St. Vincent Early Learning Center Opens Outdoor Classroom

St. Vincent Early Learning Center will celebrate the Grand Opening of their new Outdoor Classroom, Friday, July 12, 2019! Founded on the values of the Daughters of  Charity, St. Vincent Early Learning Center is an accredited early childhood education and care center that starts all children on a pathway to lifetime success and coordinates programs and services to help their families thrive.

The opening of the outdoor classroom is the culmination of more than a year’s efforts to redesign two of the agency’s 35-year-old playgrounds to incorporate more natural elements. This project aligns with St. Vincent Early Learning Center’s focus on whole-child development and learning by inspiring children’s creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, which will help to prepare them for academic and lifetime success.

The classroom was designed in collaboration with Nature Explore, a national nonprofit program that supports efforts to connect children with nature as an integral part of their daily learning. This innovative addition to St. Vincent’s program will provide children with endless educational opportunities in a rich natural environment where they can learn, play, explore and discover. The classroom’s learning areas include; garden and plantings, art, water, sand, dirt digging, messy materials, building and loose parts, climbing and balance, and music and movement. 

St. Vincent Early Education Center is very grateful for the generosity of the Women’s Fund of Vanderburgh County, the Vectren Foundation, Gary and Kim Alles, the Cecil A. and Mabel Lene Hamman Foundation and many other kind supporters who have helped make way for a beautiful, healthy and engaging natural outdoor classroom, which will benefit our community’s youngest learners now and for many years to come. 

For more information, visit www.stvincentearlylearningcenter.org.