Equity in Nature at Takoma Park Cooperative Nursery School
At Takoma Park Cooperative Nursery School, equity in nature is a core part of who we are and how we learn together. We believe every child, regardless of background, identity, or neighborhood, deserves meaningful access to the natural world and to outdoor learning experiences that nurture wonder, belonging, and curiosity.
What We Mean by Equity in Nature
Equity in nature is more than a philosophy — it is a practice that shapes everything we do. Rather than defining nature as only pristine or untouched landscapes, we understand that nature exists everywhere: in the small pockets between homes, alongside sidewalks and creeks, in empty lots, and in the branches overhead. Recognizing nature in all its forms invites children to see themselves as part of the natural world, not outside it.
When we frame nature as far‑away or elite, we limit children’s sense of belonging. We instead affirm that discovery and engagement can happen right in the places where we live, play, and learn.
Equitable, Inclusive Outdoor Learning
In our community outdoor school, equity in nature supports play‑ and place‑based experiences that are accessible and meaningful for every child. We:
celebrate the ecosystem in urban and neighborhood spaces
help children build confidence in outdoor exploration
encourage curiosity about all living systems around them
support families in feeling confident and welcome in nature‑rich experiences
This approach supports child‑centered learning rooted in joy, reflection, and relational growth.
A Community‑Rooted Commitment
Equity in nature aligns with our larger approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We build community not only within our school but also in our neighborhood, fostering connection between children, families, neighbors, and the broader landscape of Takoma Park and Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Washington DC.
This work is ongoing and rooted in humility, listening, and collective learning. It invites all of us — children and adults alike — to notice, care for, and co‑create vibrant relationships with each other and with the places we inhabit.
Resources & Reflection
We share books, land acknowledgements, and community resources that support understanding equity, ecology, and identity through multiple lenses. These materials uplift diverse voices and help families explore what equitable access to nature really looks like in everyday life.
Equity in Nature Books for Children
Please visit Loyalty Books to purchase these wonderful texts.
Equity in Nature Books for Adults
Equity in Nature Land Acknowledgement
Our school is perched on a small plot of urbanized land above Sligo Creek and Long Branch, both tributaries of the Anacostia River (from Nacotchtank Anaquash) which then feeds into the Potomac (also from the Nacotchtank, Anacostian). Before Takoma Park was a “bedroom community” of Washington DC colonizers, it was and still is, part of the wide-ranging home of the Piscataway Indian Nation.
The labels the creeks currently hold are those given by colonizers. Sligo Creek, the creek we most often walk along and care for, was renamed by workers building the C&O Canal, lifting a name from their own histories (County Sligo in Ireland). The exploitation wrought first by the marked removal of creek and river names along with the pillaging of natural resources is evident each day we walk along the creek. We work to acknowledge our own impact and wish to move towards acknowledgement of the continued contributions of the Piscataway Indian Nation.
“The Potomac River, or the Anacostian River, named after the Nacotchtank tribe; these are all names that you’d say every day,” she explained. “All of these places you walk on have those memories and continuation of our people.”
Dr. Gabrielle Tayac, historian and member of the Piscataway Indian Nation
Dr. Gabrielle Tayac, is a historian and member of the Piscataway Indian Nation, one of the tribes officially recognized by the state of Maryland that resides in Washington D.C., Baltimore and throughout parts of Charles and Prince George’s Counties.
In 2019, the City of Takoma Park’s Mayor Kate Stewart proclaimed Oct. 14th Indigenous People’s Day. This day marks the celebration of “the culture and sacrifice of the first people on this land,” as well as a counter to the designation of Columbus Day as a federal holiday. <source>
Learn More About Our Approach
Our commitment to equity in nature is part of a broader philosophy of inclusive, nature‑based early childhood education that extends through: