Outdoor preschool? In muddy public parks across rainy Seattle? It seems like that’s going to be a preschool option for local parents in 2016. Tiny Trees, a budding local start-up outdoor preschool, received a letter this fall from the Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jesús Aguirre confirming that the department would permit the nonprofit to run six outdoor preschool programs in city parks as a pilot project by September 2016.
Tiny Trees CEO Andrew Jay was, of course, thrilled at the news. After winning a $15,000 grant in 2014 through the Social Venture Partner’s Fast Pitch Competition for Best Non-Profit Start-Up and pitching the concept to superintendent Aguirre back in September, the Scandinavian model of outdoor preschool could soon come to city parks across Seattle. There is already one outdoor preschool operating out of the University of Washington Arboretum called Fiddleheads, which Jay says is one “inspiration” for Tiny Trees.
The touted upsides of outdoor preschool range from its cost savings — not having to pay for a facility saves a chunk of change — allowing for more investment in preschool teachers and discounts for middle and low income families, in addition to benefits of holding play and nature-based classes in stimulating outdoor green space.
“That’s our big innovation. By cutting the cost of the [school] building we’re able to offer a lot more financial aid to families that need the support,” said Jay. “We’re able to pay teachers better and invest [more] in their development. What makes a great preschool is how invested in their teachers they are.”
Tiny Trees has also applied to partner with the city’s Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) to join Mayor Ed Murray’s universal preschool program as a provider, benefiting from the program’s tuition assistance for families of four making $75,000 annually or more. Tiny Trees would cover the middle and lower end of the economic spectrum on its own by providing tuition assistance to families making less than $75,000. Though Tiny Trees doesn’t have an exact figure locked down, Jay says they could provide a 25-30% discount to bring tuition down 5-10% below market rates (something in the $7,000 dollars per year range).
“It’s not just for low income families, it’s not just for wealthy families, and it’s not just for families in the middle,” he said. “The vision that parks is really excited about is Tiny Trees partnering with the department and then applying to the city’s preschool program to offer some level of subsidy.”
Outdoor preschool and Tiny Trees has already garnered popularity among Seattle parents. Jay is hesitant to give out an exact number of enrolled families (because he doesn’t want to “scare” others from doing the same), but says that hundreds have pre-enrolled.
Tiny Trees is still in the process of working with Parks and Recreation to select specific parks as preschool locations. They’ve been asking parents to vote on their park preferences when they enroll, in addition to doing outreach to neighborhood groups. Possible Capitol Hill and Central Seattle locations include Volunteer Park and Jefferson Park (the official site locations will announced in early 2016, alongside revealing Tiny Tree’s partnership with the DEEL, assuming it qualifies).
Jay says the goal is to have a Tiny Trees operation in every neighborhood. “Preschools are sort of like coffee shops. You go to one in your neighborhood even though there is one with great coffee 9 miles away.” “We want to connect families to the public spaces that are in their neighborhoods that they come back to on a regular basis,” he added.
The obvious problem with outdoor preschool would seem to be the weather, especially in drizzly Seattle. But Jay says Tiny Trees has this potential roadblock covered by providing one-piece rainsuits complete with hoods and gators to cover children’s’ wee little rain boots. “They’re [the suits] pretty indestructible,” said Jay. “For a child that’s four years old, what matters to them is how they feel in the moment. If you can give them the right equipment, clothing to feel warm and dry, they’re not going to care [about weather].” (Jay does concede that if it’s really raining or cold classes may have to be held under a park or tent shelter.)
Jay says the schedule for class offerings is looking like a four hour morning class (8:30am-12:30pm) Monday through Friday and afternoon classes Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. For consistent all-day preschool throughout the week, Tiny Trees is looking to partner with various local established aftercare providers—such as the Associated Recreation Council—to hold afternoon outdoor and classes near parks where Tiny Trees operate.
Tiny Trees is planning on holding open houses, of sorts, in early 2016. You can learn more at tinytrees.org.
