
Nourishing the joy and wonder of childhood

Application Process
We are currently accepting applications
for the 2025-2026 school year!
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Application deadline: February 22nd
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We will accept applications on a rolling basis afterwards for any remaining spots.
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​We offer in-person interviews that include a tour after families submit their application.
Please click to get a preview of our space and day.
In an effort to counter systemic inequities in access to quality outdoor, play-based, early childhood education,
priority for new children will be given to BIPOC families who reflect the diversity of our global world
and to full-day spots (and families whose schedules fit with the available program spaces).
After these priorities are honored, we will offer a lottery for any remaining spaces.
If you are interested in applying for the following school year,
applications for the 2026-2027 school year will due in February 2026
Application Process:
The Maple Hill Play Garden generally accepts children who are 15 months old - 2.9 years old as of September of the current school year.
Example: a child enrolling for the 2024-2025 school year must be aged at least 15 months, but under 3 years, as of September 1, 2024.
1. Browse the website for a virtual tour and to get a feel for the program.
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2. Fill out and submit an application:
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- Please submit applications electronically to: NourishingChildhood@gmail.com (if accessibility is a challenge
with the electronic application, please email to inquire about other options).
- Please write: "Maple Hill Application" in the subject heading.
- Please note if application fee has been submitted or is pending.
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3. Submit the $45 application fee here:
(As a small business, this cost is to honor the value of our time during the interview process.)
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- Please write your child's name in the "Comments/Memo" section (so we can link your payment to your application)
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4. We will schedule a 30-minute in-person family interview - generally within 2-3 weeks of receiving the application. This is a chance for us to get to know a bit about each other, and to ask any additional questions you may have.
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5. We will offer spaces based on the aforementioned criteria, and hold a lottery for any remaining spaces. We will let you know within 2-3 weeks after the application deadline if we are able to offer your child a space!
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Applications for the following school year are due in January/February. After this, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis for any remaining available spaces and/or to be added to the waitlist. Application fees are non-refundable.
- The amount of financial aid available in a given year depends upon the enrollment numbers of full-paying families. Therefore, we may not know how much financial aid is available to offer until enrollment capacity has been determined.
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The signed contract - along with the non-refundable Supply Fee - must be returned within a week of acceptance in order to hold your place.
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Tuition payments are divided equally over the course of 12 months - beginning on June 1st and ending on May 1st of the following year.
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Unfortunately, we are unable to accept childcare vouchers at this time.