Belleville's Outdoor Preschool for Curious Little Wildlings
A small-group, play-based preschool for children ages 3-6 where mornings are spent exploring, building, creating, moving and learning in nature.
September 2026 registration is open.
Rooted in Wonder. Grown in the Wild.
Welcome to The Bop!
Located in the West End of Belleville, Ontario
A Play-Based Preschool in Belleville, Ontario helping kids thrive through outdoor exploration
Where Kids Thrive Outside
Come and play at The Bop!
Belleville Outdoor Preschool
An all-weather (just about!) outdoor preschool where children learn through:
Nature:
Children learn best when they experience the world firsthand. Through climbing trees, watching birds, digging in the mud, tending the garden, and exploring every season, they develop confidence, resilience, and a lasting appreciation for the natural world
Meaningful Connections:
We encourage children to slow down, ask questions, and delight in the small discoveries that each day brings. By giving them time to observe, imagine, and explore at their own pace, we nurture curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.
Wonder:
Play is the work of childhood, allowing children to build, create, problem-solve, and collaborate in ways that feel natural and joyful. With open-ended materials like logs, sticks, water, rocks, and loose parts, every adventure becomes an opportunity to grow socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually.
Outdoor Preschool in Belleville, Ontario helping kids thrive through outdoor play
Born to Make Mud Pies and Snail Soup
The Bop!
Belleville’s Outdoor Preschool - Located in the west end of Belleville, Ontario
We are…
Nestled on a peaceful 1.5 acre property, and our days are spent:
exploring bushes, flowers, and trees,
observing birds and wildlife,
building with natural materials,
climbing,
digging in the mud,
splashing in water,
discovering the beauty of nature through firsthand experiences.
The Bop! preschool is designed for children ages 3+ and meets:
Monday through Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
September - June
Families can choose the schedule that best fits their needs:
Monday & Wednesday
Tuesday & Thursday
orMonday through Thursday
Cost is $35 per child, per day.
Whether your child joins us two days a week or all four, they'll spend their mornings climbing, creating, wondering, and growing in a space that celebrates and embraces the wonder of childhood.
A nature-based preschool in Belleville where childhood comes alive outdoors
Born to Build Forts
Hi! I’m Jessalyn!
(your fearless outdoor leader)
Welcome to The Bop!
Belleville’s Outdoor Preschool
I’m Jess, a certified Child and Youth worker, an educator, mother to four wonderfully wild boys.
I believe that childhood is meant to be lived slowly, outdoors, and with wonder.
I’m a lover and believer in unhurried childhood
I created this preschool because I believe young children learn best through meaningful experiences: time in nature, beautiful stories, hands-on work, and gentle guidance that respects who they already are.
Rather than rushing academics, I focus on cultivating curiosity, attentiveness, kindness, and a deep connection to the natural world.
Our days are rooted in rhythm, not hurry. We spend our mornings exploring outdoors, observing seasonal changes, telling stories, observing nature, singing, creating, and delving into deep, unhurried play.
I see children as whole persons—capable, thoughtful, and worthy of respect—and my role is to guide rather than instruct, to observe rather than rush.
This preschool is a place where muddy boots are welcome, questions are encouraged, and childhood is protected.
My hope is to give each child a foundation of joy, confidence, and wonder that will carry them into the years ahead.
Outdoor preschool in Belleville for little explorers, dreamers, and adventurers
Our Daily Rhythm
Monday–Thursday | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
9:00–9:15 | Welcome & Morning Gathering
🌱 Arrival routines
📚 Welcome circle
🎵 Songs, calendar, weather, seasonal observations
💬 Introduce the day’s adventure
9:15–10:30 | Outdoor Exploration & Free Play
🪵 Child-led play in nature
🌲 Climbing, building, mud kitchen, imaginative play
🐞 Nature discovery & seasonal exploration
🤸 Gross motor movement
10:30–10:45 | Snack & Story Time
🥪 Outdoor snack
📖 Read-aloud stories
💭 Conversations and questions inspired by the book
10:45–11:45 | Nature Study & Hands-On Learning
🔍 Exploring plants, animals, weather, and the changing seasons
🎨 Nature-inspired art and crafts
🪶 Science experiments and sensory experiences
✏️ Early literacy, math, and problem-solving woven into play
11:45–12:15 | Lunch & Connection Time
🥗 Shared meal outdoors (weather permitting)
💚 Social skills, independence, and conversation
12:15–12:50 | Big Adventure Play
🌳 Forest exploration
🏃 Gross motor challenges
🛖 Building, creating, and imaginative adventures
🔥 Special seasonal activities
12:50–1:00 | Closing Circle & Pick-Up
🌼 Reflect on the day
📚 Share discoveries
👋 Goodbye routine
Register Here!
Nature Based Preschool filled with fresh air, adventures, and freedom to play
We Believe in…
Children learn through forests, fields, mud, weather, plants, and wildlife
….in Nature
Every day encourages curiosity, exploration, risk-taking, and confidence through outdoor play
…in Adventure
Children build meaningful relationships with nature, each other, and themselves through unhurried, hands-on play
…in Connection
Born to Be Free
Part-time childcare in Belleville where every day holds something new to discover
Your Questions, Answered!
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An outdoor preschool is a nature-based learning program where children spend the majority of their time learning and playing outside. Instead of traditional classroom walls, children use the natural world as their classroom—exploring trees, wildlife, mud, water, loose parts, and open-ended materials while developing social, physical, and cognitive skills.
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The Bop is designed for children ages 3 to 6 years old who are ready to explore, play, and learn in an outdoor environment.
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We believe there is no such thing as bad weather — only bad clothing! Children will experience all four seasons with proper outdoor gear, learning to appreciate rain, snow, wind, and sunshine. We will make adjustments when conditions are unsafe, but outdoor learning continues year-round.
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Our mornings are filled with nature exploration, imaginative play, movement, stories, creative activities, and hands-on discovery. Children may spend the day building with wood, observing birds, climbing, digging in the mud, creating nature art, exploring the woods, and following their own curiosity.
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Outdoor learning supports the development of important school-readiness skills including communication, problem-solving, independence, creativity, focus, physical coordination, and social-emotional growth.
Children build confidence by taking risks, making decisions, and learning through real experiences. -
Children should arrive dressed for outdoor adventure! Recommended items include weather-appropriate clothing, waterproof boots, layers, and a water bottle. (All of this is covered in detail in our welcome guide! :)
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No. The Bop is a preschool program focused on early learning through nature, exploration, and play. Our goal is to provide children with meaningful educational experiences that support their growth and development.
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Absolutely! Families can choose the schedule that works best for them. Some children attend as their primary preschool experience, while others join us to add nature-based learning and outdoor exploration alongside their existing education.
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The Bop runs Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. September to June
Families can choose:
Monday & Wednesday
Tuesday & Thursday
Monday through Thursday
The cost is $35 per child, per day.
If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out! I’m always excited to chat with families about The Bop!
A nature preschool in Belleville where curiosity leads the way
