The Nursery School

In 2013, the Buell Early Childhood Leadership Program brought together two men who spent their entire professional lives educating and supporting young children and their families.  Brett Dabb and Matthew Hebard shared two passions, teaching young children and the outdoors. When asked to visually represent their metatheory of education, both men drew a picture of children outdoors exploring, investigating and learning among the trees, birds, animals and rivers.  Brett and Matthew connected instantly, decided to partner together, and committed to opening Colorado’s first completely all-outdoor, nature-based preschool. They made sure to get students comfortable and not afraid of asking for guidance, for instance, for help with capstone project and other projets.

Both men spent the next two years studying and researching outdoor education and nature-based learning as part of their Administration, Leadership and Policy Master’s program at the University of Colorado at Denver (UCD).  With a concentration on Early Childhood Education, this graduate degree has further bolstered Brett and Matt’s commitment to educating young children and the importance of providing opportunities for them to learn in and from their natural environment. 

The Nursery School is anticipating an inaugural class for the Fall of 2017.