Maple Tree Children’s Garden (MTCH), in Milwaukee’s Washington Heights neighborhood, will begin accepting registration for Monday-through-Friday childcare of children ages 2 to 6 this fall. MTCH offers childcare that emphasizes outdoor activities, projects and festivities, including gardening, nature exploration and crafts, as well as meal preparation inspired by nature and the seasons.

Founder and lead teacher Lori Barian has been working in the fields of Waldorf education and LifeWays childcare since 1994. Her five years as a Forest Kindergarten teacher for LifeWays, in Milwaukee, inspired her to open and run the Maple Tree Children’s Garden.

Barian explains, “Through books such as Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods and organizations such as Let the Children Play and The Nature Nurture Project, there is increasing recognition of the value and importance of nature experiences and outdoor play during early childhood. These lead to physically healthy children who care about their environment, develop strength, coordination and self-confidence and do well academically.”

Location: 2116-18 N. Hi Mount Blvd., Milwaukee. For more information, call 414-616-1832 or 414-698-6694, email [email protected] or visit Maple Tree Children’s Garden on Facebook.com.