About Us

Rainforest is an environmental art based preschool and infant program for children up to age six that introduces learning through active discovery and artistic exploration. Originally opened with one student and two teachers, today the school is at full capacity with 120 students and 40 employees. Our innovative programs are worlds beyond anything Chicago has seen before and are producing students who are exceptionally prepared for life beyond preschool.    

What We Offer

Rainforest’s use of the arts to encourage academic, personal and social growth has become our defining feature. Our programs go beyond traditional finger-painting and crayons (through we have this, too) and include work with a diverse range of media like sculpture, pottery, painting, piano, dance, yoga, and theater. The diversity of artistic experiences we offer our students is worlds beyond anything Chicago has seen before. Our programs nurture each student’s creative vision provide ample opportunity for students to fully explore their creative sides.

While we are most known for our unparalleled arts instruction, Rainforest offers an equally unique and successful academic curriculum with proven results. Our curriculum centers on a hands-on, engaging approach towards learning that creates a fun and emotionally supportive place for everyone that encourages independence and accommodates each student’s personal pace and learning style. By incorporating our specialty arts program into an all encompassing academic lesson plan, students of all ages have thrived and excelled in academically, with a consistent pattern of students being accepted into many of the city’s top primary schools. 

Rainforest Learning Center’s students are constantly exposed to the wonders of the world around them. There are so many exciting places to explore right here in the city, and we take a great joy in adventuring with our students. From the zoo and the aquarium, to nature parks and museums, to plays for children, Rainforest students go on field trips every month of the year.

We also take great care to expose our students to environmentally-friendly learning programs. Living in an urban environment, our students often miss out on seeing much of what nature has to offer, which makes it even more important that every student experiences hands-on natural science learning as part of our program. 

What Difference We Make

Through our wide-ranging programs, children develop a strong sense of artistic engagement and cultural awareness that offers developmental, intellectual and emotional benefits to each child. We have seen the value of offering arts education in an environment that supports exploration and creative expression and intend to bring this philosophy to our future endeavors to ensure more children reap the benefits of engaging in our programs.