SEATTLE EARTH-KEEPERS PRESCHOOL

On December 2, 2019, Rainier Beach Presbyterian Church opened a new dynamic, inclusive, preschool centered on eliciting wonder, delight, and respect for the natural environment using urban farming, outdoor play, and cooking (using food grown on site). Earth and animal biology will be taught with stories, songs, play, and hands-on activities. A sunken boat-turned sandbox, a spring and summer garden, playhouses, tire climbing areas, jumping stumps, and other new playground features have been installed or are in process. A heavy art emphasis will encourage expressions of joy and delight.

When COVID hit, our preschool became an all-outdoor school (except on the rarest, coldest, stormiest occasion when it would be unsafe for us to be outside). We built a large platform deck with two huge tents in which our classroom can stay dry while being fully outside.

Our director, Natasha Pauw, who is a Seattle University graduate, a long-time preschool teacher and Boys and Girls Club Assistant Director, is passionate about the environment, marine biology, and art.

Although Seattle Earthkeepers is owned by the Rainier Beach Presbyterian Church, the preschool is non-religious and will not explicitly teach our faith. We will, however, operate with and honor our Christian values of inclusion, diversity, welcome to all-including LBGTQI and all other types of families, compassion, mercy, empathy, social justice, environmental stewardship, kindness, and the dignity of each person.

 Since our opening in 2019 our school has grown and we now employ three teachers. We have a waitlist, but are always sensitive to knowing when the time to grow again (and add a fourth teacher) comes. This depends on the length of the waitlist and the availability of new teachers.

We look forward to continuing to develop one of the best Preschools in the city, as an outreach and act of love to our Rainier Beach neighborhood. For updates and additional information, as well as hours, philosophy, and rates, visit the Seattle Earthkeepers Preschool website.