Howard County Conservancy Nature Preschool

About this program

Howard County Conservancy Nature Preschool is a nature-based early learning program operated by the Howard County Conservancy, a nonprofit organization with over 30 years of experience connecting people to nature. Located at Belmont Manor and Historic Park in Elkridge, Maryland, the preschool sits within a county park that borders thousands of acres of state park, providing an exceptional natural setting for young learners. The program's philosophy centers on fostering a deep connection to nature through a holistic approach to child development. The emergent curriculum thoughtfully integrates socio-emotional development, artistic expression, early literacy, and language skills while using nature as the primary learning environment. Children explore environmental sciences, mathematics, and engineering through sensorial experiences and hands-on learning. The school maintains an EXCELS rating at level 2, Maryland's quality rating improvement system for licensed early education programs, and has been featured on Outdoors Maryland and in The Baltimore Sun for its innovative approach to preparing children for kindergarten through daily outdoor exploration and play.