The Grove Half Day Preschool
A Nature-Based Preschool Where Learning Happens Outside
A morning preschool session for 3 and 4-year-olds in Milltown, built around outdoor exploration across 2.5 acres, hands-on STEM, and the skills children need for kindergarten.
Free tuition available for eligible 4-year-olds through Wisconsin’s Get Kids Ready program.
Free Preschool for Eligible 4-Year-Olds
Wisconsin’s Get Kids Ready program covers preschool tuition for families with eligible 4-year-old children. If your child qualifies, they can attend The Grove Half Day Preschool at no cost to you, with the same teachers, the same curriculum, and the same outdoor classroom as every other child in the program.
Families who enroll through Get Kids Ready also keep access to The Grove’s extended care options, so you get a full-day childcare solution built around a tuition-free preschool morning.
There is an application to complete, and we will walk you through it. Most families finish it in one sitting.
What you need to know
- Open to 4-year-old children who meet the state’s eligibility requirements
- An application is required and we help you complete it
- Enrollment is limited to 10 children per session
Morning Preschool, Built for Curious Kids
Potty-trained 3 and 4-year-olds
Monday through Thursday, morning session
Maximum of 10 children per session
Aligned with Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards
Indoor classroom plus 2.5 acres of woods, trails, and outdoor classroom space
Follows the Unity School District calendar
Children Learn Best When They Are Doing
At The Grove, a lesson rarely stays at a table. A question about why leaves change color turns into a walk through the woods, a collection of samples, and a conversation about seasons. That is how young children actually absorb ideas, and it is how we teach.
Our teachers guide each day around exploring, playing, creating, and problem solving. Children ask questions and are given the room to find answers. Along the way they build the independence and confidence that carry into a kindergarten classroom.
We nurture the whole child
Our Classroom Has No Ceiling
The Grove sits on 2.5 acres of woods, trails, and outdoor classroom space, and we use it every day the weather allows. Outdoor learning is not a reward at the end of the morning. It is where much of the teaching happens.
Children learn and grow through hands-on exploration across 2.5 acres of woods, trails, and outdoor classroom spaces.
What children explore
- The outdoor classroom
- Forests and gardens
- Wildlife on the property
- Seasons and weather
- Natural materials for building and creating
Children who learn outside develop stronger observation skills, take healthier risks, and build a real relationship with the place they live. They also come home with stories.
Hands-On Science & Engineering for Ages 3–4
STEM at the preschool age looks like curiosity with structure. Children test ideas, build things that fall down, build them again, and figure out why the second version held. Those habits matter more at this age than any single fact they memorize.
In a typical week, children take part in
- Science investigations
- Engineering and building challenges
- Gardening
- Math exploration and number concepts
- Problem solving activities
- Discovery centers
A Curriculum That Prepares Children for Kindergarten
Our nature-based STEM curriculum provides hands-on, developmentally appropriate learning through outdoor exploration, play, observation, and discovery. Children investigate nature, solve problems, experiment, build, measure, and ask questions while developing skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, in plain language
WMELS is the framework Wisconsin uses to describe what children should know and be able to do before they start kindergarten. It is not a test and it is not a workbook. It is a shared set of expectations that gives teachers and families the same picture of healthy development across every part of a child’s growth.
Our experiences intentionally support all WMELS domains, so a morning spent measuring a garden bed or tracking animal prints is building real skills across several of them at once.
What we teach
- Early literacy
- Math
- Science
- Social studies
- Creative arts
- Social and emotional development
- Physical development
- Language and communication
What children take with them
- Early reading skills and letter recognition
- Number concepts
- Fine motor development
- Independence and self-confidence
- Comfort with classroom routines
- Social skills for a group setting
The Morning Preschool Session
The preschool runs Monday through Thursday. There is no preschool on Fridays.
Enrollment is open — children can start anytime.
School calendar
The preschool follows the Unity School District calendar, including the same holidays, in-service days, and snow days.
Weather closures
On days Unity School closes due to weather, the preschool program is closed as well. When that happens, The Grove is likely closed as well.
Need care beyond the half day?
The Grove offers full-day childcare on the same campus, so your child can move from the preschool session into extended care without a second dropoff or a change of setting.
Ten Children Per Session
We cap each session at 10 children so our teachers can pay attention to each one. Small groups let us notice when a child is ready for more, when a child needs a different approach, and what each family should hear about at pickup.
How to Enroll
Open to potty-trained 3 and 4-year-olds · Start anytime
Schedule a tour.
Email sdonaghue@thegrovechildcare.com to set up a visit. Come see the classroom and the grounds, and meet the teachers. Most tours take about 30 minutes.
Check your Get Kids Ready eligibility.
If your child is 4, we will help you find out whether tuition is covered and walk you through the application.
Reserve your child’s spot.
The morning session is capped at 10 children, so spots are limited. Enrollment is open and children can start anytime.
Enrollment is open and children can start anytime. Tuition details are being finalized. Email us and we will send them as soon as they are available, along with information on whether your child qualifies for free tuition through Get Kids Ready.
sdonaghue@thegrovechildcare.comQuestions Parents Ask
Is my 4-year-old eligible for free preschool?
Many 4-year-olds in our area qualify through Wisconsin’s Get Kids Ready program. Eligibility is set by the state and there is an application to complete. Reach out and we will tell you where your family stands and help you through the paperwork.
What if my child is not potty trained yet?
Our preschool program requires children to be potty trained. If your child is not there yet, The Grove’s full-day childcare program may be the right fit in the meantime, and many families move into preschool from there.
What does my child do outside in the winter?
Children go outside year-round with the right gear, and we will send you a list of what to pack. Snow changes what we can teach and explore, not whether we go out. On extreme weather days we stay in and bring natural materials into the classroom.
Is this the same as a daycare?
This is a structured preschool program with a curriculum aligned to state early learning standards, taught by early childhood teachers. The Grove also offers full-day childcare, and families often combine the two.
What happens on Fridays and during school breaks?
There is no preschool on Fridays, and the program follows the Unity School District calendar for holidays, in-service days, and snow days.
What happens when school closes for weather?
On days Unity School closes due to weather, the preschool program is closed as well. When that happens, The Grove is likely closed as well.
When can my child start?
Enrollment is open and children can start anytime. There is no application deadline and no fixed start date.
How big are the classes?
Each session is capped at 10 children.
Can I tour before I decide?
Yes, and we recommend it. Seeing children in the outdoor classroom tells you more than any page can. Email sdonaghue@thegrovechildcare.com and we will find a time.
Not Ready to Tour Yet?
Send us your email and we will let you know when tuition details and Get Kids Ready information are confirmed.
