We recently visited Fidalgo Nature School, a nonprofit outdoor preschool serving children ages 3–6 from North Whidbey, Anacortes, and surrounding communities. Operating at Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park, the school provides nature-based learning experiences that immerse children in the forests, beaches, and shoreline ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 2018 and becoming a nonprofit in 2021, Fidalgo Nature School has grown into the only fully outdoor preschool serving Island and Skagit Counties.
In November 2025, Fidalgo Nature School received a $2,100 Nonprofit Capacity Building grant from the Whidbey Community Foundation to support staff participation in the Washington Nature Preschool Association Symposium, which Fidalgo helped host on Whidbey Island. The opportunity allowed educators to connect with peers from across the state, share best practices, and bring new ideas back to the classroom.
During our visit, Executive Director Molly Harrigan reflected on the organization’s growth over the past several years. After focusing its early years on building systems, stabilizing operations, and achieving nonprofit status, Fidalgo Nature School is now increasingly focused on partnerships, community connections, and long-term sustainability.
At first glance, the program can look like simple outdoor play. Children dig in the sand, explore the shoreline, climb, build, and engage with the natural world around them. Yet beneath those experiences is a thoughtful curriculum grounded in developmental milestones, social-emotional learning, and early childhood education best practices. Staff intentionally support children’s growth through activities that build confidence, dexterity, problem-solving skills, and emotional regulation.
The school’s approach also incorporates Coast Salish and Swinomish teachings, including lessons connected to Washington State’s Since Time Immemorial curriculum. These experiences help children develop an early understanding of place, culture, and stewardship while fostering a sense of belonging and respect for the land and its first peoples.
Fidalgo Nature School is also committed to making nature-based early learning accessible to more families. The organization participates in Washington’s Early Achievers program, accepts Working Connections Child Care subsidies, and maintains a financial aid pool to help families afford tuition. The school currently serves approximately 40 children, with many families coming from North Whidbey and Anacortes. Programming also helps meet a community need by offering care on Fridays, when students from the Samish Longhouse do not attend school.
Beyond its preschool program, Fidalgo Nature School is creating opportunities for younger children and families to connect with nature. Informal gatherings for children ages 0–3 at local parks help cultivate curiosity, delight, and comfort in outdoor settings while building community among families and creating a natural pathway into preschool enrollment.
One of the most memorable moments from the visit came when Molly shared, “I live a better life because I work here.” Her comment reflects the deep sense of purpose and connection that characterizes both the organization and its staff. That passion is evident throughout the program, from its commitment to serving diverse learners and families to the growth of its children’s library, which has expanded from just 50 books in its early years to more than 700 today.
As the Whidbey Community Foundation continues its commitment to early childhood development through Partners for Young Children, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and other initiatives, we see strong alignment with Fidalgo Nature School’s work helping children build confidence, curiosity, social-emotional skills, and a lifelong connection to learning and the natural world. This capacity-building grant helped strengthen the educators at the heart of that work, ensuring local children and families continue to benefit from high-quality, innovative early learning experiences.
Support Community Grants
WCF is able to provide grants like these with broad support from our community. If you are interested in supporting WCF Grant Programs, we invite you to make a contribution to WCF’s Foundation Fund, which holistically supports our grant programs, nonprofit trainings/workshops, and WCF operations. Our Board of Directors allocates funding each year to ensure nonprofits have access to critical resources. WCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to Whidbey Island; all donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Learn about different ways to make a charitable contribution here.