★ Voted Best of Dripping Springs, 2021–2025
Childhood,
grown the way nature intended.
Havenwood Nature School blends a Reggio-inspired curriculum with real gardens, real animals, and real outdoor time — giving children ages 6 weeks to 6 years a foundation as strong as the Hill Country oaks around them.
Plan Your Visit
Reach out and we'll set up a time to walk the gardens, meet the animals, and see a Reggio-inspired classroom in action — no pressure, just a real look at what a day at Havenwood feels like.
Explore
From morning garden chores to chef-prepared meals made from scratch, every day blends hands-on nature learning with the academic milestones your child needs to thrive.
Join Us
Join a community that's been voted Best of Dripping Springs five years running — where teachers know your child by name, and childhood gets to unfold outdoors.
Our Approach
A curriculum rooted in curiosity, not worksheets.
At Havenwood, environmental education isn't a subject on a schedule — it's woven through language and literacy, math, art, music, and dramatic play every day. Children study the plants growing in our gardens, greet the animals who share our campuses, and spend real time outdoors in pasture land and shaded meadows.
We track each child's growth using the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) and the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) framework, so nature-based exploration and school readiness grow hand in hand.
Reggio-Inspired
Chef-Prepared Meals
Garden & Animal Care
Whole-Child Development
Our Staff
A Naturalist Educational Approach
We tap into our teachers’ diverse academic and socio-emotional experiences to create daily learning activities that keep students engaged and excited to learn. Our educators and staff members collaborate to provide children with a positive, holistic approach to the natural world in a way that cultivates appreciation and respect for the Earth’s gifts.
A Day at Havenwood
Every day looks a little different outside.
From tending the garden to saying good morning to the goats, your child's day is full of hands-on moments that build vocabulary, confidence, and a genuine love of the outdoors.
Animal Friends & Gardens
Chickens, goats, and classroom animal friends live alongside gardens where children plant, tend, and harvest what they grow.
Chef-Made Meals
An on-site chef prepares two meals and two snacks from scratch each day, often using produce grown right on campus.
Outdoor Classrooms
Shaded meadows and open pasture land become extensions of the classroom for strolls, play, and quiet exploration.
Whole-Child Focus
Reggio-inspired studios nurture social, emotional, and intellectual growth alongside DRDP & TEKS milestones.
Now Enrolling for 2026-2027!
Now Enrolling for 2026-2027!
Two Places to Call Havenwood
Find your campus.
Both campuses share the same nature-based philosophy, chef-prepared meals, and Reggio-inspired studios — pick the one that fits your family, then start your tour or application below.
main campus
Havenwood Nature School — Main
Our original campus set on wide pasture land in Dripping Springs, with classroom gardens, resident goats and chickens, and covered outdoor learning spaces for every age group, 6 weeks through 6 years.
WEST campus
Havenwood Nature School — West
Our sister campus brings the same nature-based, Reggio-inspired approach to families on the west side, with the same small-group care, gardens, and chef-prepared meals your child will love.
Our Programs
Preschool
Age Ranges: Serving children 6 weeks through 6 years.
Hours: Preschool: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Nature-Based Curriculum
Our nature inspired curriculum nurtures the whole child, focusing on their social, emotional, and intellectual growth so they can reach their fullest potential. We use academic
assessments as outlined in the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Curriculum Framework provided by the State of Texas.
Animal Care
These educational experiences can take the form of enjoying a classroom animal friend, saying hello to the chickens and goats, or observing animals in their natural habitats.
Botanical Exploration
Children will study plant life in the classrooms and gardens on campus exploring concepts such as: pattern recognition, geometry, biology, and a strengthened vocabulary.
There are abundant opportunities to explore the world around you during strolls and playtime in pasture land and shaded meadows.
Scratch Kitchen
We believe a whole and nutritious diet is vital to each growing child’s development. We serve fresh, flavorful food that the children have helped grow and see each meal as an educational opportunity.
We have a chef on site who prepares two meals and two snacks made from scratch each day from our very own
campus kitchen.
Tuition & Fees
Invest in your child’s education at Havenwood
WEST campus
Your child’s education is a lifelong commitment and our tuition and fees reflect the importance of this financial investment.
Applies to both campuses:
- Registration Fee (Non-Refundable):
$175.00 per child - Supply Fee (once a year)
- $300.00 per child
- Monthly Tuition: (subject to change)
| AGE GROUP | MON - FRI | MON, WED, FRI | TUE & THU |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Campus Under 2 Years Old | $1,600.00 | $1,125.00 | $925.00 |
| West Campus Over 2 Years Old | $1,450.00 | $1,125.00 | $925.00 |
main campus
| AGE GROUP | MON - FRI | MON, WED, FRI | TUE & THU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–12 months | $1,050 | $1,300 | $1,750 |
| 1 year olds | $1,000 | $1,200 | $1,700 |
| 2 year olds | $950 | $1,150 | $1,600 |
| 3 and 4 year olds | $950 | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Pre-K (4 by Sept 1) | $925 | $1,125 | $1,500 |
“ Letting kids spend time in settings with natural elements or giving them structured nature experiences can make for a calmer, socially safe, and fun learning environment. And being outdoors can also enhance peer-to-peer relationships and student/teacher relationships needed for learning. ”
Careers
Interested in becoming a member of the Havenwood Team?
We are currently building our team of talented teachers and support staff who are enthusiastic about child development, education, and nature.
If you are energetic, hard-working, and committed to both Havenwood’s philosophy and to promoting a nature-based education, we invite you to send your resume and cover letter to owners@havenwoodnatureschool.com.
Please include “Recruiting” and your desired position in the subject line.
Come See For Yourself
Meet Havenwood in person
The best way to understand what makes Havenwood different is to walk the gardens, meet the animals, and see a Reggio-inspired classroom in action.
