24 May Our Top 10 Favorite Things About John C Little Park

We’ve spent a lot of time in Rainier Valley lately and have developed a bit of a crush on John C. Little Park. Here’s the top 10 reasons why we think it’s awesome:

1. The forest! our classroom is nestled between the woods and the community garden. This means our children will be able to easily access the forest for nature rich play and exploration. A big shout out to Friends of John C Little Park for how well the forest has been restored and cared for.
2. The garden! we’re right next to the community P-Patch where children can plant, grow and eat their own food.
3. The light rail! John C is one of the easiest schools to get to with the Othello Light Rail Station just an 8 minute walk away and ample parking for those that wish to drive. Plus, it’s right next to the Chief Sealth trail for families on two wheels (looking for an affordable, used children’s bike? Check out Bike Works in Columbia City).
4. It’s our most affordable school! Our regular prices at John C Little are low and financial assistance is available for all classes. How low? With financial assistance it’s only $150 a month for a 2 day program. In addition, we have a number of donors who have donated scholarships specifically for children from SE Seattle (you can learn more about them and nominate a child here).
5. The culturally vibrant community! 98118 has long been one of the most diverse zip codes in the state (as measured by the number of languages spoken at home). Othello is at the center of this rich tapestry and John C Little presents a wealth of opportunities to explore culture, language, food and family in the classroom.
6. The New Holly Public Library!: A 15 minute walk for little legs, the New Holly Library makes for a great learning expedition with lots of literary play & story times. The library also makes for a good place to take shelter in case of really nasty winter weather.
7. Math & science! With the gardens, forest and library so close we’re putting a particular focus on math and science rich play & learning at John C. In addition both Gavin and Racine bring a wealth of knowledge and passion for science and math and helping children understand the logic and wonder of the natural world.
8. The playground! Although we spend most of our day playing in the forest, the fields or the garden we’ll also make occasional trips to the local playground for exploration and adventure.
9. Picnic shelters! Sometimes you want to break out the crayons & construction paper and the two picnic shelters make that possible even during a Seattle sprinkle.
10. It’s named after a non-profit & community hero! John C. Little, Sr. (d. 1999) was a member of the Board of Park Commissioners for seven years where he was a particularly vocal advocate for disadvantaged youth and low-income families. We’re big fans of innovative non-profit leaders and Mr. Little stands out as one of the founders of the Central Area Youth Association (CAYA) and a 4-H program for Seattle modeled on the well known program for rural children.

ENROLL FOR THE 2016-17 SCHOOL YEAR

JOHN C. LITTLE PARK – OTHELLO LIGHT RAIL STATION & RAINIER VALLEY

AM Classroom | M – F | 8:30 – 12:30 pm | Year Round | ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT!!
AM Classroom | M, W & F, 8:30 – 12:30 pm | Year Round | ONLY 3 SPOTS LEFT!! 
AM Classroom | Tu & Thu, 8:30 – 12:30 pm | Year Round | FULL!
Enroll here!

A hidden gem of South Seattle, John C. Little brings a big dose of nature to Othello and Rainier Valley. With a vibrant community garden, a beautiful hillside forest and a playground, John C. Little makes an excellent location for science rich learning. In our outdoor classroom, nestled between the garden and the forest, your little one will learn with the seasons. During the spring and summer, they will plant, grow and eat from the community garden. In the fall, children will collect and count the colorful tree leaves and build piles and forts to play in. And in the winter, your little one will stay warm through active games and math and reading rich adventures, including learning expeditions to the Seattle Public Library, a short 10 minute walk away.

At John C. Little, your little adventurer will play with math, reading and science concepts rooted in the natural world. They will explore symbols and practice counting through planting seeds and gardening. They will learn their letters in an outdoor classroom rich in written words with names for all of the trees, plants and garden creatures that make it their home. And to explore the world of science, and test the possibilities of the natural world, your child will plan their own experiments and share what they learned with the group through daily plan – do – review sessions.

All of your child’s adventures will take place in a culturally rich and responsive classroom environment. Located in one of the most linguistically diverse zip codes in the country, John C. Little presents ample opportunities to explore language, history and culture with teachers, volunteers and special guests who reflect the vibrant Rainier Valley community.

Financial assistance (30% off tuition) still available.

Know a family who would be perfect for Tiny Trees but doesn’t make a lot of money? Nominate them for a Seedlings Scholarship for additional financial assistance at John C Little, Beacon Hill and West Seattle.

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