Advocacy, Wish List, and Resources

Advocacy

At Hartley Nature Center we believe that we all deserve a childcare system that is affordable, accessible, and high quality for all families and pays thriving wages for teachers. Hartley Nature Center hosted a nature-preschool round table with local and state lawmakers on December, 5, 2024, to highlight the successes and challenges of operating licensed nature-based child care programs in the midst of the current child care crisis.

Preschool Wish List

(links included for examples of the items!)

  • child-sized backpack for science tools
  • hammock and hammock straps
  • mud kitchen items —  sturdy wood or metal muffin tins, pots and pans, bread pans, mixing bowls, and utensils
  • 4T-6/7 winter/wool crew-length socks
  • Matchbox/Hot Wheels cars
  • Green Toys sturdy trucks and vehicles (see Amazon store here)
  • Green Toys tea sets and ice cream sets (See Amazon Store here)
  • Spielstabil brand buckets, shovels, and sand sieve (see Amazon store here)
  • Sturdy snow shovels similar to this one 
  • Bird seed-black oil sunflower bird seed (no mixes with peanuts or tree nuts!)
  • Loose parts ~ acorns, pinecones, buttons, wooden beads, corks, glass beads, any little loose parts that are fun to sort and play with
  • Picture frames (without glass)
  • Old lunch trays
  • Water color paper
  • Envelopes
  • 4T-6/7 inside clothes (pants, shirts, sweatshirts, warm socks, etc)
  • 3T-6/7 outdoor clothing (waterproof mittens, neck warmers, snow pants, winter coats, rain gear, winter and rubber boots)

Volunteer Task Wish List

  • build an outdoor table for snack time and projects
    • stump or log benches for the table
  • Make tree cookies of various sizes (Here is an example)
  • Build a giant Jenga set
  • Build a bean bag toss (corn hole) set

Family Resources: Parent Aware Website

If your family needs help paying for child care, rent, food, or other resources please visit the Parent Aware website at https://www.parentaware.org/families/#/ to find resources.

Nature-Based Care Options in Duluth

Hartley Nature Preschool is a part of the Duluth Nature Play Collaborative . The Duluth Nature Play Collaborative is a community group that advocates for all of our community’s children to have time outdoors every day and supports early childhood education programs of all kinds to get children outdoors.

There are many nature preschools in Duluth! Click on this Natural Start map to see all the programs!

Additional Opportunities at Hartley Nature Center

Outdoor Gear and Gear Guide

Check out the HNP Gear Guide on our website to see a checklist of the gear your nature preschooler will need to play outdoors in all seasons.

Some of our favorite brands are: