Cottonwood Buds
Cottonwood Buds is NOW ENROLLING for School Year 2024/2025!
The Program: A LifeWays, RIE, and Forest School inspired multi-age program for children 20 months through 5-7 years.
Children enrolled at Cottonwood Buds will experience days rich with crafts, storytelling, song, practical work, and outdoor experiences. Crafts, handwork, games, and regular outdoor play encourage the healthy growth of the child’s body. Neighborhood walks through the woods and visits to a local orchard will be considered part of our regular program.
Mary Samuel
I have a Bachelor’s in Child and Family Studies and have worked with children of all ages for over fifteen years. Ten years ago I got a job at a Waldorf-inspired child care center in Palmer and fell in love with the focus on daily and weekly rhythms, emphasis on time spent in nature, reverence for the earth and its seasons, and the storytelling, arts, and home-like setting that ran throughout the program.
In Fall 2021, I opened Cottonwood Buds. It started out in my 8x20 tiny house, then moved into the 16 ft yurt. In May 2022 the program moved from Greer to Bear Creek and Summer 2023 Kevin joined the school, we added more enrollment slots and we built the Schoolhouse. This has already been quite the journey and I’m excited to get into the groove in our new setting and continue providing care for these wonderful little humans.
In my time not spent working, I teach Safe Sitter through SPH, I write poetry, bake, read, craft, ski, and love spending time outdoors.
Kevin Lahaie
I have worked with children for about ten years. My love for working with kids started when I worked with the Deaf community in California as a camp counselor. I rediscovered my passion for working with children when I was asked to build a playground for Girassol Learning Center. That led to me being employed as a teacher at Girassol, and then on to Tiny Trees Kittiwake several years later. I worked as a teacher at Tiny Trees Kittiwake for three years before joining Mary at Cottonwood Buds Summer 2023.
I enjoy sharing my love for the outdoors and art with the children, as well as my knowledge of Sign Language.
When I’m not at Cottonwood Buds, I spend my time metal sculpting and welding, skiing, skateboarding, surfing, playing music, and crafting. I’m always working on furthering my education as an early childhood teacher.
