Child-centered * Inquiry-led * Experiential

We honor who the child is.

We follow what the child wonders.

We give those ideas somewhere real to go.

Creativity as a way of being

We see creativity as something much broader than making things with traditional art materials and mediums. Creativity is a way of being that can be practiced and developed uniquely by each child. It is found in a child’s questions, ideas, movement, stories, discoveries, and play. It expands through their relationships with materials, people, and the world around them. Creativity and curiosity come naturally to children through play, and our role is to nurture those capacities so they continue to grow as children do. We are dedicated to supporting children through the Living Ateliers of both studio and park, giving them the freedom to investigate new ways of seeing, thinking, and expressing.

The Living Atelier

 Atelier (pronounced ah-tell-ee-ay) is a French word meaning an artist's studio or workshop. Our Living Atelier begins in a windowed, second-floor studio where children encounter light and shadow, two- and three-dimensional art materials, collections of beautiful specimens to study for texture, color, and form, a library of books, kitchens and sinks, and an ever-changing array of tools and materials. But children do more than invent costumes, buildings, puppets, books, and machines. They experiment with paint, clay, paper, textiles, metal, and wood, learn to use new tools, and follow ideas wherever they lead.

Naturalists of imaginary worlds

Along the way, children become naturalists of imaginary worlds—gathering textures, specimens, photographs, sketches, words, symbols, and artifacts that gradually form a living archive of their discoveries. A costume they eventually make, a story they tell, or a structure they build is simply one expression of that evolving collection.

Our Living Atelier extends beyond our four walls into Prospect Park, where 585 acres of meadows, a 60-acre lake, and the borough’s last remaining forest offer an ever-changing landscape for inquiry and discovery. Here, children return to familiar places and notice what has changed: a new mushroom, the tracks of an animal, a shifting pattern of light, the arrival of a bird, the smell of wet soil, or the first signs of a changing season. They follow questions, use their senses, learn the names and science behind what they encounter, and find time to slow down, wonder, play, and simply be.

When children know a place deeply, their relationship to it can begin to feel less like observation and more like friendship.

From that relationship grows a sense of belonging, care, and ultimately a desire to protect and steward the living world.

The Culture of the Atelier

At Willow Nest, sharing our work is part of the process.

At the end of class, children gather for Salon—a special time to share what they have been exploring, talk about their ideas, and listen closely to one another. We might say:

“I notice…”
“I’m curious how you did that…”
“I wonder why you chose that…”

Salon isn't about showing off a finished project or deciding whose work is “best.” Children are invited to share works in progress, surprising discoveries, questions, and ideas. They learn that their thinking is worth sharing—and that their classmates' ideas are worth listening to.

Over time, these simple rituals help create a community where children become thoughtful observers, generous collaborators, confident communicators, and enthusiastic supporters of one another.

Our Atelier Rights

The right to have an idea.

Every idea is a place to begin.

The right to change your mind.

Ideas grow, shift and sometimes surprise us.

The right to share unfinished work.

We value the process as much as the finished creation.

The right to be curious about someone else’s work.

We can look closely, wonder, ask thoughtful questions, and learn from one another.

The right to be listened to.

Every child’s thinking deserves attention and respect.

The responsibility to listen thoughtfully to others.

Our ideas become richer when we make room for other perspectives.

Sharing our work is part of the work.

At Salon, these rights come to life as children practice expressing their ideas, listening to others,

asking thoughtful questions and discovering that creative work becomes richer when it is shared.