New Jersey Audubon's Muddy Hands Academy - utilizing a Nature Preschool model. A great choice for your 3–6-year old's! *Free to apply! * Looking for a way to add nature learning to your little one's week? Join New Jersey Audubon Staff as we use local phenomena to explore the world around us. Children will spend their time outdoors on the Lorrimer Sanctuary property bouncing between hands-on, inquiry-based activities and free-play to help them develop their own understanding of the natural world. We will use Nature as a guide during this twice weekly program over a period of eight weeks. Lessons will include activities focused on natural history topics, a story and craft, age-appropriate risk taking, all with attention to mindfulness and fun. *NO COST TO APPLY! * Children must be a minimum of 3 to enroll and cannot be older than 6 years old to participate. All children in Muddy Hands Academy must be potty-trained and bathroom independent. The Muddy Hands Academy utilizes a Nature Preschool model with children spending as much time as possible outdoors. Children should be prepared for the weather including wet and muddy conditions. Class sizes are limited to 5 children per session. New Jersey Audubon’s Lorrimer Sanctuary is not a licensed childcare center. PLEASE NOTE: this application does not guarantee your child(ren)s acceptance into the program. COST: For entire 8-week program, 2 days a week (Wednesday and Friday) from 9 am to 12 noon. $960 for New Jersey Audubon Members $1000 for New Jersey Audubon Non-Members For either Wednesday or Friday from 9am- 12 noon (one day per week): $490 for New Jersey Audubon Members $510 for New Jersey Audubon Non-Members *NO COST TO APPLY! * YOUR EDUCATORS: Alexa Fantacone has been an Environmental Educator in Bergen County for a decade. Mary Birrer has taught Environmental Education curriculum in nature centers throughout New Jersey, and most recently ran Lorrimer Sanctuary’s Summer Camp experience. LOCATION: Lorrimer Sanctuary@ 790 Ewing Ave, Franklin Lakes NJ 07417 DAYS: Wednesdays and Fridays, from September 21st, 2022 -November 11th, 2022 TIME: 9:00am-12:00pm. NEW JERSEY AUDUBON'S PROGRAM GUIDELINES: New Jersey counties are varied in their COVID-19 community transmission rates.  New Jersey Audubon highly recommends that anyone who is not fully vaccinated or who wants additional protection should consider wearing a mask and social distancing, especially indoors.  Please do not come to a program if you are sick, have a sick family member or have reason to believe you may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus. CANCELLATION: NJ Audubon’s programs require a minimum number of registrants to run. If we cancel, due to lack of participation, severe weather, or unforeseen circumstances, all participants will be notified as soon as possible and are eligible for a full refund. Participants may cancel without penalty if greater than 48 hours in advance. Sorry, no refund for cancellations less than 48 hours in advance unless due to health emergencies; however, registrations can be transferred to another program in the future. REGISTER HERE