Wild Earth Preschool
Wild Earth Preschool at the Dallas Zoo is the only licensed full-day nature-based preschool in Southern Dallas!
Our Philosophy
Children enjoy child-led outdoor play and Zoo visits while developing social-emotional skills and school readiness through our whole-child curriculum.
At Wild Earth Preschool, children will:
Spend about 80% of their day in our outdoor learning environments.
Discover and play with natural elements like mud, water, sticks, rocks, etc.
Develop social and emotional skills through supervised child-led activities and play.
Participate in weekly visits to the Zoo for engaging and educational opportunities.
Our Mission
The Wild Earth Preschool mission is to nurture whole child development through a nature-based and play-based learning environment. Connecting young children to animals and nature improves the outlook both for the child and for the future of the natural world.
Preschoolers who are immersed in a sensory-rich, nature-rich, authentic, and dynamic environment benefit in the areas of cognition, physical skills, social skills, and emotional intelligence. When children grow up connected to nature, they are likely to continue to inquire, explore, and protect it. Wild Earth Preschool is guided by the tenets of high-quality early childhood education and environmental education, and is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach.
Requirements
- Must be 3 years old by the time of enrollment
- Must be potty trained
- Must be able to dress themselves
Open Year-round
- Monday-Friday
- 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
- 52 weeks of the year
- Scheduled closures for holidays, staff days, and professional development
Classroom Stats
- Multi-age classroom families include children who are three, four, and five years old.
- Each class has a 1:7 teacher-to-student ratio to help with providing individual support.
- Each classroom is capped at 12 children.
Communication
We keep parents connected through updates, including photos, observations, newsletters, annual parent-staff conference, and opportunities to serve on Parent Council and participate in Parent Forums.
Next Steps
Documents:
View our Handbook and Tuition Chart to learn more about our preschool program.
Visit Us:
Come to an Open House to learn more about Wild Earth Preschool.
Upcoming Open House Dates
Coming soon!
May 20 → RSVP
June 3 → RSVP
Get Registered:
Contact us to check enrollment availability, join our waiting list, or receive updates about Wild Earth Preschool.
469.554.7300
469.554.7300
Testimonials
From current and former Wild Earth Preschool parents
I love Wild Earth Preschool because of the unique adventures the children go on each day. The interaction with nature and wildlife at the Dallas Zoo is unlike any other child care experience!
We chose Wild Earth Preschool because we loved the idea of our child spending most of the day outside. There’s no other school we’ve found where kids get so much time to play, explore, and connect with nature!
Most of all our kiddo loves being there! There’s nothing quite like the peace of mind that comes from knowing your child is not only safe but truly cared for throughout the day. Wild Earth Preschool is a special place!
[The] real heart of this school is its staff. From teachers to administrators to support staff, every person we’ve interacted with has treated our family with such kindness, respect, and genuine care.
Wild Earth instilled wonder and appreciation and deep understanding of the natural world in our kids, encouraging them to play, splash, and get fabulously messy along the way!
Wild Earth Preschool has been a wonderful experience for our family... Most importantly, Wild Earth Preschool fosters a warm, inclusive community where our child feels welcome and excited to attend school each day.
Wild Earth Preschool is a fully licensed day care/childcare center through the Texas Department of Health & Human Services.
