MOHDC SmartStart Nature Academy and Learning Center (lovingly called SmartStart Nature Academy) is operated by MOHDC, a community-based education consulting organization located in Brooklyn, NY. SmartStart is committed to partnering with the Department of Education Division of Early Childhood Development to propel your Pre-Kindergarten children towards school readiness.

We provide a preschool education that is dynamic, emergent, and learner-driven so your child will develop and grow in as natural a way as possible. This helps prepare them for the more structured environments of elementary school as well as navigating the challenges of everyday life. Our nature-based focus also develops the whole child by exposing them to a variety of experiences, environments, and skills not typical for inner-city children.

By using the New York State Common Core Standards for Pre-Kindergarteners, our students will be ensured development in every domain. Our partnerships with both public and private elementary schools will help children transition smoothly between preschool and school-based programs.

Regardless of disability or disadvantage, each child who attends SmartStart Nature Academy will be afforded the opportunity to develop to their highest potential. This is possible because we partner with families and professionals at every level to prepare children with unique abilities and talents for the challenges of their community and to become adults who fit positively and productively into a system of social justice.

Environment

Our environment is friendly, nurturing, healthy, and safe

We are certified by the Department of Health, Buildings, Education, and Fire & Safety

We welcome children and families of all cultures, languages, and backgrounds

We accept and support children who are challenged by physical and/or learning disabilities

Staff

Our staff are all trained and certified early childhood educators

Our centers are headed by highly-trained early childhood educators who hold a minimum of a Master’s degree in early childhood education/special education, offering your child a rich experience

Classroom teachers hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and are multilingual – they speak Spanish, French (Creole), and other languages

A nurse and psychologist/counselor are on staff

Our learning centers are supervised by an Executive Director who is responsible for overall success and a Curriculum Director who is responsible for maintaining program quality

Curriculum

Our curriculum approach places high emphasis on educating the whole child

Our curriculum caters to all learning domains, aligns with the common core requirements, and builds multiple intelligences in our learners

Emphasis is on nature-based learning. Children enjoy the excitement of literacy, math, and science by hands-on exposure to nature and the environment, urban gardening, health and nutrition, music, body movement, yoga, etc.

Children develop creativity, collaboration, and character by exposure to plants, animals, and the natural world

Parent & Family Services

Parent & Family Services are an essential part of our learning center. As responsible community partners our center promotes family and community learning/empowerment. Features include:

A Parents and Community Council. Chairperson sits on the center’s leadership team

Parent and family workshops (e.g. parental skills, financial literacy, home ownership, etc)

Community fair days: where city and volunteer agencies offer services re dental, health, insurance, immigration information and assistance etc.

Our Philosophy

SmartStart Nature Academy is committed to a Pre-K experience that fosters whole-person development in each child. We believe the hands-on thrills of nature-based learning stimulates and nurtures mental curiosity and a love for learning, social/emotional sensitivity, self-governance skills, and values education—including sustainability awareness and vitality living habits. We also believe whole-person objectives are best achieved when home and school are passionately engaged.

Why SmartStart Nature Academy?

Because you want the absolute best for your precious children. Our program is designed to coax the best from your child by combining a robust program of academics, nature-based focus, and life skills that will put them on the road to academic success before they enter kindergarten.

By using the New York State Common Core Standards for Pre-Kindergarteners, our students will be ensured development in every domain. Our partnerships with both public and private elementary schools will help children transition smoothly between preschool and school-based programs.

More Than a Catchy Handle

SmartStart is more than a catchy handle. Our belief is that:

  • Inner city children deserve a smarter start to life than their environments often dictate,
  • It’s an honest acknowledgement that without a smarter start they won’t get the life chances they need to succeed, and
  • It’s a keen conviction that within each child is a unique treasure/genius waiting to be smartly teased out and made to flourish under the best early learning conditions.
The SmartStart Nature Academy Mission

We exist to increase the life chances of inner-city NY children by providing a Pre-K environment and experience that offers a smarter start to their education/life journey.