Photos Above: Parents & grandparents volunteer for 20-30 mins. to share something they do for work or play. This in not required of parents, but always welcome here during Circle Time.
What Parents are saying
"After visiting a few preschools in the area, our son started going to Discovery Cottage when he turned three years old. He had little experience being with kids his age in a structured setting, so he was anxious about starting preschool. But Adina and Andrew pay attention to the needs of every child and were great at helping our boy transition to preschool from being cared for only by his parents. He quickly started looking forward to every day at Discovery Cottage, and would get disappointed if we told him, “Sorry, today is not a preschool day”! Adina and Andrew provide for lots of play time and fun structured activities, so the kids enjoy learning. We couldn’t be happier. Our son loves Adina, Andrew, and all of the friends he has made at Discovery Cottage!"
-Greg Stoutenburg, parent
"Two of our three sons have attended Discovery Cottage, and we love it! Adina and Andrew work tirelessly to cultivate a warm, safe, nurturing environment, with the balance between independence and structure that is so important for preschoolers. They take time to get to know the families as well as the kids in the program. There is a strong emphasis on nature in their methodology: both the nature of the environment around us (including Friday walks, water play, and autumn equinox celebrations), and also the nature of children (including friendship development, sharing, and the exploration of individual talents). This makes for a learning atmosphere where kids can explore at their own pace, while they are introduced to lots of new ideas in the meantime. Regarding typical preschool issues such as separation anxiety and potty training, Adina and Andrew determine what each individual child needs, and also respect the parents' input and feelings. This extra attention makes Discovery Cottage a wonderful environment for first-time parents and veterans alike to feel safe and comfortable leaving their children for the morning. We will be a bit sad to say goodbye when our youngest son graduates from Discovery Cottage and goes off to kindergarten in the fall!" -Amanda Samuelson, parent
"Discovery cottage is like a wonderland. Andrew and Adina have done an amazing job of transforming their home and yard into an imaginative playscape. The early education program has been a fantastic fit for our family. Since attending, our daughter has learned conflict resolution, has improved social skills, and developed basic art and crafting techniques. I have complete confidence in Andrew and Adina and love their fun, loving, educational approach." -Lindsey Evans, parent
"Discovery Cottage has become an integral part of our lives! Both our daughters have thrived with the love and care of Adina and Andrew. Their experiences have been a seamless extension of our approach to parenting. We love the creative and supportive atmosphere at Discovery Cottage. From celebrating the season changes to gardening to outdoor play to art and music, the curriculum is vast and exciting. Our girls are growing into happy and balanced souls thanks in part to the love they receive there!" -Amber & Jeff Capps, parents
"Both of our children began at Discovery Cottage when they were 2 1/2 years old and
5 years later, I can truly say it is like having another family. We have developed what will surely be lifelong friendships. This program, more than any other I have seen, focuses on play and learning by doing, as the mode of teaching important skills to ready kids for life after preschool. Adina takes great care to treat each child as an individual and to make each child feel important and loved. She is truly a magical person. I can not even imagine a better place for a child to grow and learn. When this chapter of our children's, and our, lives come to an end (which is coming too soon!) it will be a very sad day for all of us." -Teja Huntley, parent
"We could not have been more fortunate. We visited once and immediately enrolled (and begged for additional days). As new parents know all too well, choosing care for your first child can be stressful, Adina and Andrew gave us a sense of calm that continues to this day (July, 2016). Both of our girls have been full-time members of the Discovery Cottage family from day one, we truly feel like Adina and Andrew are part of our family.
I've (Erik) told the story many times through the years about my experience as a new dad and the effect Adina had on me in dealing with little ones. I watched and listened to Adina handle conflict resolution between 3 year-old kids with utter amazement. I'll never forget the things my kids (and I) learned at Discovery Cottage.
There are so many fun things planned for the kids (and the parents): Talent Shows, potluck picnics, & solstice celebrations. They provide such wonderful opportunities to see your kids blossom. We can't thank them enough for loving our kids and playing such a huge role in this phase of our lives. " -Erik Mickalson, parent
"Our daughter started attending Discovery Cottage at 3 years of age. She was hesitant and anxious about being away from us for long periods of time; however, her adjustment to Discovery Cottage was much smoother than we could have ever expected. I believe this is directly a result of Adina and Andrew's loving care and calm demeanors, which gave our daughter a sense of safety and security. For the first few months she spent her afternoons at home playing "school" alternating between being "Adina" and "Andrew". As her partner in play, I was given a window into her Discovery Cottage world, and I can say that it is a joyful and delightful world, indeed. "
-- Tamar Bernfeld, parent
"Adina and Andrew Levitt teach the kids from the ground up. They foster an appreciation and respect of the earth and the world around us. The kids learn quickly to be curious and explore! They develop an appreciation in the kids for every breeze, every apple on their tree, every flower opening in the garden they dug and planted together with their classmates. Seasons pass with great celebration! We take time to smell the roses here. Reading and writing, creating art and music, dance and imaginary play are all given equal time. They truly know their students as individuals. Even the older kids are prepared for kindergarten by working on the skills they'll need according to local kindergarten ICCSD staff. My daughter will be sad to leave this amazing place! Adina and Andrew are mentioned here at home almost daily. I can tell my daughter's experience there was profound and runs deep. We will be talking about this special place for years to come."
-Abbey Schafer-VanHoutte, Parent
"At first sending our 2 year old to school (as she calls it) after having her home for the first 2 years was nerve wracking. Meeting Adina and Andrew immediately eased my worries. They are warm and welcoming, and seem to understand each child’s individual needs. Over time I have seen my daughter develop friendships and learn about the world from her time in the Early Enrichment Program. I am consistently amazed when she knows new things that I know I didn’t teach her. Each day she doesn’t have school she says, “I miss my friends, I love my friends”. Discovery Cottage has been a wonderful introduction to school for our daughter, and I know it has set the stage for a positive association with school, that I hope will stay with her throughout her future education." -Sam and Eric Grimes, parents
"Adina and Andrew approach children with respect and compassion. They treat children like little humans, and they begin teaching respectful communication, conflict resolution, sharing, and empathy from the first day. This philosophy is what drew me to Discovery Cottage. I plan to keep sending my son because Adina has gone above and beyond for us in order to help my son thrive. My son has developmental delays which need extra hand-holding, sometimes literally. I really appreciate the time she has given to me and her willingness to communicate about what's going on both in school and out. Every time she's had an idea about what he needs, she has been right on. Her instincts and observations are wonderful. More importantly, Adina celebrates my son's achievements with the same delight, awe, and pride that I feel. I know she is just as invested in all her students. We are very lucky to have found Discovery Cottage." -Nathalie Cruden, parent
"Our son started at Discovery Cottage when he was 3 and we've been super satisfied with the school for socialization, preschool fun and kindergarten prep! On the days he doesn't have school, he's disappointed and is always excited to go. He says the reason his school is so great is because he has "a girl teacher and a boy teacher".
We find the curriculum to be a great mix of structure and freedom. Plus, my son has learned Native American history, his creative voice is nurtured, and we've all made great friends from the community." -Fannie Hungerford & Paul Kalina, parents
"The Discovery Cottage is an amazing experience for children. Adina provides an unique opportunity for immersion play and expression that is beneficial to the age level and learning. My two boys loved going there and I know it fostered their creativity and interests. Adina takes a genuine interest in each child and has a compassionate presence to enable the children to explore their imagination while fostering their emerging needs for independence. I cannot recommend her program highly enough and only wish more schools modeled their system of learning on Adina's model." -Erin Gansen, parent
-Greg Stoutenburg, parent
"Two of our three sons have attended Discovery Cottage, and we love it! Adina and Andrew work tirelessly to cultivate a warm, safe, nurturing environment, with the balance between independence and structure that is so important for preschoolers. They take time to get to know the families as well as the kids in the program. There is a strong emphasis on nature in their methodology: both the nature of the environment around us (including Friday walks, water play, and autumn equinox celebrations), and also the nature of children (including friendship development, sharing, and the exploration of individual talents). This makes for a learning atmosphere where kids can explore at their own pace, while they are introduced to lots of new ideas in the meantime. Regarding typical preschool issues such as separation anxiety and potty training, Adina and Andrew determine what each individual child needs, and also respect the parents' input and feelings. This extra attention makes Discovery Cottage a wonderful environment for first-time parents and veterans alike to feel safe and comfortable leaving their children for the morning. We will be a bit sad to say goodbye when our youngest son graduates from Discovery Cottage and goes off to kindergarten in the fall!" -Amanda Samuelson, parent
"Discovery cottage is like a wonderland. Andrew and Adina have done an amazing job of transforming their home and yard into an imaginative playscape. The early education program has been a fantastic fit for our family. Since attending, our daughter has learned conflict resolution, has improved social skills, and developed basic art and crafting techniques. I have complete confidence in Andrew and Adina and love their fun, loving, educational approach." -Lindsey Evans, parent
"Discovery Cottage has become an integral part of our lives! Both our daughters have thrived with the love and care of Adina and Andrew. Their experiences have been a seamless extension of our approach to parenting. We love the creative and supportive atmosphere at Discovery Cottage. From celebrating the season changes to gardening to outdoor play to art and music, the curriculum is vast and exciting. Our girls are growing into happy and balanced souls thanks in part to the love they receive there!" -Amber & Jeff Capps, parents
"Both of our children began at Discovery Cottage when they were 2 1/2 years old and
5 years later, I can truly say it is like having another family. We have developed what will surely be lifelong friendships. This program, more than any other I have seen, focuses on play and learning by doing, as the mode of teaching important skills to ready kids for life after preschool. Adina takes great care to treat each child as an individual and to make each child feel important and loved. She is truly a magical person. I can not even imagine a better place for a child to grow and learn. When this chapter of our children's, and our, lives come to an end (which is coming too soon!) it will be a very sad day for all of us." -Teja Huntley, parent
"We could not have been more fortunate. We visited once and immediately enrolled (and begged for additional days). As new parents know all too well, choosing care for your first child can be stressful, Adina and Andrew gave us a sense of calm that continues to this day (July, 2016). Both of our girls have been full-time members of the Discovery Cottage family from day one, we truly feel like Adina and Andrew are part of our family.
I've (Erik) told the story many times through the years about my experience as a new dad and the effect Adina had on me in dealing with little ones. I watched and listened to Adina handle conflict resolution between 3 year-old kids with utter amazement. I'll never forget the things my kids (and I) learned at Discovery Cottage.
There are so many fun things planned for the kids (and the parents): Talent Shows, potluck picnics, & solstice celebrations. They provide such wonderful opportunities to see your kids blossom. We can't thank them enough for loving our kids and playing such a huge role in this phase of our lives. " -Erik Mickalson, parent
"Our daughter started attending Discovery Cottage at 3 years of age. She was hesitant and anxious about being away from us for long periods of time; however, her adjustment to Discovery Cottage was much smoother than we could have ever expected. I believe this is directly a result of Adina and Andrew's loving care and calm demeanors, which gave our daughter a sense of safety and security. For the first few months she spent her afternoons at home playing "school" alternating between being "Adina" and "Andrew". As her partner in play, I was given a window into her Discovery Cottage world, and I can say that it is a joyful and delightful world, indeed. "
-- Tamar Bernfeld, parent
"Adina and Andrew Levitt teach the kids from the ground up. They foster an appreciation and respect of the earth and the world around us. The kids learn quickly to be curious and explore! They develop an appreciation in the kids for every breeze, every apple on their tree, every flower opening in the garden they dug and planted together with their classmates. Seasons pass with great celebration! We take time to smell the roses here. Reading and writing, creating art and music, dance and imaginary play are all given equal time. They truly know their students as individuals. Even the older kids are prepared for kindergarten by working on the skills they'll need according to local kindergarten ICCSD staff. My daughter will be sad to leave this amazing place! Adina and Andrew are mentioned here at home almost daily. I can tell my daughter's experience there was profound and runs deep. We will be talking about this special place for years to come."
-Abbey Schafer-VanHoutte, Parent
"At first sending our 2 year old to school (as she calls it) after having her home for the first 2 years was nerve wracking. Meeting Adina and Andrew immediately eased my worries. They are warm and welcoming, and seem to understand each child’s individual needs. Over time I have seen my daughter develop friendships and learn about the world from her time in the Early Enrichment Program. I am consistently amazed when she knows new things that I know I didn’t teach her. Each day she doesn’t have school she says, “I miss my friends, I love my friends”. Discovery Cottage has been a wonderful introduction to school for our daughter, and I know it has set the stage for a positive association with school, that I hope will stay with her throughout her future education." -Sam and Eric Grimes, parents
"Adina and Andrew approach children with respect and compassion. They treat children like little humans, and they begin teaching respectful communication, conflict resolution, sharing, and empathy from the first day. This philosophy is what drew me to Discovery Cottage. I plan to keep sending my son because Adina has gone above and beyond for us in order to help my son thrive. My son has developmental delays which need extra hand-holding, sometimes literally. I really appreciate the time she has given to me and her willingness to communicate about what's going on both in school and out. Every time she's had an idea about what he needs, she has been right on. Her instincts and observations are wonderful. More importantly, Adina celebrates my son's achievements with the same delight, awe, and pride that I feel. I know she is just as invested in all her students. We are very lucky to have found Discovery Cottage." -Nathalie Cruden, parent
"Our son started at Discovery Cottage when he was 3 and we've been super satisfied with the school for socialization, preschool fun and kindergarten prep! On the days he doesn't have school, he's disappointed and is always excited to go. He says the reason his school is so great is because he has "a girl teacher and a boy teacher".
We find the curriculum to be a great mix of structure and freedom. Plus, my son has learned Native American history, his creative voice is nurtured, and we've all made great friends from the community." -Fannie Hungerford & Paul Kalina, parents
"The Discovery Cottage is an amazing experience for children. Adina provides an unique opportunity for immersion play and expression that is beneficial to the age level and learning. My two boys loved going there and I know it fostered their creativity and interests. Adina takes a genuine interest in each child and has a compassionate presence to enable the children to explore their imagination while fostering their emerging needs for independence. I cannot recommend her program highly enough and only wish more schools modeled their system of learning on Adina's model." -Erin Gansen, parent