Carrot Patch Early Learning Center

The Carrot Patch is a warm, community school providing a full-day nature-based program for children from 6 weeks of age til they begin their journey to kindergarten. We build on children's innate connection to the natural world as a way to integrate literacy, science, music and movement, arts, mathematics, social studies and social-emotional development in a balanced way.

Hallmarks of our program:
-An experienced professional staff--every teacher holds a bachelor's or master's degree
-Low teacher- student ratios
-Emphasis on nature and the environment
-A beautiful wooded outdoor classroom with babbling stream and hiking trails

We are proud to say that every one of our classroom teachers holds a Bachelor's or Master's Degree, and most are certified public school teachers with early elementary-level experience. Our Staff Developer has over 40 years experience in all aspects of early childhood education and works closely with our teaching staff.

With over an acre of wooded hiking trails and a babbling brook, our outdoor nature classroom is an amazing laboratory for study of the natural world around us. Toddlers and preschoolers plant and tend organic vegetable gardens, yielding a bounty of fresh vegetables for summer snacks.

The Carrot Patch subscribes to a healthy food policy for our children. We provide nutritious morning and afternoon snacks, offering whole grains, low-fat dairy products along with fresh organic fruits and vegetables. To supplement the children's garden harvest, we belong to the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program at Hindinger Farms in Hamden, which provides a wide variety of farm fresh fruits and vegetables from June through November.