Step 1: Decide if You Need School-Year or Year-Round Programming

School-Year Programs:

Our programs at Little Hawks, Dragonflies, and Seedlings Discovery Preschools provide school-year care for children ages 3 and 4. You’ll find the full list of schedule offerings for these schools in Step 3. If this fits your needs, continue to Step 2.

Year-Round Programs:
For families needing full-year care with hours that align with a working schedule, we offer year-round programming at select locations. Enrollment for these programs is ongoing and not tied to this registration window. For more information, please contact our V.P. of Early Childhood Administration, Jayne Schutter, at Jayne@outdoordiscovery.org.

Step 2: Choose the Best School for Your Family

We offer three exceptional schools for our school-year programs: Little Hawks, Dragonflies, and Seedlings Discovery Preschools. Each program offers a unique experience, and location may play a key role in your decision. If you’re unsure which program best suits your family, please reach out to the specific school with any questions.

For your quick reference:

• Little Hawks Discovery Preschool is located at the Outdoor Discovery Center on the south side of Holland. 
  • Limited transportation available for families in need. 
• Seedlings Discovery Preschool 
  • Centrally located in downtown Holland. 
• Dragonflies Discovery Preschool is located on the north side of Holland.
  • Limited transportation available for families in need. 
  • Wrap around care available for an additional fee. Morning classes offer before care for an early drop off, afternoon classes offer after care for a later pick up, and full day classes offer both before and after care.

Step 3: Review the Class Offerings

Down below, you’ll find a detailed grid outlining class schedules and tuition costs for each of our three schools. Be sure to scroll to the bottom to review all the information, as the page walks through each school one at a time. Our 4-day-a-week programs for 4-year-olds align with Michigan’s PreK for All initiative through the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP).

Step 4: Consider Tuition and Assistance Options

We are committed to making our nature-based preschool accessible to all families. Here’s how we can help:

Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP):
While GSRP provides a tuition-free experience, please note that our programming, curriculum, and classroom experience remain consistent across all programs, whether funded by GSRP or not. Historically, eligibility for GSRP was determined by income and risk factors. However, under the PreK for All initiative, all families have been eligible this current school year regardless of income and risk factors, and we anticipate this eligibility to continue for the upcoming year.

ODC Scholarship Fund:
For 3-year-olds and families not eligible for GSRP, ODC offers privately funded scholarships based on household income. These scholarships can cover 10-75% of tuition and are reviewed in the summer before the school year begins.

How to Apply:
To apply for GSRP or an ODC Scholarship, complete the Michigan Early Childhood Connect Application. Don’t forget to upload income documentation such as:

• 2024 W-2 forms
• 2024 Tax Return (social security numbers redacted)
• Last four paystubs for all working household members

Step 5: Mark Your Calendar for Registration

Registration is LIVE on January 23rd at 8:00 PM.

To secure your child’s spot:

• Click on the unique registration link for your desired class.
• Complete the $50 non-refundable registration fee online.
• Fully check out in the registration system to confirm your spot or place on the waitlist.

If your first choice is full, you can join the new unified waitlist for your location and age group at no cost.

Additional Notes for the 2025/26 School Year

Online Registration System Update: We’re excited to announce a new platform for registration this year! During the initial registration process, we’ll only collect basic details, including your child’s name, date of birth, your contact information and registration fee. After registration is complete, you’ll receive an email with a follow-up questionnaire to provide additional information.

Updated Age Eligibility Policy: Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, ODC will align with the updated Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) age policy. Families with children turning 4 between September 2 and December 1 now have the option to enroll in either our 3-year-old programs or our GSRP 4-year-old programs. The September 1 cutoff for our 3-year-old program remains unchanged.

Unified Waitlist: New this year, there is one waitlist per age group for each school. If the class session you wish to register for is full, use the waitlist link to add your child to the waitlist. Please note, one of the changes with our new system is that there is not an automatic waitlist, you must use the waitlist link if the class you wish to register for is full. You will list your preferences on sessions and our team will reference this information when pulling families off the waitlist.

Enrollment Packets: Teaching teams, session names, and classroom assignments will be sent via email during the summer.

Early Registration for Current Families: Families with children currently attending our programs have an early registration window. This allows students currently attending our 3 year old program to secure their spot in our 4 year program for the following year. Some 4 year old classes do fill with returning students and are marked as full below. If the class you wish to register for is full, please add your child to the waitlist.

Reminder: Be sure to enroll in only one of our selected sessions. We strive to provide access to as many students and families as possible. With multiple session options available, we work hard to ensure there’s a program that best fits your family’s needs.

We look forward to an exciting year of nature-based learning and discovery for your child!