Who we are
Our MissionPeaceful Gatherings Nature School's mission is to meet the need for developmentally appropriate, nature-based education in our community. As an early childhood program, we will also meet the demand for quality childcare.
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our VisionOur vision is to create an educational experience that allows young children to interact with the natural world around them, encouraging their innate desire to explore the world just outside their door.
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Students learning through community garden exploration
Our Philosophy
At Peaceful Gatherings Nature School we believe that all children are equipped with a natural desire to explore and learn from the world around them. In our outdoor classroom, students are encouraged to trust their innate curiosity. Our child-led, emergent curriculum gives students the opportunity to take control of their learning in a developmentally appropriate way. As learning partners, we guide students by creating lessons that speak to their interests and are driven by the seasonal changes that surround us. Nature based education lets “children develop confidence in their own abilities.”* Children are provided a safe environment that encourages them to take risks and grow in confidence. Our classroom will have students of varying ages as many benefits come from multi-age groupings. In multi-age classrooms, there is a sense of family, students are not labeled according to their ability, younger students can look up to older students, and older students can become mentors for younger students. Along with being multi-aged, our classroom will also be bilingual. Children will be immersed in both English and Spanish in order to promote the natural way language develops. At Peaceful Gatherings Nature School we are excited to be on this journey together. We are looking forward to building a community where tender hearts and adventurous spirits, young and old, play to learn.
*Catherine Koons-Hubbarb
Life After Nature Preschool:
Exploring the Long Term Effects of Nature-Based Education
*Catherine Koons-Hubbarb
Life After Nature Preschool:
Exploring the Long Term Effects of Nature-Based Education
Meet The Education Team
Sandra Rivas
With over 18 years of experience in Early Childhood Education and a B.A. in Spanish with an emphasis on education from Columbia College and a minor in psychology, Sandra has brought her expertise to the great outdoors!
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Peaceful Gatherings is the dream of Sandra Rivas. While trying to find quality, developmentally appropriate preschools for my own children I realized the need for more options in our community. I have a background in private early childhood education and in bilingual education. While researching best practices I fell in love with outdoor, nature preschools and the forest schools of Europe. I also learned that there are very few options for nature preschools in the state of South Carolina. That's when Peaceful Gatherings Nature School started to form into more than a dream.
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2024-2025 Staff Pictures and Bios Coming Soon!
our location
Peaceful Gatherings Nature School is delighted to announce that we are now located at Seven Oaks Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina.
Our Newsletter
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