About Bluestone Nature Programs

Letting children and curiosity lead the way.

At Bluestone Nature Programs, the outdoors is not just our classroom, it is also our teacher. Using best practices in early childhood education, evidence-based approaches aligned with a nature-based pedagogy, and the magic of innate human connection to nature, we honor the whole child.

By providing direct experience with nature we allow children to follow their curiosity, share in wonder, build confidence, and develop a love and appreciation for the natural world. By nature, outdoor experiences are sensory-rich, allow for freedom of movement, and inspire inquiry and imagination - all of which are crucial to healthy development for children. We follow an emergent curriculum that weaves seasonal experiences with intentional activities that nurture cognitive, social/emotional, physical, language, and spiritual development, unique to every child.

With village-making at our core, children in Bluestone Nature Programs foster connections to their school, natural communities, and the greater Port Jervis community. Through the lens of nature immersion, we deepen bonds with the land and each other, across the generations.

Bluestone Nature Programs is a project of Bluestone Village, but open to the general public.

What are families saying about Bluestone Nature Programs?

"Our son, Wilder, has always had a love of the outdoors and using nature to enhance his imaginative play. So when we heard of Bluestone, their values, and their goals, we were immediately interested in signing him up. We were expecting him to get a good understanding of the world around him and how to incorporate nature into everyday life, but we got so much more than that. Bluestone is an amazing community filled with people that want to see all of the little ones succeed and grow. I’ve seen so much change in not only my son but his classmates as well. Connecting with nature in a no pressure, open-minded, and creative space has proven to be so beneficial. There is so much to discover about the world through a lens where children lead and make observations about the world around them. Wilder is also given the space to practice compassion and empathy, something he has always done but has been enhanced by going to Bluestone. I truly believe that him being involved was one of the best decisions for him, and we are so lucky to know Emily and the rest of the crew at Bluestone!"

- Julia Doyle, Bluestone parent

Bluestone has been a space of great adventure, exploration, growth and learning for our child. We couldn’t be more grateful for Emily‘s boundless knowledge of the outdoors and her approach to child-lead learning.

-Bluestone family

We came across Bluestone Nature School while trying to find something a bit different than the normal daycare experience for my outdoor/nature-loving daughter, and we are so happy that we did.

Emily Woodmansee, the founder and head teacher at Bluestone, is a true gem. Her skills, values, and love for the outdoors has created an exceptional experience for my daughter. She not only treats all of the children enrolled at Bluestone like her own, but she also puts so much thought, effort, and talent into her day to day planning, creating an environment for children to learn, thrive, and grow.

We feel very lucky and fortunate to have found Bluestone Nature School and we look forward to spending many years here.

-Elizabeth Sallusto, Bluestone parent

MISSION
Bluestone Nature Programs fosters deep and meaningful nature connection, inspires sense of place, and cultivates an inclusive community rooted in the outdoors through nature-based learning. Guided by child-led learning through play and seasonal changes in nature, we embrace the natural world as our teacher while stewarding our nature neighborhood.

VISION
Children deserve a whole-child approach to learning that centers child-led play and exploration, ample time spent outside, and a safe and loving environment. Mentors focus on building trusting relationships with the children and approach curriculum through close observation of play.