Our space.
Our nature school is situated on two acres of private land including a forest with trails, campfire ring, hammocks, and many natural play spots.
Our school also provides a large, fully-enclosed nature playscape, covered deck, and modest indoor classroom. Our playscape includes the following features:
Our school also provides a large, fully-enclosed nature playscape, covered deck, and modest indoor classroom. Our playscape includes the following features:
rocky river and shallow play pond - mud kitchen - hammocks - slack line - open green space - natural tunnel and slide - swings
large spruce, pine, and apple trees - large climbing logs and moveable large-scale loose parts - platform swing - garden
chicken coop - picnic tables underneath covered porch - climbing rope
large spruce, pine, and apple trees - large climbing logs and moveable large-scale loose parts - platform swing - garden
chicken coop - picnic tables underneath covered porch - climbing rope
Our small indoor classroom houses lockers to store your gear, a bathroom, kitchen, large island with 12 stools, and process art area (The Maker's Space) with supplies.
Our offerings.
We have several pathways to nature-based learning available to support care providers, teachers, and families to feel confident in bringing their children outside to learn.
Nature-Based Learning Space Rentals: Our school space and playscape are available for school-year group rentals. These rentals are geared toward supporting homeschooling groups, childcare providers, and parent groups to connect their programs with a nature-based learning experience. You can learn more about this opportunity here!
Open Play: Open Play is an opportunity on select Wednesdays for community members and their children to come play in the outdoors in our fully-fenced nature playscape. Child(ren) must attend with a supervising adult, whether that be a parent, grandparent, nanny, etc. There will be a supervisor, but not a licensed caregiver on-site. Each visit is $10/per child (adults are free). Register here for our next available nature play session!
Kinderhaus Field Notes: These straightforward and comprehensive theme-based guides can be used by anyone who guides children through their early years. Our Field Notes are released seasonally, beginning September, 2023. Learn more here!
Duluth Forest Kinderhaus Social Media: You will find a variety of resources posted solely to our Instagram and Facebook feeds on a weekly basis. Follow us for short videos on emergent/nature-based education, learn along with us about plants and creatures in the beyond, hear about gear and product recommendations, and connect with other organizations that value nature-based learning. Beginning September, 2023. Click on the icon below to follow us!
Nature-Based Learning Space Rentals: Our school space and playscape are available for school-year group rentals. These rentals are geared toward supporting homeschooling groups, childcare providers, and parent groups to connect their programs with a nature-based learning experience. You can learn more about this opportunity here!
Open Play: Open Play is an opportunity on select Wednesdays for community members and their children to come play in the outdoors in our fully-fenced nature playscape. Child(ren) must attend with a supervising adult, whether that be a parent, grandparent, nanny, etc. There will be a supervisor, but not a licensed caregiver on-site. Each visit is $10/per child (adults are free). Register here for our next available nature play session!
Kinderhaus Field Notes: These straightforward and comprehensive theme-based guides can be used by anyone who guides children through their early years. Our Field Notes are released seasonally, beginning September, 2023. Learn more here!
Duluth Forest Kinderhaus Social Media: You will find a variety of resources posted solely to our Instagram and Facebook feeds on a weekly basis. Follow us for short videos on emergent/nature-based education, learn along with us about plants and creatures in the beyond, hear about gear and product recommendations, and connect with other organizations that value nature-based learning. Beginning September, 2023. Click on the icon below to follow us!
Our location.
Kinderhaus is located just outside of the Woodland neighborhood. The school is located on two acres of private land which is home to a variety of wonderful large pine and spruce trees, fruit trees, and many maple and birch. These trees provide a shady spot to sit or play, a calming rustle in the leaves, shelter from rain, and branches for climbing and building. Our space flutters with visits from a variety of birds including chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows, crows, pileated and downy woodpeckers, blue jays, red polls, waxwings, hawks, and eagles. In addition, we have had the delight of observing white-tailed deer, rabbits, groundhogs, weasels, frogs, and a plethora of insects and mini beasts while out and about, along with catching pictures of skunks and foxes on our night cam. Our space is alive and tells a different story every day!
Our school includes an indoor classroom with south-facing windows designed to allow plenty of natural light indoors, an open-air covered classroom, and a thoughtfully-designed nature playscape. Just at the back of our playscape, our fence opens to the forest space with trails and plenty of room for exploration.
Our location also allows us close proximity to many of Duluth’s amazing natural spaces and parks, just to name a few: The Superior Hiking Trail (trailhead, 1 mile); Hartley Nature Center (2.5 miles); Chester Park (5.5 miles); Hawk Ridge (5.5 miles); Lester River (6.5 miles); Brighton Beach (7 miles). These, among many other beautiful trails and parks in Duluth, make for wonderful destinations for additional exploration and nature play after your visit with us!
Our school includes an indoor classroom with south-facing windows designed to allow plenty of natural light indoors, an open-air covered classroom, and a thoughtfully-designed nature playscape. Just at the back of our playscape, our fence opens to the forest space with trails and plenty of room for exploration.
Our location also allows us close proximity to many of Duluth’s amazing natural spaces and parks, just to name a few: The Superior Hiking Trail (trailhead, 1 mile); Hartley Nature Center (2.5 miles); Chester Park (5.5 miles); Hawk Ridge (5.5 miles); Lester River (6.5 miles); Brighton Beach (7 miles). These, among many other beautiful trails and parks in Duluth, make for wonderful destinations for additional exploration and nature play after your visit with us!