Our Mission

Learn Well      Live Well     Love Well

Our Worldview

As followers of Jesus, we are determined to run our business, lead our staff, and guide the children in a manner that reflects the heart and teachings of Jesus.  

It means that the foundation of New Wonders is a genuine love and reverence for God, for the world He created, and the people He gave His Son for.  We think through how the implications of our beliefs, decisions, and actions impact others- not just those who belive the same way that we do, but the entire community we are a part of. 

Our Philosophy

Learn Well:     

We understand that children LEARN best by doing what children DO best- play! As educators, we strive to provide a non-traditional, "Nature-Play" program that gives children the opportunity to grow and explore the world in a developmentally appropriate manner and that nurtures a sense of curiosity and life-long learning. 

Live Well:     

In a world saturated with technology, we believe it is vital for children to reconnect with the world God gave us through spending time in nature and learning life skills that have been forgotten over the last few generations. Skills such as gardening, sewing, carpentry, animal care, and so much more, taught in an age-appropriate manner, provides children with the knowledge and tools they need to develop into confident, capable, and successful humans.

Love Well:

The most important part of New Wonders is to collaborate with your family in guiding the children to know that they are uniquely created with a Divine purpose.  A deep sense of purpose promotes self-confidence which then leads to the ability to show kindness, empathy, and compassion, as well as, effectively communicate and work with others, and encourages a desire to grow in wisdom and knowledge.  

Our History

New Wonders is owned and operated by mother-daughter team, Connie and Heather.  In 2006, Heather was directing a church-owned preschool.  That summer, in need of staff, Heather reached out to her mom, Connie, who had been working as a paraprofessional in the Portage Schools to see if she was interested in helping.  She enjoyed it so much, she decided to stay!  Over the next five years, Heather and Connie dreamed of opening their own high-quality center.   In 2011, Heather decided to move on from her position at that center and Connie soon followed.  They spent the next year and a half searching for property, planning and preparing. 

On September 24, 2012, New Wonders opened it's doors at its current location.  It has been successfully serving the children of Oshtemo and the surrounding areas for 12 years.