Colorado Springs is getting a preschool unlike anything else in El Paso County. Starting Monday, August 24, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will open Little Paws Preschool — a state-accredited early childhood education program with animal habitats and zoo trails as its primary learning environment.

This is not a drop-in program, a summer camp, or a zoo enrichment class. Little Paws is a fully accredited preschool program recognized by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, with state-licensed early childhood professionals as teachers and a calendar aligned with Cheyenne Mountain School District 12. The difference between this and a traditional preschool is where the learning happens: outside, surrounded by animals, on the zoo's trails and habitat areas.

Two Tracks, Two Schedules

The program offers two options based on age:

What Outdoor Learning Looks Like at CMZoo

Nature-based outdoor preschools have grown significantly across Colorado in recent years, supported by research showing benefits for children's executive function, physical development, and relationship with the natural world. What sets Little Paws apart — beyond the credential — is the setting. The curriculum is not "nature-themed" activities conducted indoors. It is outdoor play and exploration conducted at an accredited zoo, with access to animal exhibits, walking trails, and habitats as the actual classroom.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo sits at 6,800 feet of elevation with views of Colorado's Front Range and access to the mountain ecosystem that surrounds it. Children in the program will encounter animals, wildlife cues, and natural terrain as a routine part of their school day — not as a field trip, but as the learning environment itself.

How to Enroll

Registration for the inaugural class is still open. Families interested in the program should email LittlePawsPreschool@cmzoo.org to request program information and an application. Because of the small class sizes, families are encouraged to reach out promptly if they are interested in the August 24 start.

The program follows the Cheyenne Mountain School District 12 academic calendar, which means holidays, breaks, and school closures align with that district — useful context for families who may have children in both a CMZoo preschool program and an older sibling in a local district school.

What's Next

Little Paws Preschool opens its inaugural class on Monday, August 24. For Colorado Springs families who have been looking for an early childhood education program that goes beyond a traditional classroom, this is a genuinely new option. COS Parenting will follow up with a first-day report once the program opens its doors. In the meantime, reach out directly to the zoo with enrollment questions — the contact is LittlePawsPreschool@cmzoo.org.