What's "DC Proper"?

Just a reminder that OP asked for something in DC, not Maryland.

Barrie has one of the best outdoor environments in the area.

It feels like you've gone to the country. The best part is the land isn't just beautiful, it is incorporated into every day learning. Lunches and assemblies outside, environmental science, horseback riding. Trails, streams and bridges that make you feel like you are at a park. Deer are seen regular roaming on the grounds. This is a great school for nature lovers.

We looked for the same experience for our kids. Washington Waldorf, which is *just* on the edge of D.C. provides these opportunities through all of the grades. Part of the curriculum is "outdoor education." My 8th grader is kayaking. The 12th grade goes to Hermit Island every year for a week. There's a 3rd grade trip to an operational farm in upstate NY every year. These are just a few examples. Carpools work out between parents and there is aftercare.

HTH

Barrie also has a wonderful outdoor ed component as it is set on acres of land with a pond, stables, etc. It is in Silver Spring so not DC but it wouldn't be that far of a commute. It is a Montessori school for the mower grades.

Beauvoir's Playground/outdoor campus.

Upper Marlboro MD Fair haven school

OP, if you end up deciding a school with a strong outdoor component is truly important to you, you might consider selling that house, moving to Alexandria and sending your child to Burgundy. It's the only place that is close to what you describe. It's on an old farm, has a pond, a barn and woods, and even the smallest kids are outdoors for a substantial part of every day, no matter the weather. The lower school science teacher is terrific, too, and in science and many other subjects a lot of teachers is outdoors. I have some complaints about Burgundy's middle school, but the early childhood program and lower school are truly idyllic.

Most Burgundy parents work in DC. Depending where in DC you work, and what kind of hours you will have, the commute may not be nearly as bad as you think. I live in Alexandria, have kids at Burgundy and commute to Capitol Hill. My commute is shorter than that of colleagues who live in much of NW DC. We lived just off 16th St for a while, in Shepherd Park, and the commute from there was MUCH worse than from Alexandria. When I drive in to DC after dropping my kids off at Burgundy at 815, my commute is 35 mins. If I leave the kids in before care at 7 or go in at 945 it's 20 mins.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - my partner and I both feel that a lengthy commute would sort of go against the outdoor philosophy we are going for so we're only looking in DC proper. We purchased a home in Forrest Hills adjacent to the Park (moving in May from the Bay area) and we're hoping for something close by. I'm a little surprised that there is not such a school in relatively close proximity! Definitely sounds like an opportunity for the right educator.

If this was so important, you should have moved to a neighborhood near a school. You do realize you moved to the city right? Rock Creek Park is not habitable - it's a steep ravine. That's the only reason it's not developed.

Frankly, you sound like just the sort of entitled person who is going to be appalled at ALL the differences between your old city and your new one. Time to get over yourself and look beyond what you know to experience something different.

Umm... no, RCP is not a ravine, it's an enormous, urban park with many different types of terrain, including huge expanses of completely flat bottomland. I'm guessing the poster is not from DC; certainly, they have not been in RCP, which isn't surprising considering that they are infuriated that somebody would even express an interest in exposing their child to nature.

"DC Proper" = a silly, new name for a place already known as Washington, DC!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - my partner and I both feel that a lengthy commute would sort of go against the outdoor philosophy we are going for so we're only looking in DC proper. We purchased a home in Forrest Hills adjacent to the Park (moving in May from the Bay area) and we're hoping for something close by. I'm a little surprised that there is not such a school in relatively close proximity! Definitely sounds like an opportunity for the right educator.

You probably should have looked into this before buying your house. Unfortunately in this area, you cannot simultaneously demand a bespoke private preschool for your child and have a philosophical objection to a commute. Also if by "the Park" you mean Rock Creek Park, it's not really set up the way you might be thinking for something like an outdoors preschool. It's basically a ravine with a busy commuting road and creek running through it. Some nice spots for hiking but not like parks in California.

Actually, OP's kids are too old for it, but Franklin Montessori does use the Soapstone Valley in Rock Creek off of Albemarle street daily for its "Beyond the Walls Program" and the Audubon Naturalist Society has a nature preschool at Woodend. St. Columba's preschool is also very outdoor oriented.

Though public, Murch uses the outdoors as a classroom more than most schools's I've researched. Apparently a lot of parents are scientists.

Beauvior also makes use of the beautiful Cathedral grounds and Olmsted trail for recess and some science (daily while the playground was under construction; less now).

Very helpful! Thank yoU!

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thank you for the assistance - I'll definitely look at Sheridan and The Lab School! Those both sound like wonderful options.

To the PP, you are truly embodying all the DC stereotypes I was warned I'd find here Chill and be well.

-from one stereotype to another.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thank you for the assistance - I'll definitely look at Sheridan and The Lab School! Those both sound like wonderful options.

To the PP, you are truly embodying all the DC stereotypes I was warned I'd find here Chill and be well.

Lab is for kids with learning disabilities, FYI.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - my partner and I both feel that a lengthy commute would sort of go against the outdoor philosophy we are going for so we're only looking in DC proper. We purchased a home in Forrest Hills adjacent to the Park (moving in May from the Bay area) and we're hoping for something close by. I'm a little surprised that there is not such a school in relatively close proximity! Definitely sounds like an opportunity for the right educator.

You probably should have looked into this before buying your house. Unfortunately in this area, you cannot simultaneously demand a bespoke private preschool for your child and have a philosophical objection to a commute. Also if by "the Park" you mean Rock Creek Park, it's not really set up the way you might be thinking for something like an outdoors preschool. It's basically a ravine with a busy commuting road and creek running through it. Some nice spots for hiking but not like parks in California.

Actually, OP's kids are too old for it, but Franklin Montessori does use the Soapstone Valley in Rock Creek off of Albemarle street daily for its "Beyond the Walls Program" and the Audubon Naturalist Society has a nature preschool at Woodend. St. Columba's preschool is also very outdoor oriented.

Though public, Murch uses the outdoors as a classroom more than most schools's I've researched. Apparently a lot of parents are scientists.

Beauvior also makes use of the beautiful Cathedral grounds and Olmsted trail for recess and some science (daily while the playground was under construction; less now).

OP here - thank you for the assistance - I'll definitely look at Sheridan and The Lab School! Those both sound like wonderful options.

To the PP, you are truly embodying all the DC stereotypes I was warned I'd find here Chill and be well.