Who can attend?

This program is for potty-trained 3-6 year-olds unaccompanied by a parent/guardian (drop-off). Many of the children who come to this program attend other preschool programs on the other weekdays.

Space is strictly limited to a max class size of 10 students.

When is the Knee-High Naturalists Program?

2024 Knee-High Naturalists will meet twice a week on Monday and/or from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Winter/Spring 2025 session will run for the following dates:

• **Monday Session: January 13th - March 17th
• **Wednesday Session: January 15th - March 19th

***Naturalists are welcome to attend one or both dates of Knee High Naturalists each week. Attendance is expected for the full 10 weeks to assure the program will be able to be held with a proper student to teacher ratio. *Knee High Naturalists requires 3-5 participants in each class to run. If this number is not reached, the program will revert to one day a week.

What will the children do?

GTCD Staff will use developmentally appropriate and seasonal topics to focus on what is happening outside of the Nature Center. We incorporate creative dramatics, songs and games, manipulatives, puppets, and an occasional animal into the programs to engage your young explorers.

From frog eggs to fox tails, we’ll be having fun and making new connections with every step! Let’s create, touch, watch, get quiet, be loud, move, build, climb, smell, and most importantly, discover.

What is the cost?

Tuition payment will be handled through Square via a one-time invoice.

Total program cost: $300 via one-time invoice.

Do you offer scholarships?

When funds are available, scholarships may be provided. At this time there are not scholarships for the Winter/Spring 2025 session.

How do I register?

Register [HERE]1

What are your drop off and pick up policies?

Drop off and pick up will take place at the Boardman River Nature Center located at 1450 Cass Road. Traverse City, Michigan. *More details to come soon!

Drop-off is between 9:50am-10:00am, and pick-up will be at noon.

Please prepare your child to be outside at all times as long as weather permits.

Our goal with every family is to have a smooth and easy transition and allow every child to join the group independently.

What are your check-in and check-out policies?

Families must always check in and check out their students with one of the teachers. If someone who is not listed on your child’s enrollment forms will be picking them up after their program, please inform Grand Traverse Conservation District ahead of time (via email, call, text, or at drop off). Additionally, anyone who is not a parent or guardian of your child MUST PROVIDE IDENTIFICATION when picking them up for the first time.

What are your cancellation and withdrawal policies?

**Procedures **

• Registration is not complete until payment is received.
• Any changes to an event, class, workshop, program, etc. for any reason, including inclement weather, will be communicated with registrants as soon as possible.
• All programming may be subject to change.
• Each program participant must sign a waiver.
• GTCD reserves the right to remove a program participant due to inappropriate behavior.

**Refund Policy **

• Cancellation requests received in writing 30 days before the program date will receive a full refund minus a 5% processing fee.
• Due to the cost of processing, refund requests less than $10.00 will not be issued.
• There are no refunds for cancellations within 30 days of the program date.
• If cancellation occurs via the following, there will be no refund issued:
  • Weather or other related emergencies
  • Covid-19/pandemic/illness related cancellation
• There are no refunds for no-shows.

If you need to cancel or withdraw your enrollment, please contact Education Director, Rachel Straughen at rstraughen@gtcd.org.

What is your weather policy?

On days when the weather is unsafe to be outside for extended periods of time we will utilize our heated pavilion with ventilated sides. Under severe or emergency weather conditions we will utilize the Nature Center building and encourage masking until parents and caregivers are able to safely pick up each student.

• If TCAPS schools experience a snow day, programming will also experience a snow day and programming will be canceled.
• If NMC is closed, Grand Traverse Conservation District offices and the Boardman River Nature Center will be closed. All programming will be canceled.