OUR MISSION

Cairn Hill prepares children of all backgrounds for personal and academic success through joyful learning opportunities rooted in nature, play and the arts.
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OUR HISTORY

In early 2012, three educators: Daniel Bekele, Ed.D., Cheryl Dressler, Ed.D., and Margaret Ris, M.Ed met at the Abiata Café in Malden, Massachusetts to determine the best way to offer children high quality, affordable educational opportunities inspired by Waldorf and nature-based approaches to learning.

They agreed to found a non-profit organization for this purpose and named it after a spot in Malden’s beautiful and rugged Fells Reservation: Cairn Hill.​

Founders Cheryl Dressler, Margaret Ris, and Daniel Bekele

The founders appreciated the metaphor of the cairn—a pile of stones marking a path created by many—and envisioned the activities of the new organization​ as helping to guide children along their paths.

Our Goals

Cairn Hill provides holistic, experiential learning experiences that foster the development of children's physical, social-emotional and academic competencies.

We believe that children learn best through hands-on exploration and play.
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Through daily extensive exposure to the outdoors, we seek to cultivate in children a deep connection to nature and an appreciation of the earth. 

We include gardening and encourage healthy eating to strengthen the bodies and minds of young children. We are developing the next generation of stewards of our planet!