LITTLE COMPTON — One day in Cindi Rapoza’s “classroom” might take the 3- to 6-year-olds out into the muck in pursuit of bugs.

Other days find the 17 youngsters clambering through meadows and along logs in search of bob-o-links or monarch butterflies.

They emerge muddy, sandy and happy — as does their teacher.

Ms. Raposa’s enthusiasm and guidance has not gone unnoticed. The Audubon Society of Rhode Island recently named her its 2015 Educator of the Year. Ms. Rapoza, who founded and is the Director of Little Peeps Montessori Naturskola in Little Compton, will receive the award this Sunday, Oct. 18, at the Marriott Hotel in Providence during the Society’s 118th annual meeting.

The regular outings into the wilds of Little Compton are part the educational program at Little Peeps Naturskola.

They are a favorite part, the youngsters say.

"I like the woods because I get to go walking in the woods with my friends," says Addyson, age 3.

"I love being outside and finding nature," says Zinnia, age 6.

Four-year old Eloise says, "I love collecting bugs, and painting, and the playground, and my friends."

Madeline, age 4 says, "when we go to the beach and put out a camp fire and we cook marshmallows, we have crazy fun, really crazy fun."

And for Becket, age 5, “The best thing about my school is going into the woods and looking for animals with Mr. Tom, and learning letters with Miss Cindi."

In creating her school, Ms. Rapoza, 42, says she was inspired by her own experiences growing up as a child in Sutton, Massachusetts, which she says is a lot like Little Compton.

"We grew up on 48 acres with woods, horses, and even a goat. We did not have the social media and hand held games you see in children's hands. Our bodies and our imaginations ran wild as we created 'homes' and played out stories in the woods with friends and cousins. Climbing trees and catching frogs are a couple of my favorite childhood memories.

"I believe I connect with children because I still have that sense of wonder and curiosity for the natural world, because I was immersed in it as a child. I wanted to share these experiences with children and my own daughters at a time when children more than ever need to disconnect from modern technology and reconnect with nature."

"The Montessori approach," Ms. Rapoza says, "is designed for children to use their senses, and working outdoors with children is the ultimate sensorial experience."

Outdoors is the key

Ms. Rapoza says her approach to learning "is hands-on, combining the Montessori curriculum, with an outdoor nature school curriculum” inspired by the Swedish Naturskola — Nature School. “Immersing children in nature year-round is the core of our school. We work directly with groups such as Audubon Society of Rhode Island, which comes in once a month with a story and an animal, and the Nature Conservancy, with whom we arrange field trips."

The children spend three to four hours a day outdoors Mondays through Thursdays — "half of our day (three to four hours) outdoors in all weather," Ms. Rapoza said. "Our school is a certified Nature Explore Classroom."

"On Fridays the children spend the entire day in the woods, at local farms, and at the beach. We go outside in all weather” except during bitter cold or lightning

"I'm amazed," Ms. Rapoza says. "When we finish our afternoon or even a whole day in the woods, our children have more energy than when they were dropped off in the morning. When I see the children playing and hiking in the woods, I feel connected to my own childhood, and I remember the feeling of freedom and pure joy while running across the leaves and hearing sticks break under my feet. I feel the same joy when I hear a child say, 'it smells like winter's in the air.’”

"We hope that when they leave our school they leave with a joy of learning and become stewards of the earth."

Field trips

Last May, said long-time local conservationist Abigail Brooks, president of the Sakonnet Preservation Association, Ms. Rapoza "took the initiative to come on one of our meadow walks to educate herself."

Shortly after, said Ms. Brooks, the entire student body of the school took a walk in the woods beginning at John Gwynne's Sakonnet Garden on West Main Road, through a meadow where they saw bob-o-links and past a pond.

"When we got to the pond, the children pulled out art tablets from their back packs and began drawing, and read from the children's book, Monet's Garden."

"That program Cindi runs sets a high standard for education," Ms. Brooks said. "We talk about our concern about a nature deficit in children, but to have someone with as much influence on early childhood education as she has, to take them out on the land, it's pretty significant from any conservationist's point of view."

"These kids are living their lessons," said John Berg, Sakonnet program manager for The Nature Conservancy. "They’re in the woods, on the beach, in the fields, in the water every day. They have learned how to make nature come to them. They see everything that’s out there, and they want to know how it all works. Isn’t that where it all starts?"

What to wear

The school has a saying, Ms. Rapoza said, "that comes from either the Swedes or the Danes, which is that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad (or inappropriate) clothing."

That saying inspired her search to provide the children with the proper gear to go outside in all weather. “We chose the Swedish colors yellow and blue as our 'school colors.’ … The yellow 'puddle pants' allow the children to sit on the wet ground or jump in puddles while staying comfortable. The elastics on the bottom also help keep the ticks from climbing up pant legs. The blue hiking hats have a large brim and a SPF of 50 to protect children from the sun. The matching blue backpacks are worn all day on Friday in the woods. Each backpack has a spare change of clothing, lunch and a water bottle."

Locally, the children have visited Dundery Brook Trail, Ponderosa, South Shore and Goosewing beaches, Weetamoo Woods, Simmons Mill POnd, Briggs Beach, Wilbour Woods, Wilbour Farm, the Little Compton Historical Society, and numerous private homes, farms, and gardens.

Last June the school participated in BioBlitz in Little Compton, where it had a table.

Among the activities the children participate is are snowshoeing, puddle jumping, hiking, nature games, bird watching, weaving, learning about plants and marine biology, outdoor art, building treepees (a suspended tent), and mapping.

Ms. Rapoza, 42, holds a Masters in Education from Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts, and is a certified primary 3-6 Montessori Teacher from Northeast Montessori Institute. She has studied outdoor education at Antioch College in New Hampshire, and is a certified 3-12 yoga teacher.

Little Peeps Montessori Naturskola has just entered its third year in Little Compton.

"We consider the Educator of the Year Award to be one of the most prestigious awards given by the Society," said Cynthia Warren, president of the Audubon board.

The award, "is given annually to an individual, school, or community group whose efforts have advanced Audubon's mission of protecting birds, wildlife and natural habitats through environmental advocacy, conservation, and education."