GUG's open-ended and interactive nature-based play curriculum helps to strengthen and cultivate:
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divergent thinking
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social and emotional skills
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cognitive functions
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empathy for the natural world
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communication skills
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physical competency and confidence
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emotional intelligence
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a long lasting personal connection to nature and animals
Curriculum &
Daily Rhythms
Our holistic, child-centered curriculum nurtures the student across all domains of development.
Exploration in the outdoors provides essential experiences for youngsters as they get to know their world through direct contact with the facets of nature. This helps children grow in a holistic way and provides a unique domain for developing competency in children academically, socially, emotionally, and physically.
Our daily schedule is based upon natural rhythms - providing structure that answers the child’s need for predictability - while remaining open to what emerges between the children, the teachers, and the environment.
While no two days are exactly alike, this schedule provides a taste of the GUG rhythm.
10 -10:45- Flexible drop-off time — we rotate between playing outdoors or inside the bus depending on weather and children’s interests.
10:45- Snack, calendar, learning activities
11:30- Nature play or bus play
12:15- Lunch and story inside bus or outdoors
12:45- Bathroom, pack up backpacks, transition to gully/pond area for nature play
2:00- Pickup time
Nurturing self-expression, creativity and reflection
Cultivating social skills and positive self-image through group play and cooperative learning
Developing physical motor skills through active learning and play
Stimulating cognitive growth and problem-solving skills through hands-on activities, games and discovery-learning in nature
Offering sensory opportunities with live animals, natural objects, artifacts, trail games, outdoor exploration and creative art activities