Explore, Discover, & Grow
A community outdoor preschool in Takoma Park, Maryland
At Takoma Park Cooperative Nursery School, children learn by exploring the world around them. Our nature-based preschool brings families together through playful days in our outdoor classroom, a newly renovated indoor space, and a welcoming parent cooperative community. Serving families in Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Hyattsville, and the Washington, DC area, we grow and learn together, one discovery at a time
Outside In!
A little wild. A little cozy. A lot to discover.
Take a peek at how our outdoor program and indoor learning space work together.
Sign up for a virtual information session and a classroom tour.
We accept tuition assistance through the Maryland State Department of Education’s Child Care Scholarship and Montgomery County’s Working Parent Assistance Program.
Equity in nature
At Takoma Park Cooperative Nursery School, a central piece of our focus on is shaping equal access to nature and the outdoors through play- and place-based learning experiences for all.
Our community outdoor school focuses on nature-based learning for all children and their families. We hope to become an integral part of the Long Branch neighborhood by being a good neighbor while celebrating the outdoors, connecting children to sky, grass, and tree, all while fostering a shared space for growth and community enrichment.
Nature-Focused Early Childhood Education and Community: Families, Children, Neighbors Together
Stories of Our Days
Learning in nature, community, and Connection.
Meet our team
Get to know the caring professionals behind the scenes at Takoma Park Cooperative Nursery School – a team dedicated to shaping positive and joyful learning experiences.
Support Our outdoor school
Since 1942, The Cooperative School has grown into a community outdoor school where empathy, imagination, and connection take root. As the school evolves—deepening its outdoor learning identity and neighborhood partnerships—collective support ensures that this vision remains accessible to more families. Discover how these initiatives carry the mission forward.
We explore why every moment matters in our cooperative school program. We reflect on how a five-session weekly program gives children the continuity to return to familiar spaces, deepen their play and build relationships. Grounded in slow pedagogy, it describes how children develop evolving play stories, pursue ideas through art, building and exploration, and benefit from adults who listen and support without taking over.