Welcome to Little Schoolhouse in the Woods!
Little Schoolhouse in the Woods is a non profit outdoor early education program based in Cincinnati.
Mission Statement
Little Schoolhouse in the Woods’ mission is to foster a love of nature and to guide children toward healthy relationships with themselves and others.
Philosophy
It is our belief that children are naturally curious and eager to learn about themselves and the world around them. They are able to communicate their needs and desires. They can ask questions, explore and find answers. Children learn best when they are interested and engaged while accompanied by warm, stable and caring educators and caretakers. We believe children have the right to an education that fosters respect for nature and each other.
Vision
Our goal is to provide children with access to a beautiful, natural play space and a warm, caring environment. We support independence, positive self-esteem, and social emotional skills while allowing them to unfold in a developmentally appropriate manner.
What is Little Schoolhouse in the Woods?
Little Schoolhouse in the Woods is a natural, nurturing Outdoor Education Program serving preschool age children, in the outdoor environment of Mt. Airy Forest in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ms. Lee and Mr. Jay have been providing a wholesome environment with plenty of healthy play in a beautiful setting since 2012. This is an exceptional program for early childhood. If interested please contact them at littleschoolhouseinthewoods@gmail.com.
Outdoor Education and Nature
Outdoor education embraces a student led approach, balancing free play and organized play as fundamental approaches to early education. In addition, resilience, confidence and grit are developed naturally while children steer the direction and content of the curriculum. Through outdoor activities and generous amounts of outdoor play time, children receive warm, caring and stable adult caregivers/educators. Keep up with our Upcoming Events here.
Who We Are
Lee and Jason Hamzy have a refreshing approach to early childhood, which has lead Little Schoolhouse in the Woods to be recognized as a top Cincinnati preschool by Expertise for four year in a row!
Lee Hamzy (Ms. Lee) was Lead Extended Care at Cincinnati Waldorf School for 6 years before she left to become a mother for the third time. With years of experience and an empathetic demeanor, she has truly created a loving place for children to unfold in their own manner. Having been a foster parent for a period of time, opening her home to children has been an important part of her life. The philosophies of Rudolph Steiner, founder of Waldorf education, Helle Heckman’s early childhood approach, and Maria Montessori are big inspirations for her approach to educating children. She is executive director of Little Schoolhouse in the Woods, a non-profit community benefit corporation that aids, supports and supplies outdoor education to the community on the west side of Cincinnati.
Jason Hamzy (Mr. Jay) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Western Governor’s University in 2016. He holds a teaching license in Ohio for PreK-3rd Grade and an endorsement for 4th and 5th grade. He has taught Math and Science to 5th and 6th graders at Chase Elementary and taught 2nd grade Science at Hamilton County Math and Science Academy. He is a National Geographic certified educator. Being a foster parent inspired him to become a teacher. He believes play-based outdoor nature education is ideal for early childhood and co-founded Little Schoolhouse in the Woods, a non-profit community benefit corporation that aids, supports and supplies outdoor education to the community on the west side of Cincinnati. . Making a positive difference in the life of a child is his greatest ambition.
What We Provide
Both Lee and Jason love the natural world, and hope to be able to share their love of nature with children. Call or email them for an opportunity to meet and discover more about what they have to offer your child. Accepting children ages 3 and up, from 8 am until 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday, during the school year. They provide nutritious snacks, generous outdoor nature time, and a rest each afternoon. This is not your typical preschool, but a unique approach to nurturing and guiding children towards healthy, happy development. Contact them today to find out more, and set up a time to meet them.
littleschoolhouseinthewoods@gmail.com
(513)481-4141
Donate Today!
We work hard to provide quality nature based experiences for early childhood, but our program costs don’t cover all of our expenses. If you’d like to support our dream of providing nature based education for children, please contribute by clicking here. Give a little, or give a lot, you’ll be supporting the love of nature and happy childhoods! Simply click on our tree logo below to donate today! Thank you!!
Little Schoolhouse in the Woods is a non profit outdoor early education program based in Cincinnati. If you would like to help support us, please click on the link below. Thank you!
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
Little Schoolhouse in the Woods admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Hello! I know things are very busy with Covid uncertainty, so no rush to respond.
I am interested in your school for my son for the 2021-2022 school year. Could you provide me with tuition information and registration/waitlist info? Feel free to send any other info you feel pertinent. Thanks!
Yes, the uncertainty has been difficult, and we are busy working towards the future. You will find a lot of info on our Enrollment Info Page. If you’d like to be notified of our next open house, please email us at LittleSchoolhouseInTheWoods@gmail.com with your child’s age and we will send you the date of our next open house. Thank you for your interest in outdoor education and have a great day!