Grace Acres

Grace Acres is a Reggio Emilia inspired micro school that sees each child as an individual with their own unique purpose, skills, and passions. We aim to be a hub in our community offering a deeper connection to learning and using our natural environment for inspiration and stewardship.

Program Type
Microschool

Basics

Meals
Breakfast and Lunch
Snacks
2 per day
Potty Training
Not Required
Language(s) Supported
English
Pay Schedules
Monthly
Subsidized Care
Accepted
Philosophy
Reggio Emilia-inspired

Our Teachers

Hope Reno, Director and Lead Teacher

Hope has been in the childcare field in one aspect or another for about 20 years. She started caring for other children in the neighborhood as a young child, which eventually led to full-time nannying in her early twenties. After working with various families over the years, she decided to step into assistant teaching at a Reggio Emilia-inspired childcare center near Seattle, WA. After taking some time off during the COVID pandemic, she decided to make a career out of her love for working with children. At that time, she returned to school to earn her degree in Child Development and has since been certified in Montessori training.

Philosophy

Here at Grace Acres, we are a nature-based preschool nurturing the whole child toward developing their interests, strengths, personal independence and a connection with the natural world. We have adopted a mix of Reggio Emilia and nature-based methods in the indoor and outdoor learning environment. We believe each child is unique, and we strive to provide an inclusive setting that recognizes children’s abilities, needs, interests, and growth.

Location

We are located just outside of historic downtown West Branch in Ogemaw County.

About our program

At Grace Acres in West Branch, children thrive in a supportive atmosphere tailored to their needs. Our focus on outdoor play fosters a love for learning and growth. With a specialized curriculum, we empower young minds to flourish independently and with confidence.

Have questions about the program?
Message the Program Director directly to learn more.
Program director photo
Hope Reno
Program Director