Community Cooperative Nature School (CCNS)

"We weren’t huge fans of this school. Parents are always missing their coop schedules, sending their kids sick, and very cliquey outride rude. Genevive was kind and friendly, as was Ms Annie, but my daughter’s actual teacher was not very engaged or attentive to her. The “board” is hilariously ineffective considering how highly they think of themselves. They feel entitled to your time while contributing nothing to the day to day of the children or parents. One member in particular had the audacity to speak to my wife completely unprofessionally, prompting a lot of tension between “committee” members the “board”. Very uncool. Most of the reviews in the last year are written by said “board”, which really calls into the question every review for the program.. I really wanted to like this program but it wasn’t for us (or many of the other parents I’ve talked to from my daughter’s previous class)."

"We have loved both the indoor and outdoor (Wasatch Wanderers) classes for our boys; the wanderers program in particular has stolen our hearts. It is so nice to know that our little one is outside learning through exploration, discovery, and curiosity. Ms. Maddy is so knowledgable and warm while still encouraging the kids to be independent outdoors. It's so fun co-oping and being able to see our boys in action and getting to know their classmates. Our 2 and 4 year olds love being outside even in "bad" weather and they both ask to go hiking and explore outside almost every day. I credit so much of this to their time at CCNS. Along with loving the play based classes for our boys, the community CCNS provides is a huge added bonus for the parents. We've met many of our closest family friends through the school and there is a genuine feeling of collaboration and inclusivity among the parents and teachers which spills over to the children as well! Such a gem of a preschool that we feel so fortunate to be a part of."

"Our family loves CCNS! It was a real treat to have found a cooperative play-based outdoor preschool experience here in Salt Lake City. CCNS takes a playful learning approach, teaching early academic and social-emotional skills through play and exploration. We feel fortunate to have our son participate in a program that allows him to learn through play. He’s given opportunities to explore and build his skills through his natural curiosity all while exploring nature. CCNS’s Wasatch Wanderer program is exclusively off-site. His teacher, Ms. Alise, encourages her students to think and to problem-solve, to be curious, and to trust themselves to figure things out. It is a rich interaction with nature and learning, and one my husband and I are lucky enough to see firsthand through the co-op design. We’re thrilled for our younger son to join as a Little Wanderer in the fall!"

"Our three year old is thriving at CCNS. She is doing both the on-site preschool as well as the Little Wanderers class, which takes place in nature and on the trails. My husband and I are originally from another (much warmer) state. CCNS has helped our family feel more connected to our beautiful surroundings in SLC. We are delighted to see our daughter play in the snow with no hesitation and stomp in the creeks. She has seen foxes in the wild (on more than one occasion), chased geese, gone sledding, painted the snow, and can even decipher some animal tracks. Her class has explored trails I didn't even know existed in parks our family previously visited. Her teachers, Ms. Alise and Ms. Maddy, are both fantastic. Their interactions with the children spark so much wonder. We appreciate the connection our daughter has with them. It has been incredible to witness the observations the children have made in nature. The co-op element is another reason our family enjoys CCNS. I've always wanted to play a role in our children's education. To me, co-oping is more ideal than being a "room mom" as there isn't the stress of who might get to volunteer and who might be left out. The shared responsibilities also result in less stress. Co-oping offers a great sense of community, and we've had a blast developing friendships with other parents at the monthly socials and events. CCNS provides an experience I don’t think we could find anywhere else."

"We have been at CCNS for over 6 years now through multiple children. Our daughters have had a great experience there. Their play-based learning philosophy is fun for children and helps develop a sense of curiosity and wonder, become independent, and create meaningful relationships. I’ve loved the co-op model because it has allowed me to have a hands-on impact on my children’s education, but also enabled me to connect with other parents and create a community. The other families are lifelong friends for both myself and my daughters. The teachers at CCNS are wonderful. They are experienced and caring. We’ve also loved their outdoor program; it has helped my kids become wonderful little hikers and observers of nature! CCNS is everything a preschool should be, a warm, child-focused environment that is based around developmentally appropriate learning and fun!"