Unhurried. Seasonal.
Intentional.
WILLINGTON, CONNECTICUT - 20 WOODED ACRES
Childhood at nature's own pace
A nature-based early years preschool program rooted in seasonal rhythms — two enrolled children per session, a multi-generational family, a year spent truly noticing the world.
Now enrolling for September 2026. Ages 2.5 - 6 years.
MORNING & AFTERNOON
Two Sessions. One living program.
Each day unfolds across two sessions with distinct but complementary souls — the morning open and wonder-led, the afternoon intentional and making-oriented.
MORNING · 8:00 – 10:55AM · MON–THU
Early Discovery Preschool
Ages 2½ – 4 years
An unhurried stretch outdoors in all weather — open yards for running, large climbing rocks, a wildflower meadow alive with what each season brings, wooded trails, and our nature circle where we gather together outside. We go out whatever the weather, because the land always has something to offer. Coming inside, we gather around a seasonal snack and tea that the children help prepare together. Building with blocks, studying nature finds under a magnifying glass, and open ended collaborative play round out our time. The morning closes with a living book read slowly and a poem read twice in a warm room.
AFTERNOON · 1:00 – 3:55PM · MON–THU
Deeper Exploration Preschool
Ages 3½ – 6 years
A purposeful stretch outdoors in all weather — wooded trails with varied terrain, the wildflower meadow for close seasonal observation, wetlands and a seasonal stream that change dramatically across the year, climbing rocks, and our nature circle for tending, noticing, and gathering together. Whatever the season, we go outside. The afternoon comes inside for loose parts, nature collections, and seasonal making in the woodland room. We gather around a more involved snack — or on Memere's days, something made from scratch with real kitchen skills. Tea, an ongoing living book read across sessions, and a poem close the afternoon.
Lyon Acres Children’s House programs are not licensed by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood.
THE YEAR
A child who knows all four seasons
The program breathes with the earth. What we do in October is not what we do in March — and that difference is the education.
AUTUMN
September - November
Harvest, foraging, pressing leaves, warm cider. The longest outdoor stretches of the year. The garden put to bed with small, careful hands.
WINTER
December - February
Snow, ice, bare trees. Coming inside is its own ritual — boots off, hands warmed, gathering by the fire. Tea poured. Stories read slowly.
SPRING
March - May
Seeds started indoors and moved outside as warmth builds. Children track growth over weeks. First radishes from the garden appear on the snack table.
SPRING
SUMMER
June & August
Barefoot trails, water play, full sensory immersion. The garden in production. Snack drawn almost entirely from what grows outside.
Program runs a full year. Year 2026 - 2027 runs September to June. Year 2027 - 2028 runs August to June. July is closed for family time and summer reset.
Hi, I'm Bekah — a mother of four and the heart behind Lyon Acres.
Lyon Acres grew from the life we were already living — slow mornings outdoors, food prepared together, seasons noticed and marked, and a daily rhythm that felt genuinely right for young children. What started as our family's way of being in the world on twenty wooded acres in Willington became something we wanted to open to a few other families who were looking for the same thing.
If you're drawn to an unhurried, nature-rooted early childhood for your child — we'd love to meet you.
A NOTE FROM BEKAH
ENROLLMENT
Now Enrolling September 2026
We hold two spots per session for families who are ready to commit to a year of slow, seasonal, deeply attentive early childhood. If this sounds like your family, we would love to hear from you.
Tuition is $1,200 monthly, September through June.