ROCKPORT — Children's House Montessori School (CHMS) has signed an Option Agreement to purchase 3 Cross Street in Rockport, "marking an exciting new chapter for the school and a significant investment in nature-based learning for children," said CHMS, in a news release.

According to the news release, the new location offers a unique opportunity to blend the best of Montessori education with outdoor learning, while establishing a permanent home for the school. Children’s House will be located directly across from the Erickson Fields Preserve, owned by Maine Coast Heritage Trust. 

The school will also be adjacent to new affordable housing developments, "placing CHMS within a growing neighborhood and strengthening its role as a community partner serving Midcoast families," said CHMS.

"This is a huge milestone for our school," said Caleb Lincoln, Chair of the CHMS Board of Directors and a Children’s House Montessori alum. "The Cross Street property reflects our long-term commitment to early childhood education and creates opportunities for children to learn, grow, and connect with both the natural world and their community.” 

Nature-based learning is already a defining part of the CHMS experience. Montessori students participate in weekly Forest Fridays at Merryspring Nature Center, enjoy outdoor adventures including rock climbing at Barrett's Cove during summer camp, and engage in hands-on environmental education projects in the classrooms. Last year, CHMS students raised nearly 300 brook trout eggs, provided through the generosity of the Casco Hatchery, before releasing the young fish into the Megunticook River.

"Montessori education encourages children to learn through direct experience, observation, and exploration," said Rachel Nixon, Head of School. "Being across from Erickson Fields creates extraordinary opportunities for outdoor learning. We can imagine children exploring trails, engaging in community agriculture, and developing a lifelong connection to the natural world. Our area offers exceptional environmental and community resources, and this location will help us connect children more deeply to both. We see it as an opportunity to nurture a strong sense of stewardship, belonging, and place from an early age."

Children’s House serves children ages 18 months to 9 years old in school-year and summer programs.

The agreement follows several years of Children's House Montessori exploring options for a permanent home. The school will continue operations at the yellow schoolhouse in Camden through next summer and plans to open at the new location for the 2027-2028 school year.

"CHMS is grateful for the support of families, community members, and local partners throughout the journey and looks forward to sharing additional updates as plans move forward," said the news release.

For questions about Children’s House Montessori School or their new location, please contact Head of School, Rachel Nixon, director@camdenmontessori.org. 

About Children’s House Montessori School

Children's House Montessori, a non-profit early childhood education program founded in 1979, inspires a lifelong love of learning in children ages 18 months to 9 years in Midcoast Maine. The school’s mission is to cultivate curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in young learners, while nurturing a sense of care for each other, the environment, and the world. 

Guided by Dr. Maria Montessori's pioneering philosophy, Children’s House provides carefully designed, multi-age classrooms and nature-based opportunities where children master skills at their own pace and grow toward independence in a cooperative environment. Montessori-trained teachers provide children with the love, support, and guidance they need to thrive. 

Children's House honors the values of respect, inclusion, lifelong learning, community, and sustainability.