About Our Programs

Family, fun, and learning--you'll find this and more at our schools. Our programs serve the Raeford, Fayetteville, Aberdeen, Pinehurst, Spring Lake, Cameron, Ft Bragg, and Southern Pines area.

Rockfish Country Kids Learning Center Traditional Program

We are a half day Christian preschool. Every day is filled with educational play based fun both in and outside combined with a traditional preschool experience.

You can find our students practicing their alphabet in the sand, playing instruments, jumping while skip counting and learning about Jesus everyday. We implement play in our day in large and small groups and free play. We also offer after school field trips and have a bilingual program for our older classroom.

The Nature School NC - Forest School

These programs are fully outdoors which provides children with fresh air, encourages imaginative play, creativity, hand-eye coordination and balance, physical strength, and mental clarity. By tapping into their innate sense of wonder about nature, we can help children learn basic environmental and natural science principles, as well as respect for all living beings. Lessons will flow organically from the natural rhythms of the seasons and from the children’s daily discoveries providing spontaneous teachable moments.

Coming soon! Nature camps, homeschool camps and caregivier and me classes

Welcome

We know how important it is to leave your children with someone you trust and choosing a preschool for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make during these years. A great deal of thought and effort has been put into selecting, developing, and implementing age appropriate curriculum, learning manipulatives, and games. Children need the opportunity and time to explore, experiment, and reflect on what they experience. It is our goal at Rockfish Country Kids Learning Center to provide each child with materials and activities that are developmentally appropriate in a place that is secure, loving, and most importantly, FUN!

Our Programs

The Nature School NC - Forest School

We love to learn outdoors! We are proud to say we are the first fully outdoor nature school (forest school) setting in the Rockfish area. We are passionate about being outside in nature and the positive benefits it can have on children. We plan to offer homeschool camps and caregiver and me classes next school year.

We recognize it is our privilege to live, work, and play in nature and believe we have a responsibility to teach others how to live in good relation to it and with others. We strive to teach children this and enjoy seeing little foot prints worn-in our paths and watching tiny hands have harvested native plants from our gardens and play spaces.

Being outdoors all year round helps the children see and feel the changes in the seasons, run and explore, build with sticks and make dens, jump in puddles, use their imagination and have fun! In an age where it sometimes feels that technology drives us, we want to encourage some wild play and learning.

We are currently situated at the grounds near RCK. We will spend the days outdoors and move around our trails. We have a lovely field to run around and play games in, lots of woodland to explore, a hidden pond and during the rainy season, tiny streams. Our program was created to be a place where children can feel a deep sense of belonging both in the natural world and in a community of people .

Preschool programs - fully potty trained 3 year olds to 6 year olds

September to May - TTH half days

HYBRID PRESCHOOL PROGRAM - LIMITED SLOTS - 3 days traditional preschool and 2 days nature school

Registration starts in February each year. Connect with us to find out the interview process, costs and more by filling out the contact page below.

Rockfish Country Kids Preschool

Traditional Christian Preschool Program

Registration opens each February for the following year.

Our Preschool Programs
Ages served
Walking well 1s -2s Kinderbaby
2s Prekinder
3s Kinderprep 3

4s and 5s homeschool K - Kinderprep 4/5

Yearly Schedule
August - May 8:20-11:55

Summer - Same times - pay as you go camps available to past and current students

School Options:
1-Monday-Friday
2-Monday, Wednesday, Friday
3-Tuesday and Thursday

Child must be of age by August 31 following public school enrollment ages.

Curriculum
Our curriculum is a Christian based eclectic mix of guided and undirected play, self discovery, directed learning, and exploration. Preschool curriculum includes in-depth studies utilizing books, games, music, nature as well as other resources. We will focus on a particular topic while learning the areas of science, nature, language arts, music, mathematics, geography, phonics, reading, social studies, Bible, drama, dance, basic Spanish and German, a dedicated German class in the KP4 classes, Sign Language, nutrition, and physical education. We will also learn about color, shapes, textures, numbers, letters, animals, Dolch site words, seasons, feelings, personal hygiene, and manners. We enjoy going on educational adventures on our field trips too!

Each child grows and develops at different rates, so teaching will begin at your child's present level of development and will proceed at their own rate, making learning here at RCK an individual matter.

Tuition and Registration Fees
Please send us your child's birth date in the contact form page below for the current tuition information.

Enrolling your child
Before enrolling, we invite prospective parents to make an appointment to visit. We accept enrollment throughout the year on a space available basis.

We would love to connect with you - send an email to us below!

What our friends and parents say about Rockfish Country Kids:

I have personally known Cheryl Allin for several years. As Director of Children’s Ministries at RockFish Church, I immediately recognized a special teaching ability in Cheryl. Her patience and consistency with the children she worked with in our children’s ministry program exceeded any similar characteristics I had observed in the past. Her teaching style and demeanor reflects that of a superbly trained education professional with kindness and gentleness towards the students an added bonus. I would not hesitate to place a child in Cheryl Allin’s preschool. I believe she will do her upmost to meet each student’s academic, social, and emotional needs.

-Annie McVickers, Director of Children’s Ministries, RockFish Church, Raeford, North Carolina

I have known Cheryl for about 17 years now and can truthfully say she is one of the most trustworthy, considerate and caring people I know. She gives 110% to every endeavor, whether it is for her family, her home or her ministry. I have had the opportunity to see her serve in many capacities, from tutor at the public school, to homeschool mom, to children's church teacher, to ministry director, and she excels in each endeavor. She has a passion for teaching children and her patience is boundless. She is a gifted teacher, one who can maintain order and discipline yet at the same time be caring and loving. Her organizational skills are superior and she strives for excellence in everything she does. She honors God above all and constantly seeks to grow in her Christian faith. I am so blessed to call her my friend and feel completely confident trusting my children in her preschool, knowing that they are so well provided for in such a loving, Christian environment.

--Rhonda A., homeschooling mom of 2 and bookkeeper, Raeford, NC

Having previously worked as a childcare quality consultant, I had (and still have) very high standards! I knew almost immediately, upon visiting with her in her home, that this was a woman who was passionate about caring for and teaching children, and took the utmost pride in her program. On that first official day, my daughter went right in and started playing. I had to ask her to give me a hug and kiss goodbye! As a parent, that is the very best of signs— to know that your child is somewhere that they feel comfortable, safe, happy, and cared for. I am not sure who loves it more- my daughter or me! Every single day she goes, she runs right in with her friends and starts playing. Often, forgetting to tell me goodbye! Cheryl is meticulous about providing the children with appropriate learning experiences and a thoughtful curriculum. And one of my favorite things is when I hear my daughter start signing a song or speaking Spanish, or signing words out of the blue. And when I ask her, “Did Ms. Cheryl teach you that?” the answer is always a happy “Yes!”

Having gotten to know Cheryl and her family, I feel blessed to have such a wonderful care provider and teacher (and friend!) for my daughter. She is not just an asset to our daughter, but to our entire family. I never doubt for a moment that she cares for my daughter as if she were her own, and that she always has her safety, well-being, and intellectual and spiritual growth as her top priorities. With as many challenges as we face as a military family, I know that God has blessed up immensely by bringing Cheryl into our lives!

Rockfish Country Kids is such an outstanding preschool program- I simply cannot recommend it highly enough. Our family will be moving from this area in about a year, and RCK is the one reason I am reluctant to move! I only pray with we can find another preschool program for my daughter next year that will live up to the wonderful experience we have had with Cheryl.

Very sincerely, Sarah R. Lake, Former Teacher and Childcare Quality Consultant

I first met Cheryl a little over 14 years ago while assisting her in children’s church. Her love for children is evident through her interaction and compassion. Not only does Cheryl have a heart to serve but she is exceptional from the inside out. When looking for a preschool for my son the two most important factors were safety and quality. Rockfish Country Kids was an easy choice for our family due to the quality of her program and the safe environment that she provides. Since my son has been attending Cheryl’s program he has progressed wonderfully and the transition has been seamless. Cheryl strives for excellence and excellence is what she provides.

--Jena Wright, former teacher assistant, counselor, and stay at home mommy

RCK has truly been a blessing to our family and our strong willed daughters development. She has had bouts of separation anxiety that all of the staff handled with patience and gentleness. RCK now feels like a second home to her and we have watched her thrive in their care. The environment they have created in the school is full of genuine love, safety, creativity, and learning. The best decision we made when moving to Raeford was enrolling her in RCK!

-– Courtnie Neill, Nurse and stay at home mommy

What our parents and friends say about The Nature School NC

We love the nature school! I am so glad that RCK is adding this program - we love being outdoors. My son is a bit reserved in the classroom as things can get a little overwhelming for him but he is so happy when he gets outside on the trails and is opening up more each time. He tells me his favorite parts of nature school is pushing the wagon, playing in the dirt, finding animal tracks and eating his snack..oh and we can not forget the dirt slide!

Just one word: LOVE!

The Nature School forest school has provided my son with many opportunities to use his creativity through nature play and spark curiosity about the world around him. He has so much fun with his classmates on their adventures and he raves about his time spent in the forest!

My two boys have loved forest school as soon as they started! They always tell me about everything they saw, and it is always their favorite part of their day. The pictures that we get weekly always match up with their stories and its wonderful to see and have them talk about it more!