Elements PreSchool

About this program

Elements, The Nature Preschool is an urban nature preschool located in New York City's Lower East Side on Suffolk Street. Founded in 2015 by Shilpa Sethi, the school was built on the core principle of "calling children back to their innate relationship with nature." This hidden oasis features open air, outdoor classrooms in the heart of Manhattan, creating a unique environment where children can connect with nature despite the bustling city surroundings. The preschool serves as an advocate of authentic, child-driven play and prioritizes community within the pillars of equity, determination, risk-taking, autonomy, and inclusion. Elements believes in the power of wonder and cultivates an intentional environment amongst loose parts and growing plants. The school creates a space that feels like an extension of home, where children develop honest and caring relationships with themselves, each other, and the outside world through guided problem-solving and conflict resolution.