Raintree School Natural Playground

Raintree School, a private kindergarten and preschool, is a Forest School rooted in the Reggio Emilia approach, dedicated to nurturing academic growth while fostering a lifelong love of learning through project-based exploration and child-directed play. DG2 Design collaborated with Raintree to create a natural playground and forest environment that truly embodies these principles.

In keeping with the Reggio Emilia philosophy, this outdoor space encourages children to take ownership of their learning by exploring and interacting with nature. Traditional “school playgrounds” often limit children with restrictive equipment and rules. Raintree’s natural playground, however, replaces plastic swings and slides with real branches to climb, mossy logs, craggy boulders, and native woodland features, allowing children to engage with authentic textures and forms found in Missouri’s natural landscapes.

This nature-focused environment inspires children to explore, collaborate, and problem-solve, turning the outdoors into an extension of the classroom. The playground invites imaginative play and curiosity-driven learning, key components of the Reggio Emilia approach. Since opening in June 2014, it has provided children with an inspiring space to learn, play, and grow, where every day brings new discoveries in their natural world.

Client Feedback

“DG2 was instrumental in helping us realize our vision.  They were attuned to every detail of our unique needs through design and installation and provided excellent ongoing support well beyond the scope and timeframe of the project.  They played an indispensable role in the creation of Missouri’s first Reggio Emilia inspired forest school.” – Ilya Eydelman, Head of School