A day at Keystone
Each morning begins in Salmon Circle.
Children gather to greet one another and set the tone for the day. From there, the day heads outside to our outdoor classroom and the trails around campus.
Our day is guided by the interests of the group and grounded in monthly themes like community, seasonal cycles, and animal habitats. Our passionate, trained educators support each child’s natural curiosity, creating a blend of unstructured play, exploration, and learning.
Expect hands-on science, art, stories, and song, plus field trips to spots like Cornwall Park and Squalicum Beach.
Program details
Dates, schedule, and tuition.
Ages
Children ages 3 to 5
Dates
September 9, 2026 to June 4, 2027. We follow the Bellingham Public Schools calendar, including winter and spring breaks.
Schedule
Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm
Tuition
$1,050/month. Financial assistance is available through Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) for families who qualify.
Location: Keystone Nature Preschool is based at the NSEA campus, 3057 E Bakerview Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226. Our six-acre campus includes a forest classroom, tree-lined adventure paths, and open fields for large-movement learning.
Dress for the weather. Children learn outside rain or shine, so send rain gear, warm layers, and boots on wet days, plus a change of clothes in their bag.
Our teachers
Meet the Teachers.
Teacher Lottie and Teacher Makenna are our Preschool Lead Teachers. Along with Preschool Coordinator Noah, they co-teach and guide a small group of children through daily preschool activities, designing developmentally appropriate learning goals with an inquiry-driven, nature-based approach.
Using the outdoors as their classroom, our teachers build curiosity and kindness, and help kids learn through hands-on play.
Quality you can count on
Safe, supportive, and staffed with care.
Licensed
Keystone is a licensed, nature-based outdoor program that runs rain or shine, recognized by the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).
Early Achievers
We are a proud participant in Early Achievers, a statewide system recognizing high-quality early learning.
Trained team
Our team is thoroughly trained in outdoor learning, First Aid, CPR, and early childhood education.
Low ratio
With a low child-to-staff ratio, your child receives the attention they need to learn, grow, and feel safe.
We uphold high standards through regular inspections, continuous staff development, and a deep commitment to outdoor early learning.
Ready to enroll?
Let’s grow together!
We can’t wait to welcome your family to Keystone Nature Preschool, where kids spend their days learning outside. Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is open now.
Questions, or want to schedule a tour? Email Nathan at nzabel@n-sea.org or call 360-715-0283 x120.
Camp Keystone
Looking for summer fun?
When the school year wraps up, Camp Keystone runs weekly sessions on the same campus for ages 3 to 6. Keystone preschoolers and their siblings can keep exploring the trails, fields, and forest classroom all summer long. Registration opens every year on February 1.
