It’s more than just mud pies
Tinkergarten’s skill-based curriculum is designed to help kids become well-balanced people who can problem-solve, lead, and create. It’s engaging, memorable, play-based learning, all outdoors.
“Children will be smarter, better able to get along with others, healthier and happier when they have regular opportunities for free and unstructured play in the out-of-doors” concluded an authoritative study published by the American Medical Association.
— Why our children need to get outside and engage with nature —
The Guardian
Callie Rae McCarthy
Tinkergarten Leader
Montclair and Bloomfield, New Jersey
I'm new to NJ but not to the outdoor world. I grew up in Florida, canoeing on the rivers with my family. As a college student, I regularly worked at YMCA and 4H summer camps. I got my Masters in Education from the University of Florida and worked in a variety of alternative-educational environments (Montessori classroom, reading program) before ending up as the Head of Family Experience for a progressive summer day camp. I love spending time with my two kids and am thrilled to get to know families through Tinkergarten!
Email Callie Rae McCarthy
Email Callie Rae McCarthy
FREE CLASS
Friday
18mo-5 years / Brookdale Park
10:00am - 11:15am
FREE CLASS
Saturday
18mo-5 years / Brookdale Park
10:00am - 11:15am
FREE CLASS
Friday
18mo-5 years / Brookdale Park
10:00am - 11:15am
FREE CLASS
Saturday
18mo-5 years / Brookdale Park
10:00am - 11:15am
Fridays
18mo-5 years / Brookdale Park
10:00am - 11:15am
Saturdays
18mo-5 years / Brookdale Park
10:00am - 11:15am
Times don't work? See all classes in:
Why Enroll in Tinkergarten?
Skill-Based Curriculum
Tinkergarten is not a typical kids’ class—we share ideas with educational frameworks like Montessori, Waldorf and Reggio Emilia, but we’re much more. Our technology-enabled, expert designed curriculum adapts to region and season, is age appropriate, and spans a broad range of skills. Activities progressively build week after week, season after season.
“The classes are so well-thought-out and organized without being rigid.”
Outside is healthier
Tinkergarten parents are not anti-tech. Our kids get ample screen time, too. Isn’t our greatest gift, then, to balance that time with healthy, rejuvenating, and developmentally stimulating time outdoors?
“She’ll get plenty of time with the iPad soon. At her age, being outside just seems right.”
Let them Play, like we did
Our classes bring back something that seems to be lost on this new generation — something that was a most influential part of our own childhoods — free time to tinker outdoors.
“My youngest was more independent in this class than any other we’ve taken.”
Prepare them
Kids learn leadership, problem solving, persistence, and more through well-designed, guided play. At Tinkergarten, we think independent exploration, risk taking, getting dirty, and making help kids achieve far greater things than drills at the local tutoring center.
“I've learned to see his play as learning. Amazing!”
It takes a Village
The most critical social development happens in the first 5 years. Tinkergarten is purposefully designed to bring kids together with their peers, their parents, and allow mom and dad to bond with their child more meaningfully.
“He lost himself at Tinkergarten, and before he knew it, he was working with the other kids.”