case in life)! She is completely dirty and exhausted at pick up in the best of ways. For her preschooling, I was searching for something that was totally play-based and found exactly what I was looking for. An exceptional program. read more

This place is phenomenal. I wasn't familiar with the nature preschool model, but I wanted something different for my son's last year before kinder. Having been there a semester, I am so sad I didn't start him sooner and that my older boys weren't able to experience it. My son and I were just laughing about the sticky week juice the kids made last week. He said it was delicious. This place is such a gift to our family. Mr. Britt and Ms. Jeannie are dedicated, knowledgable, kind and above all open up a world of natural experiences for the kids. Highly recommend! read more

We have loved our experiences with Wild Life Forest Preschool. I feel confident in the teachers's abilities to handle conflict and provide a safe and respectful environment. I also love the play spaces and that my son has the chance to learn about nature and beginning survival skills. My son says his favorite things about the preschool are friends, teachers, making fires (safely), helping everyone, hiking, story time and "just everything." We are very grateful to have found such a great place for his first experiences away from family. Highly recommend. read more