IMS of Dryden is an intimate home based program with a maximum of 12 children. It is located at the end of a quiet cul-du-sac in a lovely family oriented neighborhood off of Yellow Barn road in Dryden. The school ground has a large sprawling yard that ends onto forested area. There is a mature vegetable and flower gardens that are attended to by the children during the school seasons. The forested area provides ample opportunity for nature walks and observation of all the seasonal changes. Much emphasis is placed on our integration with the environment around us. The children have an area to compost behind the vegetable garden. In the center of the yard section is a play structure for climbing, swinging, balance beam and sand and water play. Through the fall and spring season the children have access to pavement for ball playing, chalk art and cycling. Raking crabapples and leaves are a big hit in the fall for designing crabapple labyrinths and making leaf piles. After the first snow flies comes igloos, forts and snowman building. Then the sleds come out for sliding down the small backyard slope.
Inside are 2 large brightly lit and beautifully prepared classrooms filled with fascinating learning materials, books, art, music, food preparation ,plants and animal life. Students can be found scattered through the classroom working alone or with a few other friends on something that intrigues them. Children move freely selecting work that captures their interest rather than participating all day in lessons or projects directed by the teacher. Teachers can be spotted presenting individual or small group lessons, calmly advising a child or quietly observing the class in work process.
During inclement weather we also have a third large indoor gym room for dancing, play, and movement activities. This room opens up to the outside in the summertime to become part of the summer art camp program.
