TimberNook was founded by Angela Hanscom, a pediatric Occupational Therapist in Barrington, New Hampshire. Her concept evolved from observing the needs of children in her practice, their difficulties with balance or to think creatively and the important developmental milestones they were missing the mark on. She observed the growing trend between these declining factors and children spending less time outdoors. It is this trend that led Angela to create TimberNook, a program tailored to place children outdoors to naturally enhance and foster child development.

TimberNook North East Florida is located at the beautiful Collage Day School campus. Our students experience outdoor learning through self-play, independent exploration, imagination, and new friendships. We believe that it is important for children to learn outdoors in TimberNook – it weaves the therapeutic aspects of nature with a unique understanding of child development, creating a program that supports every aspect of a growing child. Our TimberNook rules encourage our learners how to negotiate, discover, play and problem solve with facilitated guidance, while limiting the dependence on adults to provide answers and solve the learners problems for them.

TimberNook North East’s director, Abby Premo, received her instructor certification and has worked in the program since 2021. She also has been a resident Registered Behavior Technician since 2017, is Wild Med, CPR/ First Aid Certified and has a degree in Early Childhood Management. Growing up in the Adirondack Mountains, Abby worked in NYSDEC Environmental Education camps. “TimberNook offers a one-of-a-kind experience and opportunity that has combined my own childhood experiences and love of the outdoors with my growing therapeutic approaches and career passions. This program organically offers combined therapeutic benefits, alternative education and a natural outdoor area. Allowing them time and space to have safe unrestricted child-led play experiences improves so many important skills they will carry with them for a lifetime.”