Our Values
At JuneBugs, we believe that connecting children with nature will change the future. Our program provides holistic learning that integrates the wonders of the natural world into every aspect of a child's development. We are dedicated to nurturing young learners and helping them thrive in an outdoor environment. JuneBugs teachers understands that each child is a unique individual and meets them where they are at.
JuneBugs has been designed pulling pedagogy from Scandinavian Forest Schools, Waldorf, and Colorado State Standards for ECE. This program aims to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world. The curriculum is emergent, holistic, focusing on child-led outdoor play and exploration, community building, mindfulness, and problem-solving. Children will explore the ecology of the park through mindful observations, art, problem-solving activities, and most importantly PLAY!
Land Acknowledgement and Reconciliation:
We recognise that JuneBugs operates on the land of the Cheyenne, Ute, and Arapaho tribes. We acknowledge the trauma to Indigenous people that has been inflicted, and continues to be inflicted through the perpetuation of racist systems and stories. We also acknowledge that Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives are foundational to outdoor learning, and we do our best to deepen understandings and take positive action personally and professionally. We are currently enrolled in decolonization training and JuneBugs regularly donates to Spirit of the Sun.
Forest School Key Elements
Play-Based
JuneBugs provides time for children to engage in play that is freely chosen, personally directed, and intrinsically motivated
Inquiry-Based
JuneBugs allows children to explore the environment and bases activities off what the children are interested in.
Risk Taking
Junebugs provides a safe environment for children to explore and take calculated risks
Nature-Based
JuneBugs is outdoors in all weather conditions. Children are taught to be mindful of their surroundings to connect with nature
Our Teachers
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Teacher - Co-Owner
Ms. Nikki (she/her)
Ms.Nikki was born in Steamboat CO and grew-up in Westminster CO. She has been working with young children for 15+ years in many different capacities. She taught preschool for 3 years at a private school and kindergarten in DPS for 2. She got her bachelor's in Child Development with a minor in ECE and an endorsement to work with culturally and linguistically diverse learners from Metropolitan State University in Denver.
Ms. Nikki first was introduced to forest schools in college and found moral and petalogical alignment with the idea. JuneBugs started as a summer camp in 2021 when she saw a need in her community for all outdoor child-care because of the pandemic. Since then, JuneBugs has expanded to offering year long camps and a preschool program!
Right now Nikki is completing her portfolio for her Level 4 Forest School Certification from the Centre for Ethnoecology in the UK. She loves spending time outdoors, learning foraging and survival skills. Nikki also continues to work as a substitute teacher for DPS and teaches after school hula-hoop classes.
Teacher - Co-Owner
Ms. Maria (she/her)
Born and raised in the great state of Ohio, Ms. Maria came to Colorful Colorado in 2017. For 15 years she has had the joy of caring for children and working in childcare, starting as a nanny. Since, she’s expanded her childcare portfolio into the world of homeschooling and post-partum care. With all these wonderfully diverse adventures under her belt, she started as a teacher with June bugs in 2021. Now with each day Ms. Maria is overjoyed to be exploring nature with kids of all ages, bringing a love for the planet to each new student that joins her at the school. She especially loves working with kids during these formative years. With her love for kids combined with her passion for nature she has found her place here at JuneBugs. When she isn't teaching Ms. Maria spends time as a florist, growing her knowledge of and connection to the natural world around her.
FAQ
Is JuneBugs a licensed program?
No, JuneBugs operates under the Family and Friends exemption. A outdoor-nature-based license is in the works, but not available yet to programs
Click here to learn more about the ONB Bill
Click here to donate and help advocate for Nature-Based programing
Where can my child use the bathroom?
We utilize public restrooms and have a small potty with privacy tent that we carry with us.
Do you take 3 year olds who aren't potty trained?
No. Children must be 3 years old and potty trained.
What do you do in bad weather?
We believe that there is no bad weather, only bad clothing!
We do utilize certain indoor spaces to take breaks from extreme cold or take shelter from dangerous storms.
If weather is unsafe, we will provide an indoor alternative. In some cases we will cancel for the day.
There are no refunds for instances of weather.