(302) 461-7474 Savanna@newarknatureschool.org 292 W Main St, Newark, DE 19711
Now Enrolling for September
About Us

A small school with deep Newark roots.

We’re a locally-owned, family-run daycare and pre-K opening in September on West Main Street. Our story is the same as the families we serve - we love this town, and we want a thoughtful place to send the kids while we work.

About the Owner

Meet Our Director & Owner

Savanna Graham has dedicated more than 10 years to the early childhood education field and is deeply passionate about providing high-quality care and learning experiences for young children. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Human Services from Towson University and holds a DEEDS Administrator Certificate.

Savanna began her career as a classroom teacher before advancing into administrative leadership roles. Through her experience in multiple positions within early childhood education, she has developed a strong appreciation for the vital role each educator and staff member plays in supporting children’s growth and development.

As the founder of this nature-based school in Newark, Savanna’s vision is to provide children and families with exceptional care, education, and safety within a warm, welcoming, and nurturing environment. She believes that children learn best through hands-on exploration, discovery, and meaningful connections with the natural world.

As a mother of two young daughters, Savanna understands the importance of finding a childcare program that families can trust. She relates closely to the needs of parents and is committed to creating an environment where every child feels safe, secure, valued, and inspired to learn.

Her mission is to ensure that every child receives quality care while fostering confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.

Savanna Graham

Director & Founder

  • B.S., Family & Human Services, Towson University
  • DEEDS Administrator Certificate
  • 10+ years in early childhood education
  • Newark native and mother of two
Savanna answers the phone. (302) 461-7474 · Savanna@newarknatureschool.org
About the Center

About Newark Nature School

Founded in Fall of 2026 by Savanna Graham, Newark Nature School was created with a vision of providing children with meaningful learning experiences through nature, exploration, and play. Our mission is to:

“Give children the independence to learn through play, exploration, and discovery through the nature around them.”

At Newark Nature School, we embrace the Reggio Emilia Approach to learning, which recognizes children as capable, curious, and active participants in their own education. We believe that children learn best when they are given opportunities to explore their interests, ask questions, solve problems, and discover the world around them.

Nature serves as an extension of our classroom, encouraging hands-on experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Through child-led exploration and meaningful interactions, we create an environment where children feel empowered to become independent learners.

As educators, we believe one of the greatest gifts we can give children is independence. By nurturing their natural curiosity and providing opportunities for discovery, we help build the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to thrive both in school and in life.

Our license covers up to 80 children across five classrooms: infants (12 weeks through 12 months), toddlers, two-year-olds, preschool, and pre-K. Class sizes stay within Delaware OCCL ratios. Our home is the historic block at 292 W Main Street, between the Newark Country Club’s tree line and First Presbyterian’s playground.

What makes us different

  • Brightwheel Experience Curriculum. Academic content for literacy, math, science, social-emotional, art, and music. Each week picks up a nature theme on top.
  • Assessments and conferences. Week-one developmental baseline plus parent-teacher conferences every six months.
  • Small, locally owned. One location, one director, one phone number.
  • Downtown Newark walkability. The library, post office, and farmers market are all walking distance.
  • UD-friendly. Our calendar follows UD’s breaks. Staff and faculty get 10% off weekly tuition.
  • Food made on-site. Snacks and lunch come out of our kitchen, not a microwave tray.
  • Family events and conferences. Backyard BBQs, themed classroom parties, a monthly calendar that goes home, and teacher conferences twice a year.
Our Staff

The people who’ll know your child

We’re hiring our founding teaching team this summer. Every educator we bring on will be CPR and First Aid certified, background-checked, and trained in the Brightwheel curriculum. Below is who’s here on Day One.

Lead Teachers

Roles open

We’re interviewing lead teachers for each age band. Early-childhood experience or the right energy and willingness to learn.

Apply now

Kitchen & Operations

Roles open

We make snacks and lunch on-site. Looking for someone who cares about a tray of pear slices as much as a meeting agenda.

Apply now
Curriculum

Brightwheel Experience Curriculum, with a nature lens.

Our daily lessons come from the Brightwheel Experience Curriculum, a program built by early-childhood educators and aligned with state foundations. It covers early literacy, math, science, social-emotional, art, music, and motor skills. Each week, we pick a nature theme and pull examples and activities from that into the lessons. Outdoor time is part of every day, but the classroom learning comes first.

Infants & Toddlers

12 wks – 24 months · Brightwheel infant/toddler track

Predictable feed and nap rhythms, daily reading and music time, sensory exploration, and one-on-one language modeling. Outdoor stroller walks on warm-weather days under shade.

Two-Year-Olds

24 – 36 months · Brightwheel 2-yr track

Vocabulary growth, color and shape recognition, blocks, dramatic play, beginning self-help skills, and storytime. Toilet learning at the family’s pace, never the school’s.

Preschool (3 – 4 yrs)

Brightwheel preschool track

Letter and sound recognition, number sense, beginning writing, science investigations, art, and music. We tie each week’s lessons to a nature theme. Field trips down Main Street happen twice a month.

Pre-K (4 – 5 yrs)

Brightwheel pre-K track · Kindergarten-ready

Reading readiness, sound-letter mapping, beginning writing, number sense to 20, and the social skills to walk confidently into Newark Charter, Christina, or Newark School District kindergartens. Children leave us with a portfolio.

Family Connection

Stay close to your child’s day.

A good daycare is more than a drop-off spot. Here’s how we keep families close to what’s happening in the classroom and connected to each other.

Week-one assessment

Your child’s teacher completes an age-appropriate developmental assessment in their first week with us. That’s our baseline for tracking progress over time.

Conferences every 6 months

Twice a year you’ll meet one-on-one with your child’s teacher to walk through their assessment, see their portfolio, and talk about what’s next.

Center events

Fall festival, winter recital, art gallery museum night, make-and-take science night, and summer movie nights.

Monthly calendar

Posted outside our front door and sent home with your child each month. Includes classroom themes, dress-up days, special events, and any parent activities so nothing sneaks up on you.

Curious if we’re a fit?

Send a quick note. Savanna replies personally.

Email Us