Our Programs
Learning Experiences For Every Stage
Maples Program (Ages 3-5)
Our Morning
Every morning begins in our Romping Room, where children climb, jump, balance, dance, and play to wake up their bodies and minds. Movement helps children develop coordination, regulate emotions, build confidence, and prepare for a successful day of learning.
After getting the wiggles out, we gather for Morning Meeting, where we build community through songs, stories, weather observations, our personalized monthly calendar, fine motor writing, and our daily Question of the Day. Journaling and sharing time encourage children to express themselves, practice communication skills, and develop a strong sense of belonging within our classroom family.
Play-Based Learning
Our mornings continue with meaningful, play-based learning centered around each week’s theme. Children rotate through thoughtfully designed learning centers that encourage exploration, creativity, and hands-on discovery. Centers may include:
- Building & Engineering
- Dramatic Play
- Sensory Exploration
- Art & Creativity
- Literacy & Storytelling
- Science & Discovery
- Math & Manipulatives
- Fine Motor Invitations
Teachers intentionally observe, ask thoughtful questions, and extend children’s learning while allowing them the freedom to explore their own interests. Whether children are constructing a towering castle, investigating insects, creating artwork, or pretending to run a veterinarian clinic, every experience helps build confidence, problem-solving skills, language, creativity, and meaningful friendships.
Outdoor Exploration
After working together to care for our classroom, we head outdoors for fresh air and adventure. Children climb, run, dig, create, explore nature, and strengthen both their bodies and social skills through active play. When the weather cooperates, we love sharing a picnic lunch outside, making everyday moments feel just a little more magical.
Creative Afternoons
Our afternoons are filled with imagination and choice. Children enjoy open-ended art experiences, revisit favorite play spaces, or explore new invitations based on their interests. Whether painting, sculpting, inventing, or collaborating with friends, they continue developing creativity, fine motor skills, independence, and self-expression in a relaxed, joyful environment.
We end our day with one final opportunity for movement in the Romping Room or outdoor play while families arrive, ensuring children leave happy, connected, and excited to return the next day.
Our Goal
At Village Roots Collective, we believe play is the foundation of learning. Our environment and daily experiences are intentionally designed to nurture curiosity, independence, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. Through meaningful relationships, hands-on exploration, and child-led discovery, we help children develop the social, emotional, physical, and foundational learning skills they’ll carry with them for future learning and life.
Redwoods Program (Ages 5–8)
Our Morning
A typical day in Redwoods begins with outdoor play or indoor gross motor activities, giving children time to move their bodies, connect with friends, and settle into the day. Morning meeting follows, where we build community through games, stories, discussions, and activities that support social-emotional growth.
Hands-On Learning
In Redwoods, learning happens through curiosity, creativity, and meaningful experiences. Students explore science, geography, social studies, STEAM activities, art, reading, writing, and emotional regulation through engaging, hands-on lessons designed to spark wonder and build confidence.
Children are encouraged to ask questions, participate in discussions, and collaborate with peers while growing foundational academic and problem-solving skills.
Outdoor Exploration & Play
Outdoor time remains an important part of our day. Children enjoy movement, free play, and opportunities to connect with nature while building friendships, teamwork, and confidence.
Creative Afternoons
Afternoons include a mix of creative projects, classroom activities, and free exploration. Students may engage in art, themed projects, sensory experiences, imaginative play, or collaborative activities that encourage self-expression and joy in learning.
Our Goal
Redwoods supports children as they build confidence, strengthen social-emotional skills, and develop a love of learning through curiosity, connection, and hands-on exploration.
Willows Program (Ages 8–11)
Our Morning
Willows begins in the art room, where students can create, collaborate, connect with friends, or simply settle into the day in a way that feels right for them. Afterward, we head outside for snack and gross motor play, giving students time to move their bodies and enjoy outdoor connection before returning inside for deeper learning, projects, and exploration.
Collaborative & Interest-Led Learning
In Willows, students engage in hands-on learning experiences designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. Through science, geography, social studies, STEAM, reading, writing, and project-based experiences, students are encouraged to ask questions, share ideas, and think more deeply about the world around them.
Learning is designed to build independence while still honoring student voice, curiosity, and meaningful connection.
Real-World Exploration
Students participate in projects, discussions, creative challenges, and outdoor experiences that encourage problem-solving, teamwork, and self-expression. Willows provides space for children to explore interests, strengthen friendships, and gain confidence in themselves and their abilities.
Creative & Reflective Afternoons
Afternoons may include creative projects, collaborative work, outdoor exploration, and opportunities for student choice. We value both structured experiences and the freedom to create, explore, and connect.
Our Goal
Willows supports students in growing confidence, independence, creativity, and collaboration while nurturing a strong sense of belonging and curiosity.
Sycamores Program (Ages 11–14)
Who It’s For
Sycamores is Village Roots Collective’s middle school program for tweens and young teens who are ready for deeper exploration, growing independence, and meaningful connection.
Rooted in our play-based, child-led philosophy, Sycamores offers a project-based learning environment where students engage with big ideas, real-world questions, and hands-on work while building strong relationships within a supportive community.
How Learning Happens
Learning in Sycamores is organized through 4–8 week thematic units using Project-Based Learning (PBL). Rather than separating subjects into rigid blocks, students explore themes that naturally integrate reading, writing, research, math, science, creativity, and discussion.
Through collaborative projects, presentations, and reflection, students strengthen academic skills while developing confidence, ownership, and a sense of purpose in their learning.
A Typical Day
A typical day in Sycamores begins with community connection – time to check in, share ideas, and ground the group before diving into the day’s work.
From there, students move into longer project blocks where they may research, design, build, write, debate, create, or problem-solve based on the current thematic unit. Learning often extends outdoors, with time for observation, journaling, reflection, or simply taking breaks in nature.
Afternoons may include focused skill work, creative exploration, collaboration time, leadership opportunities, or service to the broader Village Roots community. The day closes with reflection and connection as students process learning and celebrate growth together.
Built With Flexibility In Mind
Sycamores is intentionally designed with flexibility in mind. Each class day stands on its own, focusing on a different thematic topic. Students may attend one or two days per week, with no overlap or required “catching up” between days.
Each session offers a complete, self-contained learning experience, allowing families to choose the schedule that works best for them.
Our Goal
Sycamores supports students as they bridge childhood curiosity with growing independence – nurturing thoughtful, capable learners who feel connected to themselves, one another, and the world around them.
Schedule and Tuition
All tuition rates reflect our cooperative microschool model, which includes skilled educators, classroom support, and enriching learning experiences. Families participate through monthly classroom volunteer days and a Parent Job that helps support the ongoing operation of our village.
Maples
Ages 3–5 | Play-Based Early Learning
MON | TUE | WED | THU
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Must be 3 by August 1
1 Day a Week
$190 Monthly Rate
$47.50 Weekly Rate
2 Days a Week
$285 Monthly Rate
$71.25 Weekly Rate
3 Days a Week
$420 Monthly Rate
$105 Weekly Rate
4 Days a Week
$555 Monthly Rate
$138.75 Weekly Rate
added Fun
Tuition also includes one Field Trip or Forest Day per month
$125 Enrollment Fee
Due upon enrollment
Redwoods
Ages 5–8 | Lower Elementary Enrichment
MON | TUE | WED | THU
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Must be 5 by August 1
1 Day a Week
$190 Monthly Rate
$47.50 Weekly Rate
2 Days a Week
$260 Monthly Rate
$65 Weekly Rate
3 Days a Week
$390 Monthly Rate
$97.50 Weekly Rate
4 Days a Week
$520 Monthly Rate
$130 Weekly Rate
added Fun
Tuition also includes one Field Trip or Forest Day per month
$125 Enrollment Fee
Due upon enrollment
Willows
Ages 8–11 | Upper Elementary Enrichment
MON | WED
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Ages 8 – 11
1 Day a Week
$190 Monthly Rate
$47.50 Weekly Rate
2 Days a Week
$260 Monthly Rate
$65 Weekly Rate
3 Days a Week
Not Offering
4 Days a Week
Not Offering
added Fun
Tuition also includes one Field Trip or Forest Day per month
$125 Enrollment Fee
Due upon enrollment
Sycamores
Ages 11–14 | Middle School Enrichment
TUE | THU
9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Ages 11 – 14
1 Day a Week
$190 Monthly Rate
$47.50 Weekly Rate
2 Days a Week
$260 Monthly Rate
$65 Weekly Rate
3 Days a Week
Not Offering
4 Days a Week
Not Offering
added Fun
Tuition also includes one Field Trip or Forest Day per month
$125 Enrollment Fee
Due upon enrollment
Parent Participation
Village Roots is a cooperative microschool, which means families help make our village possible.
Families participate through:
✔️ One classroom volunteer day per month (most other days are drop-off)
✔️ One Parent Job per enrolled child, helping support the ongoing operation of Village Roots
Parent Jobs vary based on interests and availability and may include things like classroom prep, event planning, marketing, fundraising, organizing materials, or serving on committees.
We believe meaningful family involvement helps create the connected, supportive community that makes Village Roots so special.