Maris Rose

Maris' Tree House

A Playful Nature & Arts Program

For Young Children
(September 2025 through early June 2026)

 

The stunning and serene grounds of the All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne is the setting for our delightful, gently paced classes. The rolling meadows and peaceful woodlands welcome us to play and hike, to share picnics and stories beneath the trees, to go sledding and make snow angels, to watch for signs of our animal friends, to explore, study and celebrate nature and the seasons. Our light and spacious classroom is designed for engaging and varied indoor activities: art and craft projects, music and drama, imaginative play with simple toys, story telling, baking & cooking, and on it goes. We emphasize kindness and gentle care toward ourselves, the earth, our families, one another and the community. The small class size of six children supports individual care and attention and ensures ample supervision.          

 

    

 Monday Mornings for 3 yr olds 8:30-12:00  

For children who are 3 years old by September 1st 2025

 

Tuesday Mornings for 3 yr olds 8:30-12:00

For children who are 3 years old by September 1st 2025

 

Wednesday Mornings for 4 yr olds 8:30-12:00 (filled)

For children who are 3 years old by September 1st  2025

 

Thursday Mornings for 4 yr olds 8:30-12:00 

For children who are 4 years old by September 1st 2025

 

Friday Mornings for 4 yr olds 8:30-12:00 

For children who are 4 years old by September 1st 2025

 

Classes are scheduled mid September through early June.

Please note – Tuition often qualifies as a childcare expense.

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For more information about these school-year classes or summer camps please contact Maris Rose at  marisparentcoach@gmail.com 

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Read a few summaries of our days here:

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Jan 29th

 

We had a delightful monkey day! We learned about monkeys - what they eat (fruit, veggies, nuts seeds, flowers and insects), where they live (treetops) and how they stay safe. Some have long tails. Monkeys can grab onto branches with their hands, feet and tails. We also learned that monkeys like to imitate. "Monkey see, monkey do, monkeys do the same as you!"

 

We read and acted out Caps for Sale where the monkeys steal the peddler's caps.

We read curious George stories too. 

 

We made banana muffins (Monkeys love bananas!) for our families. Here is a picture of us mashing the bananas for our recipe.

 

Outside it was blustery! But we braved the weather and went sledding. It was fun and just the right speed. Then we came back and played in the yard near our classroom where it was a bit less windy. 

 

Thank you for sharing your little monkeys with me! 

Maris

 

January 15th

 

What a sweet, fun night time day! Everyone liked pretending we were camping and having a campfire. 

We learned about owls and acted out a favorite book - Owl Babies. 

We read stories in the tent, made camping food in the kitchen, and painted night pictures on black paper.

 

Outside we went sledding! We were especially brave and went to Dragon Hill. We made a trail part way up the hill to give us some speed. What sturdy adventurers! 

 

We will keep the tent in the classroom next week for more camping and nocturnal animals - especially skunks. 

 

Winter Joy!

Maris

 

December 4th

 

We had fun learning about white tail deer today. We learned that they live in the forest, they eat plants - leaves, grass, apples, berries, acorns, etc. The littles ones are fawns and have spots which help them to camouflage. Deer can run super fast and can leap over fences. They male deer have antlers and we learned that the antlers fall off in the winter. We will look for deer tracks this winter because they live in the woods near our tree house. Deer are very quiet and careful. They have big ears which helps them listen for danger.  

 

We made deer headbands with oak leaves as antlers. 

 

During playtime we gathered to make pomanders for our families. These clove studded oranges will make our homes smell like a holiday!

 

Outside we played in the yard and forest and meadow. We hiked through the nature path and discovered animal tracks in the dusting of snow - mice, squirrels, and (hurray!) deer.  We noticed that we could make tracks and draw in the snow with sticks. This adventure helped kept us warm on a chilly day. 

 

We noticed so many kindnesses today and talked about letting our heart lights shine. 

 

With Joy!

Maris

 

October 9th

 

We had a delightful morning! It was sweet to be together again. 

 

We began our day at the playdoh table to make pumpkin playdoh. We smushed together yellow and red playdoh to make orange. 

 

At circle time we sang songs, played our name game and then learned about mice. We learned what they eat, where they live, how they stay safe, and how they care for their babies. Then we read two favorite mouse stories: I Want that Nut! and Mouse Count. 

We then played a puppet show of Mouse Count. The little mice trick that hungry snake into leaving them alone. Ha Ha!

 

After snack we had a sweet indoor playtime and then went outside for adventures. We played in the forest, on the big hill with frisbees, and then we went on a hike. We discovered a dead tree with an empty trunk and fallen branches. We guessed about what animals might live there. 

 

Cheers! 

Maris

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Dear Parents,

 

What a delightful morning! Your children are grand adventurers! 

 

First thing we played with blocks, kitchen, playdoh, and then gathered for a sweet circle time. We were happily interrupted a number of times by the phoebe birds who have a funny whistle call! We simply had to go to the low open window near our circle area to look and listen. Well there was nothing for it but get ready and go outside together to see what we could see. 

 

Squirrels, birds, and (especially fun) worms! We headed out to the forest kitchen, digging spoons in hand. We noticed chipmunk holes and decided they probably live beneath the mossy knoll. We looked under stumps to discover many wiggly worms. Almost everyone picked them up, felt their wiggles and giggled! Some friends made little dirt/mud homes for them. We learned that worms really need dirt and mud, not sunshine. 

 

Some friends remembered visiting the meadow so after a bit we headed out to the meadow and climbed the hill. We hiked to the climbing trees to play, noticed buds on the apple trees, and acted out The Three Little Pigs. There are three large trees - one for the straw/grass, one for sticks and one for bricks.  Then, hi ho we went back to the forest to play. 

 

Indoors we painted flower pots (made of clay from the earth) for our moms. Shhh, it's a surprise. We had stories and more playtime. Our favorite story was What Are Friends For? about Jefferson Bear and a little fox named Figgy Two Socks. 

 

Your children were kind and playful with one another and very good listeners. We are off to a lovely start! Thank you, thank you for sharing your dear children.

 

With Joy!

Maris

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