At a Glance
Trust Score
Based on comprehensive analysis of reviews, safety records, and operations.
About Natures Way Preschool
Nature Based Learning on 80 Acres
Established in 1992, Nature’s Way Preschool offers a unique environmental enrichment program located within the Austin Nature & Science Center. Children explore 80 acres of hiking trails and utilize the historic Ashford-McGill Trailhouse as their base for discovery. The curriculum is rooted in nature and science, encouraging curiosity through daily hikes, animal encounters, and nature-themed art projects. It is a child-led environment where students are motivated to solve problems and take initiative. Classes are held in a nurturing setting that includes outdoor gardens, sand and water play areas, and specialized animal enclosures. The program follows a school-year calendar closely aligned with AISD. Parents are responsible for providing a nutritious lunch and filling snacks for their children, as the program focuses on outdoor experiential learning rather than full-day childcare services.
What Parents Say
5 reviews from parents
It's taken me two years to write this review, and I'm still processing the devastation that occurred in consequence to how the school mismanaged my child and his classroom. My child was accepted into the program from a waitlist a month late. I made the naive mistake of sharing the blow by blow of their previous preschool experiences with the teacher. I knew my child had experienced toxic stress since infancy, and suspected they were neuro diverse. I also knew they had extreme anxiety. We now know my child fits the P.D.A. profile, a subset of Autism spectrum. There were three children in the class who fit the neuro divergent mold-- 1 was barely verbal and matched the profile for ADHD, the other was almost completely nonverbal. I feel like from the beginning, the teacher singled my child out as a "behavioral concern". After a lot of pushback, I was allowed to survey the class. It was immediately clear that the less verbal neuro divergent children were largely ignored-- one being all but forgotten as they lagged behind the group throughout my survey. Meanwhile, my child, who is highly verbal, was met with nervous hyper vigilance. Because they are extremely sensitive, they picked up on this from the beginning, and it resulted in highly reactive and erratic behavior. I was even shamed by the teacher for my child's lack of pro social skills, something understandable at 4 and certainly we now know understandable with a PDA child. Still, my child is capable of great concern, empathy and tenderness when in a supportive environment. This tense dynamic with the "teacher" crescendo'd into another child being injured during an overactive stress response from my child, who is a fight responder and feared the repercussion of his noncompliance. The child healed, but the aftermath was painful for both families, as my child chose to respond to the incident again with an overactive stress and fight response. Instead of admitting that the teacher and school were unequipped to help families with neuro divergent pathways, the teacher chose to politicize the situation in a truly inaccurate and disgusting way that was not reflective of neither my child, my family, our values nor our life experience. It caused deep harm. I chose to remove my child from the school. The last day, he played with the child who had been injured, because they were friends and neither he nor the other child involved could've fully grasped the heavy and hateful implication the teacher had made about the incident. Please reconsider this school if you suspect your child is neurodivergent. Unless something drastic has changed in their policy and training, they are not at all equipped to approach this challenge in a way that's helpful to families.
My two kids loved this school. They loved exploring and learning about nature in a child led way. I was sad when they graduated.
My daughters went to the Nature’s Way Preschool and had an amazing experience with loving teachers. I highly recommend this preschool.
I want to start off by saying the preschool and all of the teachers are above and beyond amazing. My issue is with the woman who handles the preschool payments. The just of it is that she can’t keep her story straight about how the payments are supposed to line up. It’s changed every time I’ve spoken to her. And it doesn’t match the website info, confirmation emails or handbook info. When I pointed this out she immediately back tracked and said they have a new program that isn’t very reliable. She stumbles over everything she says and it just doesn’t add up. It has been a huge unnecessary hassle. This shouldn’t even be an issue after this many years of this program. Definitely keep track of how much you’re paying so you won’t over pay.
Web Report
Aggregated insights from public records & parent discussions
Safety Record
Nature's Way Preschool is a state-licensed child care center (License #1024587) regulated by Texas Health and Human Services. While no major incidents or legal violations were found in public records, a 2024 City of Austin document noted 'life safety concerns' regarding traffic during drop-offs and pick-ups. There are currently official proposals to relocate the school due to its proximity to a busy highway and to provide updated, safer facilities.
Parent Reputation
The preschool maintains an exceptionally high reputation among parents, frequently described in forums and reviews as a 'jewel' of the city and a 'magical' experience. Parents consistently praise the immersive outdoor curriculum, emphasizing that it fosters confidence and an adventurous spirit in children. Sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, though some parents find the limited school-year schedule (September to April) and lengthy waitlist challenging to navigate.
Staff Insights
Teachers are City of Austin employees and are described by parents as knowledgeable, caring, and dedicated to nature-based pedagogy. While no direct employee reviews were found on professional platforms, parents frequently highlight the staff's ability to foster strong interpersonal relationships with the children. Some parents noted that turnover can occur, which they characterized as a common industry-wide challenge rather than a school-specific issue.
Quick Information
Varies by age and schedule





