Denver kids may be swapping classroom carpets for creek beds this fall, as the Denver Audubon Society prepares to open a mostly outdoor preschool at the Kingery Nature Center within Chatfield State Park.
The new nature-based program is designed for children ages 3 through 6 and will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with options for two- or three-day schedules and monthly tuition billing. The nonprofit expects to complete Colorado’s state licensing process before the start of the school year.
According to Denverite, the preschool will be based at the Kingery Nature Center, where staff plan to cover early-learning basics through outdoor play and bird-focused lessons. Preschool director Caroline Pettit told Denverite that “kids are going to learn everything that they would learn in a traditional school,” while also picking up plenty of ecology-related vocabulary along the way.
On its enrollment page, Denver Audubon lists tuition at $485 per month for two-day enrollment and $728 per month for three-day enrollment, following a nine-month academic calendar with a 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. day. The organization describes small classes, typically 12 children per class with a guaranteed 6-to-1 ratio, and notes that children must be at least three years old and toilet-trained to attend. Applications are open now, and Denver Audubon asks families to check Colorado Shines for the program’s licensing status once inspections are complete.
How Colorado’s New License Changes The Game
Colorado passed SB24-078 in 2024 to create a specific outdoor nature-based preschool license and fund the state’s rulemaking work. The new license makes qualifying programs eligible to participate in Colorado’s Universal Preschool program, which offers up to 15 free hours a week for all families and additional hours for qualifying low-income households, according to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.
Rules Could Raise Costs For Small Programs
Advocates caution that proposed rules related to emergency shelter requirements, staff qualifications, and weather-related operating limits could increase costs or prevent some existing outdoor programs from qualifying, according to reporting by CPR and analysis from the Colorado Collective for Nature-Based Early Education. Colorado currently has roughly 40 to 45 outdoor preschools, many of which have been operating under exemptions while the state finalizes full rules.
Legal And Budget Notes
Denverite reports that state lawmakers budgeted funds to help about 10 preschools obtain the new outdoor nature-based license across Colorado, a relatively small share compared with the number of programs already up and running. How many sites ultimately qualify will depend on the Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s permanent rules, which will clarify whether programs can meet requirements without major capital projects. The rulemaking process remains active, with agencies continuing to take public comment.
Enrollment And What Families Should Know
Families interested in Denver Audubon’s preschool can apply through the organization’s enrollment portal. Children should be ready to spend most of the day outside, in all kinds of weather, with staff trained in first aid and medication administration.
If the program secures its state license, families may be able to tap Universal Preschool slots or county subsidy programs to lower out-of-pocket costs, although parents will need to confirm eligibility and covered hours with providers.
For now, Denver Audubon’s new preschool adds a formal, conservation-minded option to the metro area’s early-education landscape while the state finishes writing the rulebook for outdoor programs. Parents and operators will be watching the Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s rulemaking process and public meetings closely, since the final rules and timelines, posted through the department’s rule tracker and public notices, will help determine how many of these outdoor preschools can operate long term.
