Your gift will last a lifetime.

The mission of Boston Outdoor Preschool Network is to provide programs that meet the developmental needs of the whole child, while inspiring a lifelong relationship with the natural world. A growing body of research has found myriad positive impacts from frequent play in natural settings. These cover the entire range of holistic child development: physical, social, emotional, intellectual, creative and spiritual. Yet research has also shown that many children, especially those in urban areas, don't get enough time to play in nature. Since BOPN launched in September 2019, we have awarded hundreds of families partial and full scholarships for our school year and summer programs.

At BOPN, we are committed to making the benefits of outdoor early education and play-based learning accessible to all children, maximizing time spent together outdoors. In just six years, we grew from one small preschool class of 12 children in JP/Roslindale, to multiple programs around Greater Boston for children ages 15 months through seven years. In that time we also opened Boston's first outdoor Universal Pre-K program (now Boston PreK) and brought Forest Days to several local Boston Public Schools.

Your donations fund scholarships for BOPN children whose families could not otherwise afford the cost of nature-based preschool. Please partner with us in expanding access to outdoor early education!

Our Story

BOPN arose from our founders' shared desire to offer young learners a joyfully muddy childhood--fostering curiosity, movement, music, art, science, and connection with nature and one another. As educators, they saw that young children felt most alive when engaging with the natural world and their local community...

And so began the mission of expanding opportunities for nature-based education, and equitable access to those programs.

BOPN combines early childhood and environmental education. Our approach is inspired by multiple sources, including Lens on Outdoor Learning and the NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence in Early Childhood Environmental Education Programs. Both of these sets of standards emphasize child-directed learning, authentic experiences, making connections to previous experience, and culturally appropriate practice. To learn more about our approach to education, please visit our website.

BOPN Scholarship Fundraiser

Help children experience a joyfully muddy childhood.