Wander Nature School

A little emotional over here today.

We officially took down the last original Wander playspace to make room for a new water table and more open space.

When we opened Wander, we had almost nothing. No money. No fancy equipment. Not even a fence. Just a dream, a Buy Nothing group, and a whole lot of faith.

We collected free wood from abandoned chicken coops, broken playsets, and whatever materials people were willing to give away. From those scraps, we built our very first mud kitchen, an outdoor easel and this little red playhouse.

That was it.

Little by little, families took a chance on us. They trusted us with their children. They shared our vision for a different kind of childhood. Because of that trust, more littles joined us. Our community showed up. They supported us, encouraged us, donated materials, spread the word, and helped us grow into something more than we ever imagined.

This playhouse may have just looked like old wood to most people, but to us it represents the beginning. It represents every early morning, every late night, every risk, every prayer, and every family who believed in Wander before there was much to see.

As we make room for new things (figuratively and literally), we're feeling incredibly grateful for the old things that got us here.

To every family who has ever walked through here, thank you. Wander would not be what it is today without your trust, your love, your support, and your shared belief that childhood should be filled with mud, trees, imagination, friendship, and freedom.

We're so thankful you've been part of this story. ❤️🌲✨

#

🍂 Fall enrollment is here! 🍂

As our little ones grow, so does Wander.

This fall, we'll have a limited number of openings, and we're so excited for what's ahead.

Beginning this fall, we'll be introducing an optional preschool learning time for children ages 4-5 (and some older 3 year olds who are ready). Using The Good and the Beautiful curriculum we'll gently weave age-appropriate literacy, math, science, art, and nature studies into our days while staying true to everything that makes Wander... Wander.

For our younger learners, we'll be introducing Before Five in a Row, a beautiful literature-based curriculum that uses classic children's books to inspire art, science, sensory experiences, nature exploration, conversation, and play. It's the perfect way to nurture a love of learning while following each child's natural curiosity.

Don't picture desks, long lessons, or a traditional classroom.

Our children will continue spending their entire day outdoors (unless weather makes it unsafe), with child-led play, nature exploration, open-ended invitations, STEM, creativity, and plenty of time to simply be kids. The curriculum won't replace what we already do, it will simply complement it through hands-on experiences, beautiful books, meaningful conversations, and playful learning.

Our goal is to help children build a strong foundation for their next step, whether that's homeschooling, private school, or public school, without sacrificing the freedom, imagination, and magic of childhood.

If you've been looking for a place where your child can spend their days exploring nature, learning through play, and growing in a calm, nurturing environment, we'd love to welcome you to the Wander family. Please message me for more details. 📍Located in Angier (towards Buies Creek/Campbell University)

🌿 We can't wait to meet the families joining our community!

Our Colors in Nature is off to such a good start. 🌈🎨

We’ve been using leaves to make prints, mixing colored water to see what new colors we can create, and building our Spanish skills with flashcards from our friends at

We love weeks like this. Lots of open ended art, lots of creativity, and a big focus on process over product. 🌿🖌