A new preschool in Dallas is following a nature-based curriculum that teaches students about sustainability and the ecosystem in a colorfully refurbished school bus. 

Seed Preschool, which launched last week, is the brainchild of Jennifer Stuart, a certified Texas Master Naturalist who hopes to teach children to understand nature and how they can use it, The Dallas Morning News reported.

The preschool meets twice a week, and it is similar to others in North Texas and across the nation that follow the example of European preschools which hold nature at the core of their curricula. 

“Children who appreciate nature will feel more connected to where their food comes from and to the world around them.”
Seed Preschool mission statement

“Children who appreciate nature will feel more connected to where their food comes from and to the world around them. It all starts with a seed,” the mission statement for Seed Preschool states. 

Mud Puddles and Dandelions in Collin County, River Legacy Nature School in Arlington, and Blackland Prarie Conservatory & Atelier in Lake Highlands all offer similar programs in the North Texas area, according to the Morning News.

[Photo: Stacey Potter Jemison]

The bus, named Matilda, is parked at Twelve Hills Nature Center in Oak Cliff and is surrounded by an outdoor preserve that also serves as a classroom for the preschoolers.

Painted blue and green with big, yellow flowers covering the sides, the bus provides children with an opportunity to take their learning to new places.

Stuart plans to build a native beehive, chicken coop, and vegetable garden, she told the Morning News. 

Seed Preschool is enrolling students ages 3 to 6 for morning preschool and offering afternoon homeschooling for children ages 6 to 9. 

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