Discovery Park Nature Kids

Nature Kids for the 2023-2024 School Year

Dates: Monday, September 11, 2023 through Wednesday, June 14, 2024.

(Please note that the Discovery Park Visitor Center and adjacent areas are currently closed for construction, so there are no Open Houses or tours available.)

We have two different class options:
A morning class that meets from 9:30am-1:00pm and an afternoon class that meets from 11:30am-3:00pm.

Requirement for Enrollment for 2023-2024: 

Children must be age three by August 31, 2023, to enroll for the 2023-2024 school year. If a child turns three any time after that date, they are eligible for the 2024-2025 school year. Children must also be able to self-toilet without the use of pull-ups or diapers upon registration.

(We do not have waiting lists for future years. Please note that children must be potty-trained AND age 3 by August 31st of the year in which they will be enrolling.)

Registration Date:

Registration opens on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at noon. Please sign into your ActiveNet account to ensure your account information is up to date. We recommend adding/updating a method of payment which will help expediate the registration process.

(Please note that due to the ADA construction closure, there is no in-person registration available at Discovery Park.)

Please note that registration for Nature Kids preschool enrolls you for the entire school year. You do not need to register each month to continue care. Register here

If you have any questions, please e-mail Discovery.Park@seattle.gov or call (206) 386-4236.

Payment Deposits

Both the morning and afternoon sessions will be offered

• 2 days per week (Tuesdays/Thursdays) for $354.00 per month
• 3 days per week (Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays) for $531.00 per month
• 5 days per week (Mondays through Fridays) for $885.00 per month

A $25 non-refundable deposit will be due at the time of registration for both the “2 days” and “3 days” preschool option.

Anyone wishing to register for the “5 days per week” option must enroll for both “2 days” and “3 days" options at the time of registration, and pay a $25 non-refundable deposit for each. Spots are first come, first served.

Full Payment

Full payment for the month of September (minus the non-refundable deposit paid at registration) will be due on August 1st, 2023. Full payment for the following months of October through June will be due 14 days prior to the first of each month thereafter.

Scholarships/Financial Aid

Seattle Parks and Recreation has scholarships (financial aid) available to individuals and families for our programs and activities. Scholarships are based on income and family size and are available to anyone who qualifies. Additional information and scholarship applications for 2023-2024 should be available online early next week. Learn more about Scholarships & Financial Aid.

About Our Program

Nature Kids Preschool provides an enriching, fun, child-centered program for children ages three to five. Our goal is to nurture the emotional, social, physical, and academic growth of children by providing hands-on experiences in the classroom and outdoors. These experiences all take place within a loving, creative, and respectful environment. Nature Kids go outside everyday- rain or shine- we are very active and enjoy getting dirty and exploring our preschool’s big “backyard” of Discovery Park!

We use an experiential approach to learning, with a variety of materials for children to see and touch both in the classroom and outdoors. We engage all parts of a child's development through activities such as science experiments, arts and crafts, music, movement, and stories.

Nature Kids uses a thematic approach to learning. We focus on a different theme in order to explore the world around us and develop an emerging awareness of our ever-changing environment. The aspects of learning that we focus on are: creative arts, science, math, language, and movement. For example, when learning about habitats, children might paint a habitat for a bird in the art area, observe ants at work building their nest in the science and math areas, read and make a book about a habitat in the language arts area, and act out what an animal needs for a healthy habitat in the movement area. Songs, stories, and games are incorporated into each day to explore the week's theme.

Nature Kids is a play-based preschool. Creativity, imagination, and respect for others and the world around us are important aspects of the program. Children are encouraged to learn at their own pace through active play and discovery time. We recognize and celebrate the ever changing world of the preschooler in all areas of Nature Kids.

For employment opportunities, our job postings for Nature Kids Preschool and summer Nature Day Camp are posted on the Associated Recreation Council website at Jobs (arcseattle.org).