The mission of Y-Koda Nature School is to provide a high quality, hands-on early childhood experience aligning with the most current child development research and inspiring a lifelong connection with nature through play.
Key tenets of nature based learning...
- Science inquiry, literacy, math and art through the lens of nature
- A minimum of 40% of the day is spent outside in unstructured, uninterrupted play - play based learning no matter the weather
- Child lead learning
- Encouraging calculated risk taking
- Development of the whole child
- Social Emotional Development
- Environmental Stewardship
- Hands on, sensory based
- Brain based pedagogy
Locations
Sheboygan
- Our three-way partnership between the Sheboygan Area School District, Camp Y-Koda and Maywood Environmental Park allows us to offer tuition-free, nature based 4K education. Enroll your child today!
Sheboygan Falls
- NEW to the 2025-2026 School Year, Camp Y-Koda has joined the Sheboygan Falls School District to bring a Nature Based 4K Program directly on-site at Camp Y-Koda. This is a tuition-free, nature based 4K program that operates from Monday-Thursday.
MEET OUR TEACHERS
ANNA BUECHLER
4K Teacher at Maywood Site
Information coming soon!
MARY GROSS
4K Naturalist at Maywood Site
Mary serves as the YKNS naturalist and shares her many years of educational experience with Camp Y-Koda's nature education programs. After teaching high school biology, Mary switched to outdoor education with a focus on younger learners. Mary brings her creative juice to the YKNS and can be found sharing hands-on science and nature lessons through books, games, hikes, taxidermy models, painting projects, and experiments. Many diverse hobbies feed the creativity and include beekeeping, sailing, camping, watercolor painting and knitting. Mary lives with her husband and is a proud grandma to a growing group of future Camp Y-Koda campers.
TINA
4K Naturalist at Maywood Site
Meet Tina! Tina has taught high school biology for over 20 years and retired in 2021. She has a Masters in Biology, a bachelors degree in Conservation Biology and a National Board Certification in Biology. In her free time she enjoys nordic skiiing, biking, gardening, bird watching, playing bass clarinet in local bands and card playing.
ALISON
Environmental Educator at Maywood Site
Meet Alison! She is a teacher at the YKNS Maywood site. While new to the childcare & teaching setting, Alison has a Pyschology degree and previous experience working on a mental health study for the Army. She enjoys traveling and exploring, and can be found coloring or playing outside with her kids and husband. Her hobbies include playing softball, volleyball and swimming. She can't wait to work with all the children and families!
EMILY HOFFMANN
4K Teacher at Camp Y-Koda Site
Meet Emily! Emily is the NEW 4K Teacher for Camp Y-Kodas Nature School directly at the Camp Y-Koda site. She is ecstatic for this new adventure! Emily has two years of teaching a 4K class with five years total in teaching. She enjoys camping, hiking and playing outdoors with her children and husband. Emily is looking forward to the school year ahead and working with your family this year!