Prickly Pear Nature School

Prickly Pear Nature School is an alternative preschool/kindergarten (ages 3-7) program that focuses on nature play, child-lead exploring, and hands on/experience learning. We get outdoors year round, in all weather. There's no such thing as bad weather! My goal is to build children's confidence, resilience, independence, empathy, and communication skills. Just a short walk to Tower Grove Park, we will spend most of our day outdoors exploring, creating art, and reading together.

We do not follow a prescriptive curriculum. Instead, the areas of interest we explore form organically from the experiences and conversations we share. In the past we have studied the solar system, athletes, and pollinators while taking trips to the library, running around the local race track, and talking to the beekeeper at the neighborhood orchard.

*2, 3, or 4 day options, with aftercare available till 5pm.

My name is Emily Rybolt, I have been in childcare for the past 10 years, as a nanny to a variety of different ages and families. I have one daughter who is six years old. I have a bachelor degree in Health Management from Southeast Missouri State University. I am a director for the local Free Forest School chapter. I also have experience as a Forest School leader through Wilderkids. I have a passion for getting children out in nature, I've seen the benefits of outdoor play through my daughter and the children in my care.