The Grove Membership

Consulting, professional development, & reference library for nature-based educators

Become the empowered early childhood educator you’ve always wanted to be!

 

Does any of this sound familiar…

→ You value the idea of nature-based teaching and learning, but don’t know where to start

→ You have a nature-based program, but it’s not going as well as you’d like or you’re looking for ways to grow and improve

→ You have no time to wade through the seemingly endless information about children and nature to improve your teaching and/or coach your team

→ You have a limited budget and yet want professional growth by connecting with other like-minded professionals

Well, imagine if…

…you had an easy-to-follow approach and professional guidance to improve your nature-based teaching. And you didn’t have to waste any time or effort on costly mistakes that hold you back in the classroom?!

The step-by-step journeys, courses, library of resources, and access to Dr. Rachel Larimore’s guidance will ensure you feel empowered and relaxed to have the impact you want to make with your program.

We support educators serving children in the early years (ages 0-8) whether they work with infants and toddlers, PreK, or K-3. 

Move the needle toward your nature-based early education goals

The Grove membership includes:

✔️ Step-by-step guide for integrating nature into the early childhood classroom to avoid costly mistakes and time-wasters

✔️ Deep dives into nature-based teaching and operations through regular live Focused Call presentations (think “webinar”) & self-paced mini-courses to continue to reflect on and refine practice

✔️ Tailored, confidential support from Dr. Rachel Larimore through 1-on-1 conversations, monthly drop-in community conversations & monthly calls specific to family providers!

✔️ A library of downloadable documents such as articles, workbooks, & templates to focus your efforts and save you time

✔️ A private, members only podcast featuring the audio only versions of focused calls, conversations with colleagues & guest contributor presentations

✔️ Exclusive Resources & Perks (because who doesn’t like a good coupon?!)

✔️ Downloadable certificates so you get credit for your professional learning

✔️ Conversations with and presentations by a variety of guest experts in nature-based education including: Amy Butler, Outside OT (Nicole Gordon & Lis Duckworth), Dr. Claire Warden, Bridget Butler the BirdDiva, and Harriet Hart

Want to share The Grove with your administrators? Click here to swipe the copy of a letter to send them!

What people are saying

  • "I love having a safe place to throw out ideas, questions, barriers, etc. and knowing that a like-minded sounding board can give valuable and helpful input."

    — Madison Powell, Chippewa Nature Center’s Nature Preschool

  • "I really like the discussions with other nature center directors and staff, as well as the discussions with Rachel."

    — Melissa Reid, Elachee Nature Academy

  • "I love having connection and access to really great support, knowledge and resources. I also appreciate Rachel's thoughtful, detailed responses and willingness to make herself available."

    — Robin Criscuolo, Robin’s Nest

  • "I love all the information! It's fantastic!"

    — Grove Member

Get instant access to The Grove

If you’re ready to join The Grove to take your nature-based program to the next level, choose your payment option below.

Pay Monthly

$27

Recurring payment—cancel anytime

Pay Annually

$270

BEST Value: Save $54 with this subscription!

Interested in organizational memberships for 3 or more staff? We’ve got you covered! Click here to see organizational options.

Rachel Larimore, nature based early childhood education expert

Meet The Grove host

The Grove is hosted by Samara’s founder and Chief Visionary—Rachel Larimore, Ph.D.

Rachel is an educator, speaker, consultant, and author. Her work focuses on the intentional integration of nature to support young children’s holistic development by learning with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. She has written multiple books including Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool, Evaluating Natureness, and Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning.

Click here to learn even more about Rachel

A peek at the Member’s Dashboard…

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Grove serves as a comprehensive hub offering consulting, professional development, and a reference library for all aspects of nature-based early childhood education. But what makes it truly exceptional? The Grove provides affordable, ongoing access to Dr. Rachel Larimore, a pioneer in nature-based education with more than 25 years in education, including 10 directing a premier nature-based preschool.

    With your membership, you’ll gain exclusive access to resources carefully developed and curated by Rachel, designed to simplify your life and save you time in implementing nature-based education. In addition to the resources, Rachel hosts monthly “Drop-in Office Hour” sessions, which are opportunities to discuss anything nature-based education. While Rachel provides valuable insights on these calls, the true magic happens when you connect with your peers - fellow educators and administrators who share their feedback, experiences and insights. Join us inside The Grove today!

  • Yes! No matter where you are on your nature journey, The Grove can guide you with step-by-step resources. Whether you’re just starting out (Seed stage), navigating the middle ground (Sapling stage), or have a well-established program (Tree stage), The Grove has resources tailored to your needs.

    We offer guidance to help you make gradual changes in your daily practices and become more intentional in integrating nature-based approaches into your program. Regardless of your starting point, you’ll find valuable support and resources here to nurture your nature-based education journey.

  • Having a thriving nature-based early childhood program is fantastic! We also believe that continuous growth and development are key to ongoing success. The Grove offers a wide array of resources that can benefit members at any stage of their nature journey, including those who are already running successful programs.

    If you’re already incorporating nature into your program successfully, The Grove can help you delve even deeper into your current practices. Whether you’re seeking fresh ideas, time-saving tools, or ways to enhance your program’s impact, The Grove is here to support your ongoing success and development in the field of nature-based early childhood education.

  • None! We’re thrilled to welcome individuals of all backgrounds and experiences to join our community at The Grove. All that is required is a passion for connecting young children with nature. This encompasses various program models, including nature-based infant and toddler programming, nature-based preschools, forest preschools, forest kindergartens, and nature-based elementary programs. Whether you’re just beginning to explore this field or have years of experience, you’ll find a supportive and inclusive environment at The Grove. We’re here to facilitate your growth and learning journey, regardless of your starting point.

  • Absolutely! Dive into the world of nature-based education with two monthly live events: Drop-in Community Conversations and Focused Calls.

    The “Drop-in Community Conversations” is one hour each month hosted by Dr. Rachel Larimore via Zoom. While Rachel offers her valuable insights, the real magic happens when you connect with your peers—educators and administrators who share their feedback and experiences. These gatherings are not just informative; they’re an opportunity for networking and building a strong, supportive community. The best part? No need for preparation; simply show up and immerse yourself in the conversation!

    Our live Focused Calls feature brief presentations led by Rachel (and occasionally guest experts!) followed by an open discussion time among the group. It’s another chance for you and your fellow Grove members to exchange experiences, insights, and support.

    Join The Grove today to take advantage of these monthly opportunities to connect, network, and learn from like-minded individuals who share your passion for nature-based education!

  • In a nutshell, it’s both! Dr. Rachel Larimore has been creating content for early childhood educators in The Grove for many years. When you join, you’ll gain immediate access to ALL of our past content. Plus, we continue to add fresh material—often based on members’ requests—ensuring that you receive ongoing value from your membership.

    We also understand that life can get busy, so to make sure you still get all of the valuable content, we record all live calls and make them available afterwards. This way, even if you can’t attend in real-time, you won’t miss out on the valuable insights and discussions.

  • Absolutely! One of the standout benefits of The Grove membership is the opportunity for direct access to Dr. Rachel Larimore, an esteemed expert in nature-based education. Each month, Rachel offers Tea Times which are 30-minute, 1-on-1 sessions where you get answers to any questions or feedback on concerns you may have. Tea Times are a personalized opportunity to tap into Rachel’s expertise and get advice tailored to your unique needs.

  • While we would absolutely love to have all our members with us indefinitely, we understand that circumstances can change. If you ever decide to cancel your membership, we’ll be sad to see you go, but we want to make the process as simple as possible for you. Canceling is easy and can be done with just a few clicks from your Account page. Your satisfaction is important to us, and we’re here to assist you, whether you choose to continue your membership with us or explore other options.

    Once canceled, you’ll continue to have access to The Grove for any paid time remaining, after which you’ll lose access to all of the content.

  • Yes! You can upgrade your membership at any time by logging into The Grove, navigating to your Account page, and selecting the annual subscription level. You won’t have to create a new account or lose any of your current progress!

  • While we don’t have a trial period available, we’ve tried to make it easy for you to explore all the details about what The Grove has to offer. We recommend watching the video at the top of this page, where Rachel introduces herself and provides insights into The Grove membership.

    We understand needs and circumstances can change, which is why you always have the flexibility to cancel your membership at any time. It’s a simple process that can be done with just a few clicks from within your Account page. We want to ensure that you have the best experience possible, whether you decide to join us or explore other options.

Still have questions? Email Dr. Rachel Larimore, host of The Grove, at hello@51tppx.com and she will personally answer any other questions or concerns you may have!

Get instant access to The Grove

If you’re ready to join The Grove to take your nature-based program to the next level, choose your payment option below.

Pay Monthly

$27

Recurring payment—cancel anytime

Pay Annually

$270

BEST Value: Save $54 with this subscription!

Interested in organizational memberships for 3 or more staff? We’ve got you covered! Click here to see organizational options.

What people are saying

  • "I really like that the site is very easy to use! The Grove has a wonderful, clear mission that is very supportive."

    — Stephany Cecil, Hawksview Gardens

  • "I love that Rachel is ALWAYS there to answer questions and give advice. It's like having our very own nature-based consultant!"

    — Monica Shire, University of Delaware Lab School

  • " I really like the community aspect. It’s also easy access to all the resources."

    — Grove Member

Get instant access to The Grove

If you’re ready to join The Grove to take your nature-based program to the next level, choose your payment option below.

Pay Monthly

$27

Recurring payment—cancel anytime

Pay Annually

$270

BEST Value: Save $54 with this subscription!

Interested in organizational memberships for 3 or more staff? We’ve got you covered! Click here to see organizational options.