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Balch Nature School

The Balch Nature School is a fully licensed, 5-STAR preschool providing nature-based learning at the Fairbanks Museum for children ages 3 to 5.

We offer 2, 3, 4, and 5 day/week attendance options. The Balch Nature School accepts Universal Pre-K Vouchers.

We believe children are born with a desire to explore and understand the natural world, and that early experiences with nature set a precedent for lifelong learning and well-being. We are committed to supporting and building on every child's innate interest in exploring the natural world.

We provide children with special nature-centered opportunities to learn about themselves, the world and life. Our curriculum respond to students' interests.  Our outdoor learning space offers students a range of "real" materials to explore -- water, soil, rocks, plants, snow.  At Balch children learn by doing; they play in the mud, climb on logs, follow weather patterns, study insects, and plant seeds.

Students should be fully toilet trained for this drop-off program.

  • Classes meet in the Balch Nature School indoor/outdoor space at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, interspersed with local field trips. 
  • We spend time outdoors each day.
  • We offer a quality environment that meets preschoolers' developmental needs, while inspiring a connection with nature.
  • Maximum class size is 14 students.

Contact Libre Drouin, Balch Nature Preschool director, to find out more.

For application and financial information, click here.