Charlie is nearly 2 years old, and by the time she enters kindergarten, she could have her parents $57,000 in debt.
Her parents, Teddy and Annie McGlynn-Wright of Seattle, found that quality preschools could cost upward of $19,000 per year, more than a year of tuition at the University of Washington. Charlie is on the waitlist for five preschools.
The McGlynns-Wrights’ story inspired close friend Andrew Jay to create Tiny Trees (tinytrees.org), a developing, all-outdoor preschool with classes to take place in Seattle public parks. Jay expects its first six schools to launch in 2016.
Tiny Trees preschools will operate only in existing facilities provided by Seattle Parks and Recreation.
According to its business model, the elimination of a brick-and-mortar establishment cuts an estimated 30 percent in startup and maintenance costs. Savings in infrastructure needs are passed onto local families.
With the passing of Proposition 1B, the Seattle Preschool Program has been allotted $55 million to provide financial aid to families enrolling their children in preschool. A boost in enrollment is anticipated, starting in September 2015. However, considering the five preschools Charlie is on the waitlist for, current facilities may not be able to accommodate the increase in students.
“Seattle [Public] Schools is struggling as it is to meet the needs of all its students,” Jay said, “and Tiny Trees is a great solution to the facility question for preschools.”
For full-time enrollment, most Seattle preschools cost from about $9,000 to $20,000 per student per year, whereas Tiny Trees will cost about $7,000.
Its business model received the $15,000 first-place award for “Nonprofit Startup” at the Seattle Venture Partners Fast Pitch competition. It also recently won Sustainable Seattle’s Sustainability Leadership Award for Promising Upstart.
Prepared for the weather
The first concern most people have about an outdoor preschool is the weather. Rain or shine, class will be in session. Tiny Trees’ solution is a combination of play-based curriculum that keeps kids moving and a high-quality rain suit, included in tuition costs.
Tiny Trees will also follow the same procedures for inclement weather as Seattle Public Schools.
Outdoor preschools have existed since 1995 in countries like Norway, Scotland and Switzerland, where the weather gets much colder for longer periods of time than in the Northwest.
The local inspiration for Tiny Trees is an existing outdoor preschool, called Fiddleheads, based in the University of Washington’s Washington Park Arboretum.
Teddy McGlynn-Wright believes that parents’ anxieties concerning the weather overshadow the delight that children have in being outside.
“If you take your kid to the pumpkin patch, you’re out there for like four hours, running around outside,” McGlynn-Wright said. “It might be rainy. That could be a half-day at Tiny Trees Preschool.
“As an adult, you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m wet or I’m soggy, or I’m this or I’m that,’” he continued.” But as a kid, they’re like, ‘I got my rain boots; I’m jammin’. This is great; I’m jumping in puddles.’ I think really focusing on the delight of the child and making sure they’re equipped for it, right? There’s no such thing as bad weather — just bad clothing.”
Regarding safety, Jay said, Tiny Trees will follow risk-management standards set by Fiddleheads and Seattle Parks and Recreation’s summer program. Additionally, children will wear brightly colored raincoats, and class sessions operate during the least visited weekday hours, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Milli Olson, a mother who lives within walking distance from Volunteer Park, voiced another concern: “My husband and I were laughing: Well, what do they do if they need to go to the bathroom?”
Seattle public parks have bathrooms, but each preschool will be limited to the facilities available at each park.
Olson is skeptical, but Jay’s passion for the project inspires her to take interest. “If it applies in other countries, I don’t see why it wouldn’t here,” she said.
Learning through play
There are, in fact, a handful of outdoor preschools already operating in Seattle, but Tiny Trees distinguishes itself with an academic focus.
“There’s never been an outdoor [charter] preschool that’s been licensed or aspires for academic outcomes like kindergarten readiness,” Jay said.
The educational model takes a holistic approach. Academic prep in language, math and science is combined with social-emotional development, and both are facilitated through play.
“Our belief is that all of that is related,” Jay explained. “Children learn through play, touch and social interaction.”
The model aims to prepare children to succeed in kindergarten, as well as help them develop lifelong social skills.
Employment in the 21st century, Jay said, is based on the ability to connect with people.
Aaron McMillan, a father who lives near Rainier Place in Northwest Seattle, thinks Tiny Trees sounds like exactly what he and his wife, Jessica, want for their son, Isaac. They are enthusiastic about the outdoor and social benefits.
“We live in the world,” Aaron McMillan said. “Why not learn in it?”
As of Feb. 9, 214 families have pre-enrolled, and their votes will determine where the first six locations Tiny Trees Preschool will take place. Visit tinytrees.org for more information.
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