2022-23 Forest Preschool

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

SPACES REMAINING IN THE FIVE-DAY AFTERNOON PROGRAM. You can complete the form to add youself to the waitlist for any of our other offerings.

Before registering please read the parent information packet.

Please email alli@ryenaturecenter.org or call 914-967-5150 if you have any questions.

Registration for the 2022-23 school year for our Forest Preschool programs begins online on Friday, November 5 at 10:00 am. The page will display registration closed before then. If you are interested in the Preschool Ecology Extended Day Program (1-2 days a week), visit our website for more information about the January 2022 registration day. Forest Preschool application/registration forms and your non-refundable application fee can be submitted online. We will follow up with you to confirm your enrollment and obtain a signed consent agreement and your child's immunization record.

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

Friends of Rye Nature Center offers preschool students throughout the area the opportunity to spend a morning or afternoon exploring nature and learning about ecology through experiential, hands-on fun. We educate classes on animal adaptations, life cycles, ecosystems, and the importance of kindness toward living things. While hiking along our 47 acres of trails to ponds, the Blind Brook, or the quarry, your child will gain a deeper understanding of the natural world. 

Preschoolers who are at least 3.5 years old by the start of the program (born prior to March 15, 2019) may enroll. Children will range in age from 3.5 through 5.5 in each class. Class size is limited to 16 students with two instructors per class. Volunteers and/or additional teachers will be added as necessary. Children may come once or multiple times per week. Children must bring lunch and wear clothes appropriate for exploring the outdoors. 

Optional FRNC Staff Drop-Off/Pick-Up at Local Preschools: Children enrolled in the FIVE-DAY MORNING or THREE-DAY AFTERNOON that attend Christ's Church Nursery School or Rye Presbyterian Nursery School may utilize our optional walking component. This option is not available for children in the 12:45-3:45 p.m. There is an additional fee of $600 for our five-day morning program if you will utilize this option.

TUITION AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Children who register for Forest Preschool may not register for our Preschool Ecology Extended Day program.

The tuition for the 2022-23 year for the five-day program is $10,950. The tuition for the three-day program is $8,950. We cannot pro-rate tuition for missed or cancelled classes. You may request in writing to cancel your child's registration, less the $1,500 non-refundable deposit, prior to June 1, 2022. Refunds and credits are not available after June 1, 2022. Payments made via credit card are subject to a 2.2% processing fee. Upon registration you are responsible for completing all payments per the fee schedule. If you have any concerns, please contact us directly.

The payment schedule is as follows:

*Includes a membership to Friends of Rye Nature Center (valid 1 year from the date of registration).
**Includes $1,500 non-refundable deposit.
***An additional $600 is due with your final payment if your child is attending the five-day morning program and using the optional walking component.

COVID-19 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

We remain in contact with the Westchester County Department of Health to modify our policies as New York State updates its COVID-19 guidelines. Procedures are subject to change but currently include: spending the day outdoors, wearing masks when indoors (extreme weather, handwashing, bathrooms), regular sanitizing, daily temperature screenings via a contactless thermometer, and online health assessments before arrival. Please click here for more information and updates.

HOW TO APPLY

STEP ONE: Create an account. We recommend you do this before the day of registration using this link. If you have attended a program or supported FRNC in the past, it is likely we already have an account on file for you that you can look up using your email. If you are new to the Nature Center and our programs, you can create a new account.

STEP TWO: Apply online. Beginning at the indicated registration time, you can register online using the link on the program page of website or the quick links section in your system account.

STEP THREE: Pay through PayPal. Once you submit the online form, you will be redirected to PayPal to complete your payment. If you do not have a PayPal account you can still use the platform to pay with a debit or credit card. Your payment will be incomplete if you navigate away from PayPal before submission. We must receive the payment in order to process your application.

STEP FOUR: Await confirmation. FRNC will review submissions and place children in the order their applications were received. We will confirm your child's placement within a week of application.