REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW FOR FALL 2026 ENROLLMENT IN 3- TO 5-YEAR OLD CLASSES – Colorado kiddos who thrive in nature-based learning have a new opportunity to enroll in preschool at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! Little Paws Preschool at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will welcome its inaugural class on the first day of school: Mon., Aug. 24, 2026. Interested parents should email [email protected] for initial information and an application to follow.
Little Paws Preschool will offer two classes:
3-year-olds
9 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays
$220.75 per month
4- to 5-year-olds
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
$460.75 per month
Little Paws Preschool is accredited by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. The academic calendar mirrors Cheyenne Mountain School District 12’s calendar, with classes starting on Mon., Aug. 24.
Classes are small, with around 15 students each, and teachers are early childhood professionals whose credentials meet state licensure regulations. Lead teachers are director-qualified through the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. Students will spend their mornings exploring established trails and outdoor play settings in and around the Zoo.
“We view nature as the most inspiring cultivator of learning and our students as explorers within an experience-rich, living classroom,” Brittinie Ford, camp and school director at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, says. “We immerse our students in outdoor nature trails, play areas, and safe animal habitats to build resilience, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging in the world around them.”
Curriculum centers on play as the foundation of early learning. Through open-ended outdoor play, preschool explorers will develop essential life skills tailored for success in a modern world:
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• Collaboration and social communication
• Emotional intelligence and resilience
• Love of lifelong learning
• Creativity and innovation
• Global mindset
• A Community of care and responsibility
Little Paws Preschool emphasizes compassion and respect for all living things. Explorers learn to care for animals, respect global cultures, and make choices that positively affect the world around them. This fosters empathy, responsibility, and a sense of guardianship for the natural world.
Preschoolers’ days flow with a gentle, predictable rhythm that supports explorers’ well-being, while allowing flexibility for extended exploration.
Little Paws Preschool learning activities will strive to strike a balance between:
• Outdoor adventures
• Nature-based learning
• Hands-on science and animal inquiry
• Creative arts inspired by the environment
• Rest, nourishment, and quiet reflection
For more information, visit cmzoo.org/littlepawspreschool.
To begin the enrollment process and to learn more, email [email protected].