OAK LEAF BARRINGTON
Where Wonder Meets the Wild: Outdoor Learning in Every Season
Nestled in the heart of Barrington, IL, our co-op offers a one-of-a-kind educational experience that brings learning to life through nature. We proudly offer a nature preschool program, an elementary-aged learning pod, and child-caregiver classes—all held entirely outdoors, year-round.
Through hands-on exploration and child-led discovery, we nurture a deep love for the natural world and a strong sense of respect—for people, plants, and animals alike. We envision a future where every child grows up knowing they belong to nature, empowered to protect it, and equipped to build a more just, resilient, and regenerative world.
All programs are run in partnership with the Barrington Park District, and registration information is available on their website. Don’t forget to visit the events section on our page for exciting seasonal happenings!
Learning Rooted in Nature. Childhood Inspired by Wonder.
Our classroom is the forest, our curriculum shaped by the seasons. Based at Citizens Park, with daily hikes into the beautiful Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve, children engage with the natural world under the guidance of certified preschool teachers and experienced outdoor educators.
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Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, our program honors each child’s voice and curiosity, encouraging self-expression, connection, and discovery. Through immersive outdoor play and learning, children develop:
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A lifelong love of nature
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Strong social-emotional skills
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Deep empathy and cultural awareness
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Creative thinking and problem-solving abilities
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A foundation of environmental responsibility
We believe that by helping children build meaningful connections with the world around them, we’re planting seeds of change that will grow for generations.
Nature Preschool
DESCRIPTION:
Our Nature-Based Preschool invites young children to learn and grow through the rhythms of the natural world. Set entirely outdoors, this program blends play, exploration, and early childhood education in a nurturing environment where the forest becomes the classroom and every season offers new wonder.
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LOCATION:
Drop off and pick up happens at Citizens Park. Programs often spend time in Cuba Marsh. 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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AGE:
2.5 - 5 years old
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DAYS:
3-day Program Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 9/3/25 - 5/15/26
2-day Program Tuesday & Thursday: 9/2/25 - 5/14/26
If you are interested in a 5-day program, please contact oakleafinformation@gmail.com
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TIME:
8:30 – 11:30 am
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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.
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GENERAL DAILY SCHEDULE:
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8:30 am – Drop Off & Free Play
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9:00 am – Circle Time & Story
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9:20 am – Bathroom & Hike Preparation
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9:30 am – Hike & Nature Exploration
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10:45 am – Snack
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11:00 am – Free Play
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11:20 am – Closing Circle
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11:30am – Pick Up
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HOW TO REGISTER:
Registration for all families is currently open. You can register online using this link: https://www.barringtonparkdistrict.org/preschool/northwest/
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TUITION/FEES:
​3-day (Sec.# 01) $690/$759 per month x9 months per session
2-day (Sec.# 02) $460/$506 per month x9 months per session
Tuition is charged monthly via auto payment on a credit card starting 9/10/25 through 5/10/26. Tuition is based on the total number of school days/cost of the program and divided into 9 equal payments.
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CANCELLATION POLICY: All cancellation REQUESTS must be submitted in writing by 7/15/25 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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Nature Tots
DESCRIPTION:
It’s time to get out of the house and into nature! In this mixed-age class, toddlers and caregivers will explore Citizens Park and the Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve, develop respect for the local wildlife habitat, observe the changing seasons, and engage in imaginative play and story time featuring high-quality picture books. Registration includes child and caregiver.​
LOCATION:
The Tree House at Citizens Park
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TIME:
Mondays, 10am-11:00am​
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AGE:
18 months - 4 years
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SESSIONS:
Session 1: 9/8-9/29
Session 2: 10/6-10/27
Session 3: 11/3-11/24
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COST:
$104
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REGISTRATION:
Coming soon!
Art in Nature
DESCRIPTION:
What happens when watercolor is added to dirt? How does an artist use rocks to create a masterpiece? Children can use art to develop creativity and support cognitive, social, emotional, and motor growth. Nature can provide everything a child needs to be creative through play. In this mixed-age art class, toddlers and caregivers will engage in hands-on/process-based art projects using simple art tools and natural materials.
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*Classes will be both inside and outside during Winter and Spring, weather dependent. Registration includes child and caregiver.
LOCATION:
The Lodge at Citizen's Park
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TIME:
Thursdays, 10 am - 10:45 am (7 weeks)​
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AGE:
18 months - 4 years
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SESSIONS:
Session 1: TBD
Session 2: TBD
Session 3: TBD​
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COST:
$180
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REGISTRATION:
Coming soon!
Music in Nature
DESCRIPTION:
Experience the harmony of nature and music with Oak Leaf’s Music in Nature program for 18-month to 4-year-old children and their caregivers! Each week, participants will immerse themselves in nature-themed musical activities set amidst the outdoors. Each theme is designed to enhance gross and fine motor skills, encourage self-expression, foster concentration, promote social interaction and introduce fundamental math concepts like counting.
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LOCATION:
The Treehouse at Citizens Park
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TIME:
​Mondays, 9:00am-9:45am (4 weeks)
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AGE:
18 months - 4 years
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SESSIONS:
Session 1: 9/8/25-9/29/25
COST:
$100​​
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REGISTRATION:
Coming soon!
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FAQs
​Do you have access to indoor space?
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In cases of extreme weather (e.g., lightning or dangerously cold temperatures), we’ll move learning indoors to the Lodge at Citizens Park.
What bathrooms do you use?
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We utilize the public bathrooms at the park and the bathrooms in the Lodge.
What's the teacher to student ratio?​
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Our drop off class ratio is 1 teacher for every 5 students. There will always be at least 2 teachers in any drop off class, so some classes may have a slightly lower ratio.
Do you always meet at Citizen's Park?​
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On snowy days, classes may be held at Langendorf Park to accommodate plowing schedules. Families will be notified in advance.
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On occasion, we may meet at another forest preserve or take a field trip for the day. This will be communicated to families well in advance.
How do I know if my child is ready for an outdoor program?​
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They meet the age requirements for the class
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They are able to stay with the group. Leaving the group is a major hazard that indicates your child may not be ready for a program without walls.
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Your child is either potty ready, able to change themselves, OR a child's adult will be within 15 minutes of the park to change their child upon request. Potty ready means they are able to use the bathroom with minimal help. We understand little ones may need help gettin up on the toilet, which we can assist with. We also understand accidents may occur on occasion, so child must be able to change themselves or adults will be called to assist in the changing process. ​​
Oak Leaf Barrington Leadership
Sophie Nyman, Preschool Outdoor Educator
Bio Coming Soon
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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.
Grantors
Thank you to these amazing grantors who support us!
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!
Northwest Nature Contact
Jenna Downing: jenna@oakleafcooperativeschools.org​
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