Northwest Nature Co-Op
Based in Barrington, IL, this co-op offers child-caregiver classes, a learning pod, and now has the Northwest Nature Preschool open. Classes take place outdoors, in all seasons, with the goal of fostering a love for nature and respect for people, plants, and animals while creating the next generation of environmental stewards. All programs are run through the Barrington Park District and can also be found on their website. Be sure to check out the events section on our page.
Co-op Announcements: -HIRING: Learning Pod Outdoor Educator
-New Learning Pod for 6-8 year-olds!
-Now Enrolling for Summer Camps for ages 3-8 year olds!
Nature Preschool
Education comes alive in the great outdoors! The Northwest Nature Preschool will be located at Citizens Park with daily hikes in the Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve. Facilitated by a certified preschool teacher in partnership with the Barrington Park District, this cooperative preschool provides a developmentally appropriate, Reggio Emilia-inspired early childhood education that promotes respect for people and nature through outdoor learning. The program offers an all-outdoor preschool experience that fosters curiosity, compassion, empathy, cultural awareness, creative problem solving and environmental responsibility in young children. Our goal is to instill respect for people, plants, and animals at an early age, setting the foundation for children to become responsible citizens and environmental stewards. As part of our cooperative, parents are welcomed but not obligated to join our parent-teacher advisory committee or volunteer with the class.
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The preschool is instructed and managed by Oak Leaf Cooperative School. Please note this is an outdoor preschool and parents are responsible for providing all outdoor weather-appropriate clothing. In case of severe weather like dangerously low temperatures or lightning, we will utilize the Lodge at Citizens Park for indoor learning. Should there be an onset of heavy snow, class will be held at Langendorf Park that day due to plowing schedules. This will be communicated to parents in advance. Children must be potty-trained, or a parent/caregiver must be available to change a diaper or pull-up. (Min/Max: 8/10).
LOCATION: Outside at Citizens Park. If there is severe weather (i.e. if Thor Guard System is activated and/or unsafe conditions arise) we will move inside to the Lodge. Otherwise the program is outside rain, shine or snow.
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DAYS: 3-day program that meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9/4/24 – 5/17/24. If you are interested in a 5-day program, please contact Alicia from Oak Leaf at the contact information listed to the right.
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TIME: Sec.# 01; Morning (ages 2½ – 5 years) 8:30 – 11:30 am and/or
Sec.# 02; Afternoon (ages 3 – 5 years) 11:30am – 2:30pm
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CALENDAR: Oak Leaf Preschool will follow the Barrington School District 220 calendar for days off. There is no school when District 220 is scheduled off. V
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GENERAL DAILY SCHEDULE: (detailed curriculum information will be distributed to parents by instructor each month):
• 8:30am – Drop off at Citizens Park.
• 8:30 – 9:00am – Free play at Citizens Park.
• 9:00 – 9:30am – Circle time/story, bathroom, prepare for hike.
• 9:30 – 11:20am – Cuba Marsh hike and nature exploration.
• 11:20 – 11:30am – Free play and dismissal (11:30 am) at Citizens Park.
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HOW TO REGISTER: Registration opens for all families on 2/1/24 at 9:00am. You can register online below or download an Oak Leaf Preschool EFT Registration Form (barringtonparkdistrict.org/preschool) and email it to ksweeney@barringtonparkdistrict.org.
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TUITION/FEES: $688/$763 per month x9 months. Tuition is charged monthly via auto payment on a credit card starting 9/10/24
through 5/10/25. Tuition is based on the total number of school days/cost of the program and divided into 9 equal payments.
REGISTRATION FEE: A $65 non-refundable registration fee per child is due upon registration. Registration fee is charged per child.
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CANCELLATION POLICY: All cancellation REQUESTS must be submitted in writing by 7/15/24 or you will be charged the program fee in full. Once the school year begins, the only exceptions are medical or moving out of the area (ten mile radius) and documentation must be shown for approval. Possible refund will be based on the number of classes attended and the date the refund request is received.
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Learning Pod
The Northwest Nature Learning Pod offers an immersive nature experience for children ages 6–8-years-old who are homeschooled for the 2024/2025 school year. Led by a seasoned outdoor educator, this program takes place utilizing the Barrington Park District’s Langendorf and Citizens Parks, providing a unique blend of education and nature exploration. Operating three days a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM, the curriculum is designed to foster curiosity and connection with nature. A weekly curriculum will be prepared for students including language arts, math, art, and science activities to complement nature lessons and exploration. Parents will enjoy the convenience of this drop-off program that is tailored toward creating the next generation of environmental stewards. In the event of inclement weather, we will use classroom space at the Barrington Park District’s main campus. (Min/Max: 5/8).
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LOCATION: Outside at Langendorf Park and/or Citizens Park. If there is severe weather (i.e., Thorguard Lightening System is activated and/or unsafe conditions arise) we will move inside. Otherwise, program is outside rain, shine or snow.
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CALENDAR: The Oak Leaf Learning Pod will follow the Barrington School District 220 calendar for days off. There is no class when District 220 is scheduled off. Please visit the BPD website’s Preschool page to view the calendar. If the teacher is sick and a substitute cannot be found, there will be makeup days at the end of the school year.
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TUITION/FEES: $600/$690 per month x 9 months (September 2024 – May 2025). Tuition is charged monthly via auto payment on a credit card starting 9/10/24 through 5/10/25. Tuition is based on the total number of school days/cost of the program and divided into 9 equal payments.
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REGISTRATION FEE: A $65 non-refundable registration fee per child is due upon registration. Registration fee is charged per child.
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CANCELATION POLICY: All cancellation REQUESTS must be submitted in writing by 7/15/24 or you will be charged the program fee in full. Once the school year begins, the only exceptions are medical or moving out of the area (ten mile radius) and documentation must be shown for approval. Possible refund will be based on the number of classes attended and the date the refund request is received.
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Summer Camp
Preschool Nature Camp
3 - 5 years
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01 Mon. – Thur. 6/17 – 6/20 8:30 – 12:00pm $249/$311 (4 days)
02 Mon. – Thur. 6/24 – 6/27 8:30 – 12:00pm $249/$311 (4 days)
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Join our summer camp adventure and step out of the house to immerse yourself in the wonders of nature! In this inclusive class for mixed-age groups, kids will embark on exciting journeys through the Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve with our seasoned outdoor educators. Discover the beauty of the local wildlife habitat, witness the magic of summertime, and participate in creative play and story time with high-quality picture books – all under the open sky, whether it’s sunny or raining. Secure your child’s spot now for an unforgettable outdoor experience! Please see weather policy below.
Welcome to a summer of exploration, imagination, and boundless learning opportunities at Oak Leaf Cooperative School’s nature-based early childhood education summer programs. Our nature-focused outdoor programs offer a unique and enriching experience for young learners. We invite students to discover the joy of hands-on exploration, fostering a deep connection with the environment, and cultivating a lifelong love for learning. Join us as we embark on new adventures in Citizens Park and Cuba Marsh Nature Preserve!
Weather Policy for all Oak Leaf Camps and Programs:
• Class/camps will take place rain, or shine, except when there is lightening.
• If there is lightning, class/camp is cancelled and will be made up on Friday of that same week.
• Please dress for the weather.
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Nature Camp
5 - 8 Years
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01 Mon. – Thur. 7/15 – 7/18 8:30 – 12:00pm $332/$415 (4 days)
02 Mon. – Thur. 7/22 – 7/25 8:30 – 12:00pm $332/$415 (4 days)
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Join our summer camp adventure and step out of the house to immerse yourself in the wonders of nature! In this inclusive class for mixed-age groups, kids will embark on exciting journeys through the Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve with our seasoned outdoor educators. Discover the beauty of the local wildlife habitat, witness the magic of summertime, and participate in creative play, reading, and more—all under the open sky, whether it’s sunny or raining. Secure your child’s spot now for an unforgettable outdoor experience! Please see weather policy below.
Welcome to a summer of exploration, imagination, and boundless learning opportunities at Oak Leaf Cooperative School’s nature-based early childhood education summer programs. Our nature-focused outdoor programs offer a unique and enriching experience for young learners. We invite students to discover the joy of hands-on exploration, fostering a deep connection with the environment, and cultivating a lifelong love for learning. Join us as we embark on new adventures in Citizens Park and Cuba Marsh Nature Preserve!
Weather Policy for all Oak Leaf Camps and Programs:
• Class/camps will take place rain, or shine, except when there is lightening.
• If there is lightning, class/camp is cancelled and will be made up on Friday of that same week.
• Please dress for the weather.
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Nature Tots
18 Months - 3 Years with Adult - Tuesdays throughout summer
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01 Tue.6/41 0:00 – 11:00am $26/$32 (1 day)
02 Tue.6/11 10:00 – 11:00am $26/$32 (1 day)
03 Tue.7/2 10:00 – 11:00am $26/$32 (1 day)
04 Tue.7/9 10:00 – 11:00am $26/$32 (1 day)
05 Tue.7/30 10:00 – 11:00am $26/$32 (1 day)
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It’s time to get out of the house and into nature! In this mixed-age class, toddlers and caregivers will explore Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve, develop respect for the local wildlife habitat and engage in imaginative play and story time featuring high-quality picture books – all outdoors, rain or shine. Registration includes child and caregiver. Please see weather policy below.
Welcome to a summer of exploration, imagination, and boundless learning opportunities at Oak Leaf Cooperative School’s nature-based early childhood education summer programs. Our nature-focused outdoor programs offer a unique and enriching experience for young learners. We invite students to discover the joy of hands-on exploration, fostering a deep connection with the environment, and cultivating a lifelong love for learning. Join us as we embark on new adventures in Citizens Park and Cuba Marsh Nature Preserve!
Weather Policy for all Oak Leaf Camps and Programs:
• Class/camps will take place rain, or shine, except when there is lightening.
• If there is lightning, class/camp is cancelled and will be made up on Friday of that same week.
• Please dress for the weather.
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Art in Nature
Coming back in fall 2024!
Music in Nature
A new class coming in fall 2024!
Co-op Events
Co-op Grantors
Thank you to these amazing grantors who support our co-op!
Oberweiler Foundation
We are incredibly grateful to the Oberweiler Foundation for their significant support for our Northwest Nature Preschool by providing a grant of $15,000 to support the nature preschool and its environmentally-based curriculum. With this grant we were able to start the preschool program, paying our two teachers a living wage while supporting the next generation of environmental stweards. We are forever grateful to the Oberweiler Foundation!
Barrington Area Community Foundation
We want to thank the Barrington Area Community Foundation (BACF) for their support for our new Scholarship Program by providing us with a $1,000 grant to start the Scholarship Program for the 2024-25 school year. This scholarship will be granted to a preschool family to assist in offsetting the cost of tuition. Thank you BACF!
Co-Op Leadership
Alicia Boemi, Chair
Alicia is a parent, children’s book author, and advocate for nature-based education in Chicago's northwest suburbs.
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In the fall of 2022, Alicia commuted nearly 90 minutes round trip to attend Oak Leaf's parent-child classes in Winnetka, IL. A discussion with Alicia sparked an idea: why not bring Oak Leaf programming to Barrington, and surrounding towns, where nature-based early childhood programs are greatly needed?
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Alicia spearheaded efforts to open the Northwest Nature Preschool, learning pod, and enrichment programs in Barrington. Alicia is also Oak Leaf's Deputy Director, managing social media/marketing, fundraising, grant writing, and internal operations. Alicia holds a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in non-profit management.
Liz Gorham, Preschool Teacher & Outdoor Educator
Liz is a parent in Lake Zurich District 95 where her kids attend school. Her daughter Nora is a high school freshman and her twin boys Liam and Tiernan are in 7th grade. Liz is our Preschool teacher & outdoor educator alongside Jenna. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and studied both music and art therapy at Ohio University. She has worked extensively with special needs kids at both Misericordia and SEDOL, and more recently has worked in support of District 95. She is active in Cricket theatre here in Lake Zurich where all three of her kids have been in numerous productions. Liz has helped with costumes, props, and sets, to name a few. Her family loves hiking, the outdoors, and they often spend summer vacations in America’s National Parks.
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Jenna Downing, Preschool & Enrichment Teacher
Jenna is our enrichment class teacher and Northwest Nature Preschool head teacher. Jenna has been teaching children for over 20 years. She has a Bachelor's in Communication Studies with a Minor in Art from the University of Iowa and a Master's in Elementary Education from DePaul. She initially wanted to be an elementary teacher after spending several years as a substitute teacher, but when she had children she wanted to focus on spending more time with them.
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She was fortunate to teach at the same preschool in Evanston that her two children attended, even becoming their PreK teacher. She realized that the play-based approach of early childhood is where she was meant to share her creativity. While teaching in Evanston she had the opportunity to co-write District 65's Strong Start to Kindergarten Parent and Caregiver Activity Guide which focuses on developmentally appropriate activities to do at home with pre-kindergartners.
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When her youngest went to kindergarten, she then taught PreK in Winnetka with an outdoor/Reggio approach until moving to the Northwest Suburbs where she ended up teaching PreK-2 Art in Mundelein.
In addition to teaching early childhood, Jenna loves to create her own art and is working on opening her own Art Studio for both children and adults. When she's not teaching and creating art, she enjoys traveling with her family, attending concerts, and frequenting Free Little Libraries.
Tabitha Brost, Learning Pod Teacher
Tabitha is our teacher for the Northwest Nature Club, a Barrington-based homeschool enrichment program. She is a passionate nature enthusiast and outdoor educator. Tabitha's favorite classroom is the great outdoors, where she shares her love for animals, insects, and plants with kids. Her journey began at nature camps during her teenage years, and she's since lived from the Atlantic to the Pacific, discovering unique natural beauty everywhere she's been. When she's not teaching, you can find her watercolor painting, capturing nature through photography, hiking or biking in Illinois preserves, kayaking, foraging, and exploring new places.
