explore our programs
Infant Toddler Looping Program
Ages Six Weeks to ~3 Years
Our Infant-Toddler Looping Program is designed to foster continuity and secure attachments during the most critical early years. To the best of our ability, children remain with a core group of peers and familiar teachers for up to three years. While individual children’s birthdays and staffing changes naturally occur, this model aims to provide the stable, consistent environment that research shows significantly supports healthy brain growth and emotional development.
When children transition to our 3K program, our teaching team helps guide and support them through a gentle, comfortable adjustment to their new classroom.
Learn more about the Looping Model here.
In our 3K program, children participate in a vibrant, mixed-age classroom for one to two years. This multi-age environment reflects a natural community where children benefit from unique peer-to-peer learning, allowing older students to build leadership skills and younger students to learn through observation and mentorship.
Our play-based, hands-on curriculum takes place in thoughtfully enriched learning spaces. Through guided discovery, children are encouraged to follow their natural curiosity and direct their own play, supported every step of the way by attentive, skilled teachers.
3-Year-Old Kindergarten
Ages ~2.5 to ~4 Years
4-year-old Kindergarten (4k)
Children age 4 before September 1 each year
Our 4 Year-Old Kindergarten Program (4K) was established in the 2007. In the 2022-23 school year, NDCC started a Community 4K Collaboration with Gibraltar Area Schools.
The 4K classroom is co-taught by NDCC teachers who are degreed and licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WI DPI). Children must be four years old as of September 1st each year to enroll in 4K.
The Community Collaborative 4K program follows all the WI DPI guidelines, including over 1200 total hours of instruction. 4K uses Creative Curriculum, a renowned early childhood program of study. Creative Curriculum builds children's confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills through developmentally appropriate, hands-on, project-based investigations. It promotes discovery and inquiry with opportunities for children to think critically and is simple to differentiate to meet the varied learning needs of our students.
NDCC's 4K program participates in yearly "Specials" activities such as nature-based learning at The Ridges Sanctuary, swimming lessons, and a science curriculum designed and taught by a nationally-recognized science teacher from Madison. In addition, the NDCC 4K participates in activities in conjunction with our Gibraltar 4K cohort, such as monthly classes at Peninsula School of Art and programs at the Door County Community Auditorium.
For 4K students, families may also opt to extend the day with our "wrap-around" care following the daily educational program. Wrap-around care includes indoor and outdoor creative play between 3:30pm - 5:30pm.
Camp Cool + camp curiosity Summer day Camps
Ages 5 to 10 Years
Camp Curiosity (Age 5)
Designed specifically for children who have completed 4K and are preparing to enter kindergarten in the fall, Camp Curiosity offers a supportive summer environment that fosters new friendships, builds peer confidence, and helps ease the transition into kindergarten.
Camp Cool (Ages 6–10)
Camp Cool keeps school-age children engaged all summer long! Built around a new creative overall theme each year, campers enjoy hands-on activities, creative projects, group games, and exciting off-campus field trips throughout Door County and surrounding areas.
Curriculum and Assessment
All curriculum is developed and based on Creative Curriculum, the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards, the Pyramid Model for Social-Emotional Education and the Teaching Strategies Gold standardized assessment, performed three times per year for each child.
Lesson plans are developed weekly to meet the needs of each child and each classroom.