Exposing Milwaukee preschoolers to nature

As a resident of Bayside where the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center is located, I am quite familiar with its six miles of gorgeous trails that allow hikers to traverse diverse habitats and experience the wonders of nature. I must admit, however, that I was less familiar with the Center’s preschool programming and, in particular, its early childhood education urban outreach efforts.

That changed when Julie and I visited the Center in late July. For example, I learned that the Schlitz Audubon Nature School – the Center’s fully licensed, year-round nature-based preschool for children ages 3 to 5 – has operated for over 20 years and is nationally recognized as a pioneer in outdoor early education.

I also had an opportunity to learn more about the Center’s Early Childhood Education Urban Outreach Program, which the Herzfeld Foundation has supported for many years. The program extends nature-based learning to underserved communities through partnerships with Next Door Foundation and Malaika Early Learning Center. Students engage in monthly field trips to Schlitz Audubon, with transportation, gear, and materials provided at no cost. Schlitz Audubon educators also travel directly to participating classrooms for educational visits twice each month.

During the 2025–2026 school year, Schlitz Audubon plans to reach about 160 K-4 students across eight Next Door classrooms as well as dozens more at two Malaika sites. Each visit to the Center lasts about 90 minutes and includes outdoor exploration of the Center’s diverse habitats, age-appropriate science activities, bird observation, and live encounters with Animal Ambassadors. All students are provided with weather-appropriate gear to ensure comfort and safety during outdoor activities.

We are proud to support this thoughtful effort to provide outdoor education to preschoolers who might otherwise have little or no opportunity to experience and learn about nature. Moreover, we are thrilled to help sustain such an outstanding example of collaboration between three high-quality early childhood education providers.