Dogwood Nature School

Accessible, affordable, nature-based education
for children ages 3 years to 6 years. NOW offering Preschool!

Our approach

At Dogwood Nature School, we provide a unique, child-led learning experience rooted in nature. With small group sizes, we foster a close-knit, supportive environment that encourages habits of observation, discovery, questioning, and problem-solving. Our emergent, play-based approach allows children to explore their surroundings, ignite their imaginations, and learn at their own pace.

Through hands-on experiences in nature, we focus on building strong connections to the environment, while also emphasizing social-emotional learning, social-environmental justice, and healthy risk-taking. Here, children are free to be curious, creative, and confident as they grow into compassionate, thoughtful stewards of the world around them.

Our school

Dogwood Nature School is conveniently located in Midlothian, Virginia. Please contact us today to hear more about what we can offer your precious little one!

Meet Miss Ashlee
Founder & Lead Educator at Dogwood Nature School

Hi, I’m Miss Ashlee — a certified early childhood educator with a passion for nature-based learning. I’m also a mom and former foster parent with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s-level coursework in Child Development. With over five years of teaching experience, I’ve dedicated my career to creating enriching, joyful, and meaningful learning experiences for young children.

When I became a mom, everything changed — as it should. I knew I wanted to become the kind of educator I’d trust with my own child: compassionate, attentive, and deeply committed to developmentally appropriate, high-quality care. That mission has grown into Dogwood Nature School — a safe, immersive, and inspiring outdoor learning environment where children can thrive.

At Dogwood, we believe children deserve to feel secure, seen, and supported as they explore the world around them. Our nature-based program offers small class sizes, hands-on experiences, and a curriculum that prepares children for kindergarten while nurturing curiosity, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. We’re here to make childcare feel less stressful and more joyful — for you and your child.

I can’t wait to welcome your little one into our community!

Meet Our Team Members

  • Ashlee Mast, CEO & Founder of DNS

    As a mother, it has always been Ashlee’s dream to be certified in childhood education services and help other parents achieve high-quality services for their kids that allow them to become familiarized with the natural world around us. Certified CPR/First Aid/AED.

  • D. J. Cox, Executive Assistant/Safety Mgr.

    D.J. is a nature-lover, father of two, and takes childhood education very seriously. He is the Executive Assistant and safety manager at DNS. Your child’s safety is his top priority. Certified CPR/First Aid/AED.

“I had the privilege and honor to have Ashlee care for my children for almost two years. She is gentle, compassionate, empathetic, and a fantastic listener. She’s taught my children lessons that they’ve consistently applied to their daily lives and memories that will last a lifetime.”

— SARAH, PARENT