Help Build Our Outdoor Classrooom

Give every child a happy place to learn

The outdoor environment offers an abundance of learning opportunities for all ages. Nature-based learning supports emotional, behavioral, and intellectual development. Studies have shown that through meaningful play and learning, children develop lifelong skills, a sense of self, independence, confidence, creativity, decision-making, problem-solving skills, and empathy toward others. 

Our new outdoor classroom space will feature hands-on manipulatives and natural play elements that children will enjoy for years to come. Consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Friends of the Johnson Nature Center to help make our vision a reality! 

Thanks to donors like you, we soon hope to offer this unique educational space to students and the community. 


Join the $10,000 Fundraising Match

In support of the growth of early childhood educational programs, an anonymous donor has generously launched a dollar-for-dollar fundraising match of up to $10,000 to support our goal of raising $50,000 to build a new and permanent outdoor classroom. Donations will be matched if received between January 27th, 2024 and May 30th, 2024.

Playful Visioning

TreeSchoolers joined the design process for our future outdoor classroom through playful visioning. Students helped map out the fence line for how big they felt our new classroom should be, and use their skills as play experts to test run the space, finding various play areas we want to incorporate in our classroom.