Our Environment

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At Hugging Tree, we learn, play, rest, and explore outdoors all day!  Hugging Tree’s home base is Miss Melissa's backyard. Miss Melissa's home sits on nearly an acre of land with oak trees, evergreen trees, a weeping willow tree, a pollinator garden, a vegetable garden, and a large open grassy area. Our outdoor space also includes an outdoor toilet and sink.  We have access to additional land beyond Miss Melissa’s yard which we call The Beyond.  

In the event we need to meet indoors, we utilize the kitchen and preschool room in Miss Melissa's home.

While “child-centered” often means putting the child in charge, we take a different approach—we are child-nestled. That means children are lovingly held within a secure, supportive structure.

In a child-centered model, freedom may come first. In a child-nestled model, we believe freedom flourishes best within strong, gentle boundaries. Just like a nest, our environment doesn’t just hold, it shapes.

Our boundaries offer safety, guidance, and care. Within this steady space, children are free to explore, rest, express themselves, and grow, not because they’re at the center of everything, but because they are deeply supported within something reliable and kind.