Settled along the banks of Woods Creek near the W&L campus is a bustling center for early childhood learning, Woods Creek Montessori (WCM). The Montessori method “promotes the development of the whole child in which respect for self, community and the environment are of primary importance” - so no wonder Boxerwood and WCM are natural allies. In fact, our two organizations have been partners since the dawn of Boxerwood’s early education programs. First came visits by WCM children during our seasonal programs, then came two-day mini-camps each August, also at Boxerwood.
This year, the pandemic lifted our interconnections to a whole new level. New health rules prevented WCM from mixing elementary aged children with younger students in afterschool day care. Where could those fourteen older kids go? Rather than canceling this much-needed program, WCM inquired whether it might operate the program at Boxerwood instead. The rest is history. In this win-win arrangement, the WCM children now gather at Boxerwood every afternoon through the school year, Monday through Friday, for outdoor play and enrichment.
In this new arrangement, both a lead WCM instructor and a Boxerwood educator provide guidance for the children during the program. Families report the children come home muddy, winded, and happy: just what they want. Basically, it’s win-win all around: fourteen working families have secure childcare, their kids enjoy outdoor play, WCM retains its successful program, and Boxerwood carries out its environmental education mission while receiving monthly revenue. Thank you, Woods Creek Montessori, for your gift of imagining new ways to dance together.
