A new fenced outdoor classroom is bringing nature-based learning to Pre-K and homeschool families on San Antonio’s east side.
SAN ANTONIO — Dirt under little fingernails. Butterflies in the garden. Lessons that don’t just happen at a desk.
The Davis-Scott Family YMCA is opening a brand-new NatureScape, a fenced outdoor learning and play environment designed to bring early childhood education outside the classroom and into nature.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for Monday, March 2 at 2:30 p.m. at the Davis-Scott Family YMCA on Iowa Street.
The NatureScape was made possible through a grant from the PNC Foundation as part of PNC Grow Up Great®, a $500 million initiative focused on early childhood education. Leaders say the space will primarily serve Pre-K students and homeschool families, expanding access to outdoor classrooms, children’s gardens and hands-on sensory exploration.
According to research funded by PNC and conducted by the National Institute for Early Education Research, nearly half of children ages 3 to 5 play outside less than once a day. Studies show that nature-based pre-K programs can lead to stronger learning outcomes and healthier development.
YMCA officials say the goal is simple: give children a safe, engaging space where they can explore, imagine and grow, all while soaking up fresh air.
Leaders from the YMCA of Greater San Antonio and PNC will be on hand for the celebration, along with children and families who will be among the first to experience the new space.
For East Side families, the NatureScape is more than a playground, it’s a classroom without walls.