To create the world we want to live in, we must first imagine it

Our mission at Griffin House is to be a space where children can explore, express themselves, get curious, and be an important part of a community. 

Expert Instructors

Jessie is the owner and primary teacher at Griffin House. The children will also get familiar with Julie our go-to substitute teacher and Stephanie, our resident grandma, (“Gigi”). You can learn more about what each of them has to offer on the “Our Teachers” page.

Our Space

Our main learning and play room is a cozy space with warm lighting, natural fibers, and room for large motor play. Across the walls you will find a big white board, an interactive calendar, a wheel of the year and a map of the United States scattered between paintings of various forest animals.

We take our rests in the “Sky Room”. With clouds and moons and butterflies and dragons all around, they float into dreamland on space themed nap mats.

Most of our days, rain or shine are spent in the back yard. Between the Hotwheels car-table, the winding paths amongst giant ferns, the play kitchen, and the spinning teetertotter, there’s never a dull moment.

Digital Detox

In a completely screen-free environment the children are free to be their most involved, inquisitive selves. Removing the option for screen time encourages children to ground in nature, connect with one another, move through their emotions as they come up, and stay connected to the present.

Who We Are

  • Griffin House is small group (1:5 ratio), mixed age, play based learning community. While the style of learning is inspired by both the Montessori and Waldorf pedagogies, our primary objective is to stay child-led. We dig deeply into the subjects that most interest the children at any given time and tailor the curriculum accordingly. Most of the learning is done through play, artistic expression and conversation. Our mission at Griffin House is to be a space where children can explore, express themselves, get curious and know they are an important part of a community. The curriculum and daily flow will change with the natural rhythm of the seasons and the everchanging curiosities of the children.

  • Our school room is a cozy space with warm lighting, natural fibers, & room for large motor play.

    We rotate toys quarterly to fit our seasonal curriculum. You will find that most of the toys and materials at Griffin House are low stimulation to encourage imaginative play. Our space is screen free to foster good attention spans and healthy brain development.

    When it’s time to rest & digest we head into the Sky Room where each child has their own cozy little spot to lay down and recharge.

    Best of all, we have a great big back yard with lots of room to explore and plenty of covered areas to stay dry during the rainy days.

  • Our curriculum will transition through four main segments; Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Each segment will contain weekly highlights pertaining to the respective season. 


    The children will learn with dirt under their finger nails about companion plants and the life cycles of bugs. They will learn to speak confidently in front of a group through talent shows and show & tells. Most of all they will learn healthy communication and cooperation through simply being together and caring for one another. 

    In Summer we will spend a week singing, and talking about camping. We will work as a team to pitch a tent in the back yard, pack exploring bags, make a map of the neighborhood and go for a hike! We will do some tasty sensory math with marshmallows and sing campfire songs. 

    Music, motor development, art, phonics, healthy communication, and nature are through lines connecting the lessons & the seasons all year long. Our daily routine will be flexible to accommodate the children’s whimsy & the weather while maintaining grounding, predictable touchstones throughout the day and week.