
Cocoplum
Nature School
Three students gaze wide-eyed at a natural specimen.
A teacher holds out a seed on her palm as four students look on.
A green unripe cocoplum, a purple ripe cocoplum, and a cocoplum leaf rest in a child's hand.
Three students gaze wide-eyed at a natural specimen.

Vision
A generation of children so nurtured and joyful in school in their formative years that their civic engagement, leadership, and daily lives are guided by principles of justice, peace, inclusion, environmental stewardship, and democracy

Mission
To provide nature-based and place-based early childhood programs and an elementary education that honor children as individuals, promote joyful learning, and support their growth as members of their community and stewards of the earth

Values
Creative, curious, critical thinking
Connection to self
Connection to nature
Connection to others
Purpose and fulfillment


History
Cocoplum Nature School was founded in 2020 by two Delray Beach mothers, educators, and environmental stewards, Dr. Fernanda Wolfson and Dr. Melanie Stefanovic. Their friendship began at the children's library and local community gardens when their first children were babies. Friendship blossomed into co-founding the evidence-based school they each dreamed of for their own children.

Philosophy
Everything that is taught in traditional schools with textbooks and rote practice can be learned by children outdoors with natural materials through play, exploration, and inquiry. In fact, for most of humanity, children have joyfully learned all they needed to know and do through play groups, the natural world, markets, gardens and farms, and other settings not bound by four walls.

Curriculum
The three pillars of Cocoplum's curriculum are nature, place, and play. We employ Reggio Emilia methods of observation, documentation, and assessment. In the tradition of forest schools of northern Europe and nature schools in New Zealand and Australia, Cocoplum class sizes are small and mixed age. Learning is individualized, largely self-directed, experiential, and social.

FAQs Answered by Caregivers
How does nature school work?
The children are encouraged to wander, dream, experiment, question and explore. Through the fascination and inquisitiveness that is inherent in their nature, they discover the world around them in real time through real experiences creating a deep learning that will stay with them and allow them to grow. The teachers offer suggestions, look for interests, ask questions and encourage discovery. They run with the interests of the children instilling the learning principles that we all hope for within the context of their interests – not the other way around. This fosters autonomy, confidence, growth and a love of life and learning.
- Mother of a 7-year-old
Are you worried your child will get hurt?
Not really. Of course there is always the risk of injury, but the children are closely supervised given the small student to teacher ratio. Also, accidents happen everywhere, and at least at Cocoplum I know when my child gets hurts she we will be cared for by a well-trained, empathetic adult.
- Mother of a 5-year-old
How do you track your child's progress?
We measure progress by his social/emotional growth just as much as everything else. There are academic areas currently where he is excelling and areas where he is coming along at his own pace. He is not struggling anywhere and is a happy, well-adapted child building his own confidence in his world. And in the areas that he is not interested, we have seen that at his own time, learning in those avenues will and has come around - never forced and never feeling inept. We receive narratives of learning from the teachers that fully document the experiences, growth, and learning he is undergoing. We are encouraged and lead by the school to further provide opportunities for him in the avenues he is most interested in.
- Mother of a 7-year-old
What do Cocoplum students do all day?
In a word: PLAY! As simple as this may sound, their play is extremely dynamic. It is fully immersive, so collaborative and engaging, that they don’t even realize that they are absorbing and learning so much. Whether this consists of making mud pies and selling them to make a profit, water play with physics, animal yoga or enjoying their numerous field trips all over, these kids are learning math, science, history, reading, writing, economics, mindfulness, emotional regulation, music, art and tons of physical education. Most importantly, they are busy soaking up and giving out all of the kindness, friendship and love of their Cocoplum community!
- Mother of a 6-year-old
How do they learn to read?
By following their own interests and curiosities. The children are continually invited to activities that will allow them to build the foundation for reading. They even guide and help each other which instills a sense of community at a young age and creates a safe space to learn. By traditional school standards our son would be considered “behind” on reading and writing because he didn’t start until almost the age of 7. Yet, since he was allowed to discover, create a curiosity and interest and then begin learning at his own pace, he has shown a deep interest and enjoyment in reading and writing. When there is no pressure, this enjoyment will stay with him for the rest of his life, instead of being labeled as “behind” which could create a displeasure and sense of being not good enough.
- Father of a 7-year-old
How does the school handle conflict?
I was particularly impressed with how Cocoplum handles conflict resolution with the children. Cocoplum teaches the kids social-emotional skills so that they can understand, experience, express and manage their emotions. They are also encouraged to interpret their classmates’ emotions as well. Since these kids are at play in nature every day, they are given the opportunity to practice conflict resolution and self-regulation in a playful setting and to find common ground and peacefully make amends. I have noticed that communication and naming feelings is key at Cocoplum in helping the children better understand conflict and work through it together.
- Father of a 7-year-old


Testimonials
"I couldn’t imagine my child at a different school and I don’t think he could either."
"She wants to go to school every day, so of course that makes us happy parents."
"I know my daughter’s interests and curiosities are valued."
"CNS has provided a safe and stable environment for my child. She loves going to school."
2021 by Ty Powell. All rights reserved.

High Professional Standards

Evidence Base
The evidence from dozens of studies conducted over about a decade converges around a single conclusion: “In academic contexts, nature-based instruction outperforms traditional instruction” (National Institutes for Health, 2019, p. 1). It is well-established that by 4th grade, children educated in nature-based schools surpass their peers from traditional schools in academics, social and emotional well-being, creativity, and environmental awareness (Miller & Almon, 2009).

Code of Ethics
We hold our employees and volunteers to the highest standards, and our topmost priority is the protection and safety of the children in our care. To learn more about our Standards of Ethics, click here.

Affiliations
Cocoplum Nature School is proud to be an organizational member of the Eastern Regional Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS), the Natural Start Alliance (NSA), the North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE), and the League of Environmental Educators in Florida.
Cocoplum Educators

Melanie Stefanovic, PhD
Co-founder + Executive Director
Mother and wife
20 years of experience in education
Beach-goer, skier, handy-person
Published education researcher
Defender of childhood
Admirer of our natural world

Fernanda Wolfson, EdD
Co-founder + Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Mother of two boys
15+ years of experience
International program evaluator
ERAFANs Certified
Creator of Bilingual Nature Play



Paulina Bajos
Teaching & Administrative Assistant
Kristi Brock
Reading Specialist + 1st Grade Lead
Vivi Garcia
Early Childhood Facilitator



Christina Lucas
Kindergarten Lead
Salwa Mansour
2nd Grade Lead
You?
Future Cocoplum Facilitator
Experience with Reggio Emilia approach
Knowledge of child development
Practitioner of conscious discipline
Enjoys a tight-knit and diverse workplace
Lover of nature and the outdoors
Confident, agile, creative