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.
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:
2026/27 Registration: $126 (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.
Tuition for 2026/27- $126 Weekly (36 weeks) or Full Tuition: $4,536 per school year
**See Financial Aid Options and Sibling Discounts below.
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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.
Making Nature-Based Learning Accessible
At Giving Gardens of Indiana, we believe every child deserves access to meaningful, nature-based learning experiences.
Thanks to new support from the DEKKO Foundation, we’re expanding financial assistance options for families. If cost has ever been a barrier, we encourage you to explore the opportunities below. 💛
💛 Income-Based Financial Aid
We offer confidential financial aid based on Free & Reduced Lunch guidelines:
25% off tuition – Reduced Lunch Eligible
50% off tuition – Free Lunch Eligible
Up to 75% off tuition – Available in select high-need situations
We’re happy to talk through your situation and help find the best fit.
👨👩👧 Sibling Discounts
We’ve increased support for families with multiple children:
2nd child: 10% off
3rd+ child: 15% off
Discounts are automatically applied to make enrollment more manageable for families.
🌿 Family Contribution Program
Families can now earn tuition credit by contributing time in a structured, consistent way.
Ways to participate:
Assisting during program time (activities, snack, setup/cleanup)
Helping with garden tasks
Supporting events like First Fridays, Plant Giveaway, or Farm to Fork
Participating in weekend work days or prep projects
How it works:
Participation is scheduled (not drop-in)
Credits are earned after completing a set commitment
Roles support staff, not replace them
This is a great option for families who can contribute time instead of additional tuition.
⚖️ A Flexible Approach
We know every family’s situation is unique. Our goal is to:
Support families with the greatest need
Help multi-child families stay enrolled
Offer flexible, creative ways to make programs accessible
We are always open to conversation and will do our best to find a solution that works for you.
💬 Let’s Talk
Interested in financial aid, sibling discounts, or the Family Contribution Program?
📧 Email: rachel@givinggardensofindiana.com
We’re happy to walk through your options with you.
At Giving Gardens, we are committed to creating, educating, and connecting our community through nature—and making sure every family has the opportunity to be part of it.
Financial Aid Information:
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
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!
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 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
