Backyard Basecamp, Inc.
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    • Home
    • About Us
      • Strategic Intentions
      • Who We Are
    • Our Land and Work
      • BLISS Meadows
      • Urban Farming
      • Education Center
      • Stormwater Management
      • Farmhouse Renovation
      • Farmland Commons
    • Program Registration
      • Programs Overview
      • Outdoor Preschool
      • Youth Camps
      • Habitat Discovery
    • Annual Events
    • Volunteer
    • Contact Us
    • Donate
Backyard Basecamp, Inc.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Strategic Intentions
    • Who We Are
  • Our Land and Work
    • BLISS Meadows
    • Urban Farming
    • Education Center
    • Stormwater Management
    • Farmhouse Renovation
    • Farmland Commons
  • Program Registration
    • Programs Overview
    • Outdoor Preschool
    • Youth Camps
    • Habitat Discovery
  • Annual Events
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • Donate

OUTDOOR PRESCHOOL AT BLISS MEADOWS

A fully outdoor, play-based preschool for ages 3–5

The Dragonflies: Outdoor Preschool at BLISS Meadows

Mid-year spots now open. Join us this winter. Tuition and deposit are prorated for the months remaining in the 2026–27 school year. 

Complete Interest Form

At A Glance

Meals/Snacks

Meals/Snacks

  • Ages 3-5
  • 1:6 teacher-to-child ratio
  • Mon-Fri 8:00a-3:30pm
  • Sept - May
  • Sliding scale tuition
  • Rain and snow gear provided for every child 


We are licensed by MSDE.

Meals/Snacks

Meals/Snacks

Meals/Snacks

 Children must bring a refillable water bottle, nut-free snacks, and lunch from home to keep them energized for a full day of exploration. 


We take care of everything else.

Backyard Basecamp also served on the MSDE working group that

As featured in the Baltimore Banner

"She is opening up access and opening up people's eyes to possibilities in urban settings and for children who come from families of color."

-Monica Wiedel-Lubinski, Outdoor education pioneer, quoted in The Baltimore Banner, August 2026

Read the Story

 We believe every family should be able to experience outdoor learning. 

Our full-time program uses a sliding scale, so you choose the tuition level that fits your family. 

 

Tuition and Schedules

Full Time M-F*

Part Time M,W,F

Part Time M,W,F

Self Select Sliding Scale 

$800 | $1200 | $1600/month


*Priority registration 

Part Time M,W,F

Part Time M,W,F

Part Time M,W,F

$1,024/ month

Part Time T,Th

Part Time M,W,F

Part Time T,Th

$704/month

Flex Day

Part Time M,W,F

Part Time T,Th

One day per week
$90/day

All schedules run 8:00 am–3:30 pm. Full-time families receive priority registration.


One-time fees (all schedules)

Registration $75 · Materials $50 · Deposit 10% of annual tuition (Flex: $320)

Fees are non-refundable. Deposits are prorated for mid-year enrollment.
 

How to choose your sliding-scale tier (full time):

  • $800, Supported tier. For families for whom full tuition would be a significant hardship.
  • $1,200, Shared tier. For families who can cover most, but not all, of the cost of care.
  • $1,600, Sustaining tier. Covers the full cost of care and helps make lower tiers possible for others.

Choose the tier that fits your budget; no documentation is required. 

Limited additional tuition assistance is available. Note your interest on the interest form.
 

Paying with the Maryland Child Care Scholarship?

We accept the Maryland Child Care Scholarship (CCS) and will help you through the process. Mention it on your interest form.

Thank you for your interest in the Outdoor Preschool at BLISS Meadows.  


NOTE: Form opens in Playground. 

 

Complete Interest Form

OUR PEDAGOGY

 Nature is our first teacher. We believe early childhood is a time for exploration, imagination, and deep connection to the natural world. 

Children spend their school day immersed outdoors, where nature becomes the teacher, the curriculum, and the foundation for every learning experience.

 Our child-centered, play-based approach honors each child's unique interests, abilities, and pace of development. Through open-ended play, seasonal exploration, and hands-on discovery, children develop confidence, spark their curiosity, express their creativity, and cultivate an enduring sense of wonder about the world around them. 

 Meaningful growth happens through experience. Children are encouraged to climb, balance, build, create, get muddy, and take age-appropriate risks within safe, supportive boundaries. These experiences develop resilience, independence, problem-solving skills, and confidence.

 Our educators serve as guides, thoughtfully observing, asking meaningful questions, and creating opportunities that extend children's learning while allowing wonder and discovery to unfold naturally. 

ENROLLMENT

What Makes Us Different

At Backyard Basecamp, we nurture not only capable learners but also compassionate stewards of the Earth. Through daily connection with the land and animals, children develop respect for nature, strong social-emotional skills, and a deep sense of belonging and empathy to themselves, their community, and the living world around them.


Our 10-acre campus is thoughtfully designed to immerse children in the natural world each day. The environment includes a hands-on garden, forest exploration areas, a wildflower meadow, animal petting spaces, active bee hives, and dedicated outdoor classroom areas.


These spaces create a rich, ever-changing landscape where children learn through direct experience, curiosity, and connection with the living world around them.

How To Enroll

 There are five simple steps to enroll:

  1. Complete the Interest Form – Submit your information to let us know you're interested. 
  2. Attend a Tour – Visit our program, meet our staff, and see our learning environment. 
  3. Receive the Enrollment Form & Pay the Registration Fee – After your tour, you'll receive the enrollment packet. Complete the form and submit the registration fee.
  4. Pay the Deposit – Submit the required deposit and materials fee to confirm enrollment and secure your child's spot. 
  5. Receive Your Welcome Packet – Once enrollment is complete, you'll receive a welcome packet with additional forms that must be completed before your child's first day.

Ready to Enroll?

Please complete the below form so we can learn more about your family and invite you to complete the application.


NOTE: Form opens in Playground. 

Complete Interest Form

OUR PRESCHOOL STAFF

Our experienced educators are passionate about nurturing children's growth through meaningful, nature-based learning. With advanced credentials, specialized training, and decades of experience, our team provides a safe, engaging, and supportive environment where every child can thrive.

 

With us, your child benefits from educators who have:

  • Specialized degrees in Early Childhood  and Elementary Education 
  • Level 6 MSDE Credentialed Teachers
  • Over 30 years of combined experience
  • Specialization in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education
  • Enrolled in ongoing professional development


Our program also maintains:

  • Certified Child Care Aides in supporting roles
  • A low 1:6 teacher-to-child ratio
  • A Registered Pediatric Nurse on staff

Brittany: Early Childhood Director & Lead Teacher

  • Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education
  • Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education
  • Graduate study in Special Education (Johns Hopkins University)
  • Level 6 MSDE Credentialed Teacher
  • Nature-Based Teacher Certified
  • Maryland Master Naturalist
  • Wilderness First Aid & CPR Certified
  • 17 years in early childhood education, including 3 years leading a nature preschool

Judi: Co-Lead Teacher

  • Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood & Elementary Education
  • Level 6 MSDE Credentialed Teacher
  • Nature-Based Teacher Certified
  • Maryland Master Naturalist
  • Bilingual (Spanish/English)
  • Wilderness First Aid & CPR Certified
  • 12 years of early childhood education experience

Atiya: Nurse

  • Registered Pediatric Nurse
  • CedarSong Way Certified
  • Nature-Based Teacher Certified (ANBE)
  • Maryland Master Naturalist
  • Certified Animal Tracker
  • Wilderness First Aid & CPR Certified
  • 10 years of experience in early childhood nature education

Support Staff

 

All Backyard Basecamp staff are trained as Child Care Aides, helping maintain a consistent nurturing, safe, and enriching learning environment for every child in the program.

MORE INFO

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at info@backyardBasecamp.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Thanks to a generous donor, we supply every enrolled child with a set of rain gear, snow gear, and all weather boots for daily play and exploration.


Families have created a nanny share from 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm on M/W/Th. Details are provided during enrollment.


Yes! If your family in enrolled in CCS, reach out to us, and we'll help you through the process.


We offer sliding scale tuition because we believe high-quality, nature-based early childhood education should be accessible to families regardless of financial circumstances. This model allows us to reduce cost barriers while building an inclusive community and sustaining a strong program for children and educators. 


We embrace the seasons and spend time outdoors whenever conditions are safe, discovering the magic of winter along the way. When the weather becomes unsafe, we have a partnership with a local school for indoor space and a van for off-site adventures. In the future, a yurt at BLISS will give us a cozy place to warm up before heading back out to explore. 


Our sliding scale is reserved for full-time enrollment to keep the program sustainable. Part-time families may still apply for tuition assistance. 


Yes! We enroll on a rolling basis when space is available. Tuition and deposit are prorated for the months remaining in the school year. 


Support the Dragonflies Fund

Help make outdoor preschool accessible to more families. 


The Dragonflies Fund provides scholarships that allow children to learn, play, and thrive in nature, regardless of financial circumstances.

Give to the Dragonflies Fund

Copyright © 2026 Backyard Basecamp, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.


5111 Plainfield Ave, Baltimore, MD 21206
info@backyardbasecamp.org
EIN 84-3528011 | 501(c)(3) 


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