Wild Willow Nature Preschool
(3-6yr olds)
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Program Description:
Wild Willow Nature Preschool is a nature- and play-based preschool where children learn through hands-on exploration outdoors. The natural environment becomes the classroom, offering endless opportunities for curiosity, creativity, and discovery.
Our program supports the whole child by meeting preschoolers’ developmental needs while fostering a love of learning and a connection to the world around them. Through playful, age-appropriate experiences in nature, children build confidence, social and emotional skills, physical abilities, and a sense of awe and wonder.
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Dates/Times:
This is a school year long program. Beginning Mid-August through end of May. We follow our local school schedule (Whitley County, IN) including holidays.
(2 spots available)
Days: Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Times:
AM: 9am-12pm
Location: Giving Gardens of Indiana
479 S. Towerview Dr. Columbia City, IN
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Tuition:
Registration: $117 per family (non-refundable)
This holds a spot for your child for the school year. This must be paid when you register to hold your child’s spot. This will be applied to your tuition when classes begin. If you choose to pull your child from the program, you will NOT be refunded your registration fee.
$117.00 Weekly (36 weeks)
Sibling discount: $75 off per child for full year tuition
Scholarship: 25% off school year tuition. This is based off of income. You can fill out the scholarship form in the link at the top of this page. Our treasurer will review the form and make a determination if the scholarship is awarded. Scholarships are available on a first come first serve basis . There are no guarantees you will receive the scholarship. You must have you scholarship request sent in no later then 4 weeks before school year begins.
Student Tuition Fundraisers:
Every school year we will offer a fundraiser option for you to help support your child’s tuition. See the information below to find out “How it works”!
ESA Scholarship Account:
ESA Voucher/Funding for students with special needs and support programing. If your child is being homeschooled and needs an ESA SP (IEP) you must go to your local school district to get this recommendation for your child to get qualified for this financial support. Your child must be 5+ years old to qualify. Follow the QR Code in the image to get funding. This funding can be used for tuition for our programs.
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Payment Information:
Giving Gardens of Indiana offers the following payments plans: one lump payment OR weekly. If tuition is not paid in full, a full weekly payment is due at the end of the week. A registration fee will be applied to hold your child’s spot for each program and applied towards your tuition total. For early withdrawals from a program after the school year/semester begins, prorated refunds will be applied according to the time of withdrawal if tuition was paid in full, minus the registration fee.
All bills and billing plans are created in Brightwheel and paid through Brightwheel. A $25 late fee will be applied after 10 days of a missed payment.
If you choose to temporarily withdraw your child from our programming, we will not hold their spot in the program.
We use Brightwheel for our enrollment and billing. When you enroll you will have to make an account.
Important Info, Click each button to learn more!
Fundraiser #2: Flower Power – Flowers & Bulbs
Families can sell beautiful flowers and bulbs to community members, with 40-50% of the profit applied directly to their student’s tuition.
Browse the Spring Catalog and share with friends, family, and neighbors!
How It Works:
1. Share the link with potential buyers.
2. Customers order directly online. No need to collect orders or money.
3. 50% of the total sales will be credited toward your student’s tuition.
4. ***When placing orders, customer needs to enter “Giving Gardens of Indiana & student name” in the notes section, or credits will not apply.
Get Started Today! Both fundraisers provide a fantastic way to lower tuition costs while engaging in meaningful community-based sales. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Rachel Alexander at rachel@givinggardensofindiana.com.
Happy fundraising! - The Giving Gardens of Indiana Team
Would your family be interested in fundraising to lower your own child’s tuition costs?
Then these fundraisers are for you!
Giving Gardens of Indiana is excited to offer two fundraising opportunities to help families reduce their student’s tuition costs. By participating, families can earn funds directly toward their student’s tuition while supporting local businesses and gardening initiatives!
Fundraiser #1: Filler Family Apiary – Local Honey & Products
Our garden beekeepers, Filler Family Apiary, are offering discounts on their high-quality honey and products. Families can sell these items, and the profit will go directly toward their student’s tuition.
Available Products:
- Local Raw Honey - 8 ounce bears 50% goes towards your tuition
- 30% of online orders. This includes subscription boxes
- 30% of a seasonal gift basket/bag
How It Works:
1. Share the link with potential buyers.
2. Customers order directly online. No need to collect orders or money.
3. The portion of the sales mentioned will be credited toward your student’s tuition.
4. ***When placing orders, customer needs to enter “Giving Gardens of Indiana & student name” in the notes section, or credits will not apply.
Student Tuition Fundraiser
ESA Voucher/Funding for students with special needs and support programing. If your child is being homeschooled and needs an ESA SP (IEP) you must go to your local school district to get this recommendation for your child to get qualified for this financial support. Your child must be 5+ years old to qualify. Follow the QR Code in the image to get funding. This funding can be used for tuition for our programs.
ESA Scholarship Account
How could the Parent/Caregiver be involved?
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to be active participants in our community in the following ways:
Class support: Volunteer in class up if able
Organization support: Volunteer outside of class throughout the school year, which may include helping with fundraisers, events, organizing supplies, serving on committees, garden help, or maintaining play areas
Community connection: Attend quarterly PTO meetings
Community building: Join seasonal community gatherings
Parent/Caregiver Involvement
At Wild Willow Nature Preschool, we support the whole family—not just the child. Our program is built on community, because strong, connected communities help children and families thrive.
We invite parents and caregivers to be active partners in their child’s learning while building meaningful relationships with one another. This supportive environment creates space to ask questions, share experiences, learn together, and form lasting connections as we navigate these early years of growth—together.
Why is self-directed learning so important?
“Rote memorization can be an effective way to pass the next test, but without narrative and context, it will be very difficult, inefficient, and tedious to move it into long-term memory. An education separated from life itself is no education at all. The creation of meaning is what human learning really is all about. That’s what makes learning joyful.”
-Teacher Tom
