NOLA Nature School (NNS) is a full-time, play + nature-based school for children ages 3-6, blending the arts, math, literacy, & culture to spark curiosity, creativity, & emotional growth.

We also offer Weekend & Summer camps for older children, providing year-round opportunities to explore & learn in a hands-on, nurturing environment!

We offer a child-led, play-based learning environment where children engage in hands-on experiences across subjects.
Our mixed-age classrooms promote creativity, collaboration, & problem-solving, while embracing our school values of kindness, respect, responsibility, integrity, collaboration, & community- all of which help children become passionate stewards of the environment & engaged, compassionate citizens of both their local & global communities!

As it’s been said that “the prize is in the process”- NNS wholeheartedly embraces this notion & our students learn “traditional” subjects (math, literacy, science, culture, etc) + practical life skills at their own pace through lots of self-led play, organically-paced project based learning, guided instruction, arts integration, & outdoor exploration. Perhaps most importantly, they also simultaneously develop social-emotional skills, learning to build relationships + approach challenges & create informed solutions with empathy & resilience.

Outdoor learning nurtures children’s emotional, physical, & cognitive growth. It sparks creativity, strengthens their bond with nature, & fosters a deep sense of responsibility + respect for our world which will one day be in their hands.

Our campus, affectionately known as The Nest, is located at 2503 Columbus St in MidCity, right behind historic Bayou Road. We intentionally blend ever-evolving indoor & outdoor spaces designed for discovery & hands-on learning.

Weather permitting, we also regularly explore places around NOLA (eg- New Orleans Botanical Garden, NOMA Sculpture Garden, & Louisiana Children's Museum). We also take annual family field trips to the North Shore (eg-Ms. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch in Fall & her Strawberry Patch in The Spring) & the West Bank (Sugar Roots Farm, Swamp Tour) to further enrich our learning experiences within our community.

Our school year runs from mid-August to late May, with seasonal camps open to public enrollment (though current students always get priority) whenever offered.

Although we are an independent organization, we follow most of the Orleans Parish School Board's recommendations for calendar considerations, weather related closures, & annual holidays. Knowing that some families have younger or older children enrolled at other schools, we aim to align our dates as best as we can. but some dates (usually the start & end of our school year, Fall & Spring Breaks, adjusted severe weather days, etc) typically differ to meet the needs our school.

At NNS, we’re shaping the next generation of caring citizens & conscientious leaders who will carry forward the cultural traditions of New Orleans. Through kindness, creativity, curiosity, respect, collaboration, & a deep connection to the land, we empower children to become keepers of our city’s vibrant heritage & its precious natural spaces.

Thanks for asking! You can support us by enrolling your children in our various programs, donating funds or materials, volunteering, attending community & fundraising events, or simply spreading the word. All contributions are tax-deductible & help us continue offering a playful, student-centered education that nurtures today’s children in nature so that they will grow into the thoughtful, engaged leaders of tomorrow!