About Us

Friends Neighborhood Nature School is an independent, non-profit nursery school and camp for children ages 2½ to 6 years old. Learning is hands-on, creative, muddy (often messy!), and always fun. What looks and feels like magic, is the result of absolutely intentional and carefully implemented gold standard early childhood programming. Research now supports what the founders of Friends knew all along: young children thrive in small, supportive, inclusive, play-based learning communities with plenty of time outside, invitations for inquiry, and opportunities to lead.

Friends is a private, non-profit nursery school sponsored by the Ridgewood Quaker Meeting. The school is a member of the Friends Council on Education. The faculty have always been a nurturing, committed group of individuals who see and bring out the best in every child. In 2021, a Friends Committee was formed to usher the school into its next era of serving children and the community. The committee is comprised of current and alumni parents who wish to give back to Friends what Friends had given them.

Our address is 224 Highwood Ave, Ridgewood NJ 07450. You can contact us at contact@ridgewoodfriends.org.