Evergreen Kids Corner Preschool
It’s a beautiful day to explore the Bitterroot Valley.
Discover Learning in Nature's Classroom
At Evergreen Kids Corner Preschool, BELN’s longest standing program of 40 years, we offer a nurturing and innovative environment where young children from ages 3 to 6 can explore, learn, and grow. Our Place-Based curriculum is designed to foster a love of learning, respect for nature, and the foundational skills necessary for lifelong success.
This approach not only fosters academic excellence but also nurtures a sense of belonging and stewardship, shaping learners into responsible guardians of the environment, poised to ensure a sustainable future for the valley and the world.
Educational Philosophy
At Evergreen Kids Corner Preschool, our education philosophy is grounded in the belief that children learn best in uninterrupted blocks of play. We create a rich and stimulating environment where children are free to explore, experiment, and engage in hands-on learning experiences. We believe that play is the natural way for children to make sense of the world around them. Through play, children develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and social-emotional competencies.
We are committed to providing a Place-Based, child-centered approach to learning that nurtures the whole child. We invite you to join us on this journey of exploration and discovery as we lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
Program Highlights
- Holistic Development: Nurturing mentors guide children through daily nature immersion for overall growth. Emphasizes academic, social, emotional, and physical development through nature.
- Place-Based Learning: Education tied to the local environment for relevance and engagement.
- School Readiness: Equipping children with essential life and academic skills.
- Personalized Approach: Individual assessments and support based on Montana Early Standards.
- Lifelong Connections: Fosters enduring bonds and a lasting love for learning.
- Mixed-Age Benefits: Enhances social and emotional skills through diverse peer interactions.
- Hands-On Activities: Boosts cognitive and motor skills through active engagement
Daily Schedule
Our typical day at Evergreen Kids Corner is structured to provide a balanced mix of learning through play:
- Morning circle time
- Theme-based activities and lessons
- Outdoor play and exploration
- Storytime and rest periods
- Arts and crafts
- Guided play in our learning centers
- Social-emotional activities
Evergreen Kids Corner Preschool Tuition
Our preschool prices reflect our commitment to providing exceptional educational value for our families.
- Low Teacher Ratio: Personalized attention with a focus on individual child growth through a low 5:1 child-to-teacher ratio.
- Hands-On Food Program: Emphasizes nutritional meals and culinary skills, connecting children to local food traditions.
- Place-Based Education: Utilizes local surroundings for relevant, meaningful learning, deepening community connections.
- Qualified Teachers: Experienced professionals with a commitment to early childhood education, receiving competitive compensation to enhance investment in our community and families.
We are dedicated to providing an enriched educational experience that prepares your child for success in school and life.
Tuition Information
- 4 days: $512/month
- 2 days: $288/month
- 4 days: $812/month
- 2 days: $425/month
Evergreen Kids Corner
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
We welcome children ages 3 to 5 years old. Although we have many children stick around till they’re 6 becuase they love it so much!
All our teachers either have their BA teaching degree or are perusing it and have undergone extensive training in child development and educational best practices.
Absolutely! We encourage parents to arrange a private tour by following the link from the email you receive after you’ve applied.
The enrollment process begins with an application, followed by a site visit to ensure our program is the right fit for your child. Then your child will be put on the waitlist or enrolled depending on availability and age.
The safety of our children is our top priority. We adhere to strict safety protocols, including secure facility access, regular safety drills, detailed field trip guidelines, and comprehensive background checks on all staff. All our policies are outlined in our handbook which can be accessed by clicking the “Join our waitlist” buttons.
We offer a wide variety of options to help meet he individual needs of each family. We have Full-time and Part-time “Bitterroot” day which runs from 8:30-3:30 and Full-time and Part-time “Sapphire” day that runs from 8:30-12:30. We also have an early drop off option starting at 8:00.
EKC is located in a small A-frame house that was bought in 1989 and converted into the schoolhouse that it is today. We typically enroll 12 full-day children and 3 half-day children. There is a max of 15 children at the school at a given time.
We’ve got you covered! We recently received a grant from the Rapp Family Foundation to provide us with heavy duty rain gear, snow gear, new boots, alpaca wool socks, and a glove and boot warmer that allows us to go out multiple times a day with warm fingers and toes!
Having Place-based Education as our core value means that community engagement is very important to us and the curriculum. The children regularly go on community outings to the following but not limited to: Bitterroot Public Library, Explore the Arts, Kiwanis Park, Driscol Park, Middle School Reading Buddy Program, Sapphire Lutheran Homes, Post Office, Sheriff Department, and many more!
