Hello.

Inspired by our namesake—St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, the environment, and peace—St. Francis Nature Academy (SFNA) invites young children to explore the natural world with wonder, respect, and joy. Through hands-on outdoor activities, nature hikes, environmental learning, and creative play, children in our program will develop a deeper appreciation for Mother Earth, including respect for the environment and the importance of caring for all living things. ​

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The idea for SFNA grew out of a personal need in our own family. We needed a place for our child to go during the day to learn, be safe, and have meaningful social interactions while allowing mom and dad time to focus on their professional endeavors. Traditional preschool was a non-starter for our kiddo. A local outdoor school became our solution for a while. We all loved it—mom, dad, and kiddo! The only problem was we needed more! SFNA will allow families the flexibility of having the option to send their child to our program between 1 and 5 days a week, whatever best meets their needs! So, if you're a stay-at-home mama who wants to send your child to the program 1-2 days a week just to get a breather, we're here for you! Or, if you're a working mama who needs to send your child to SFNA every day of the workweek, we've got your back! Stay-at-home and working dads, we see you, too!

 

The property that will be home to SFNA has been in our family since the 1960s. We know and love these woods!