https://littlehikerspreschool.org/about daily 0.75 2020-07-26 https://littlehikerspreschool.org/home daily 1.0 2025-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1595104425780-FF0HS35LXH8EGAWX7VDE/IMG_2624.JPG Home - Play-based Learning It all begins with our outdoor classrooms, where children learn through play and nature enhances their creativity in play[1]. Whether we are climbing a magical bridge, turning a handful of moss into cure-all medicine, or making a cake, the outdoors provide numerous play opportunities that inspire teamwork, exploration, imagination, and a lifelong love for learning[2,3]. Because these nature-inspired play activities require complex verbal skills to convey purpose and meaning, a child’s creativity flourishes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1595101098301-9TZMG9CC2SGWQ05SFXLW/image-asset.jpeg Home - Our Commitment to Safe Socializing Our nature-based forest program grew out of a need to allow children to resume socializing during a developmentally crucial time. There is no question that children need opportunities for socialization and play, especially during times of stress. When the safety of returning to normal during a global pandemic became increasingly unpredictable, Little Hikers was founded as a sanctuary for children to grow and develop amongst their peers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1602031645430-2FMAKRGYEK72VGDHGXY0/Snip20201006_3.png Home - Child-Led Nature Explorations My inspiration for launching Little Hikers Nature School stems from wanting to guide rather than compel, to let curiosity breathe rather than apply a one size fits all curriculum. The outdoors is the perfect place for this, as the natural setting allows children to use their senses, freely follow their interests, build their attention span, and even helps reduce ADHD symptoms[4]! In fact, there is ample research supporting that by participating in nature based education, students make greater gains in reading, writing, math, and critical thinking[5,6]. With this in mind, I have set out to create an ideal setting for children ages 2.5-6 to develop their social, emotional, motor, and cognitive skills. Our program is designed and centered around Eno River State Park and our surrounding local shared spaces. https://littlehikerspreschool.org/contact daily 0.75 2025-05-18 https://littlehikerspreschool.org/aboutme daily 0.75 2022-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1594860318216-ILSUBS9EUIFFUJWP9ADO/Snip20200715_3.png Founder & Lead Teacher - Here I am! High Quality Early Childhood Education is my mission. Outside is my happy place. Cold is always preferred. Pronouns: She/Her https://littlehikerspreschool.org/teaching-philosophy daily 0.75 2021-03-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1610632543819-K0JF32U2RTQUB65XLGO5/letters.jpg Teaching Philosophy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1610767952829-M0MS630DCOBH2GA4NYIR/cuts.jpg Teaching Philosophy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1610633234304-PZ7HGB9FYHK0LPCLMBU6/maps.jpg Teaching Philosophy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1610767933746-08LRHBXZMG2WUEHVRPK2/drawing.jpg Teaching Philosophy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1610767944575-9E56WB5OMOVRA1CUH250/yoga.jpg Teaching Philosophy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1611265996722-LD5GQ37TELQ5JL2BP2QT/balance.jpg Teaching Philosophy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1610767979790-SIMOTOEJB1X8MXIDZI6R/measure.jpg Teaching Philosophy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1610768021423-NABDXFL5DAB6QOHIJFY6/shelter.jpg Teaching Philosophy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1610767963826-5TC5FH14EQ2V5HXGHPC2/explore.jpg Teaching Philosophy https://littlehikerspreschool.org/faqs-4 daily 0.75 2025-05-18 https://littlehikerspreschool.org/dailyschedule daily 0.75 2021-11-10 https://littlehikerspreschool.org/outdoor-preschools daily 0.75 2020-07-27 https://littlehikerspreschool.org/coteachers daily 0.75 2024-09-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/13f166d9-115c-483f-9fa0-56135caeb165/ashylyn.jpg Co-Teachers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/019f965b-a98c-41e5-b92a-33cd4ead0e1a/IMG-6068.jpg Co-Teachers https://littlehikerspreschool.org/co-teacher daily 0.75 2021-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1617896079082-H0BQ2NSSP5W3E8DJQYSQ/IMG_0024.jpeg Co-Teacher - Hello Everyone! My name is Marissa (Gray) Michelin and nature-based education is my passion! Over the past decade I have gained invaluable experience working in the Early Childhood Education field. My experiences have ranged from being a lead classroom teacher at an inquiry based and social constructivist school, to facilitating an ECE outdoor enrichment program and everything in between. During my time working in Early Childhood Education I have spent time with 2-5 year olds taking care of gardens, hiking through the forest, designing and building large scale forts, investigating yellow jackets, starting a worm compost from scratch, and studying cartography and map making! I believe strongly in the practice of leaving children’s questions “unanswered.” As an educator I feel that it is my job to guide children in developing their own hypotheses and answering their own questions through critical thinking, research, problem solving and experimentation! In 2015 I received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Southern Indiana. As a dedicated lifelong learner I returned to school at the University of San Francisco and graduated with a Master's Degree in International and Multicultural Education. My thesis focused on Empathy Building in Early Childhood classrooms. While teaching in San Francisco, I developed a stronger understanding of the significance and benefits that can stem from providing young children with a quality education! I recently moved to the Durham area from San Francisco with my husband Walter and our sweet rescue pup Mila! In my spare time I love to read, test out new recipes in the kitchen, tend to my plants and garden, explore this new and beautiful area, and hike with my family! Pronouns: She/Her https://littlehikerspreschool.org/employment-opportunities daily 0.75 2021-08-27 https://littlehikerspreschool.org/equity-goals-and-actions daily 0.75 2025-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0cf38de4942c1c8af62df3/1630028523131-EPZ84667OOUIG0WTWG98/unsplash-image-Jv_oD5CuVfw.jpg Equity Goals and Actions - At Little Hikers we are committed to working towards creating equitable opportunities for all families and children. We recognize that not all families have access to high-quality early childhood education often due to the perpetual barriers that people who have been marginalized are forced to endure. This must change and thus, we are committed to being the change we want to see. We are dedicated to having a program that reflects what an ideal community should be: full of people from all walks of life, who acknowledge, respect, and celebrate each other. With this in mind our program grants priority enrollment to families from marginalized backgrounds as well as opportunities for scholarships to BIPOC and LBGTQ+ families. https://littlehikerspreschool.org/enrollmentandtuition daily 0.75 2025-11-29 https://littlehikerspreschool.org/summercamp2025 daily 0.75 2025-03-11