Bunnies & Turtles
At Bunnies & Turtles, we help young children build the social, emotional, and learning foundations they need to thrive in school and beyond.
Inspired by the playful energy of bunnies and the calm focus of turtles, our program encourages children to learn, cooperate, explore, and stay curious in a nurturing, small-group setting.
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Through hands-on activities, games, and imagination-driven play, children practice taking turns, problem-solving, expressing creativity, and building confidence, all essential skills for classroom success.
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Led by trained high-school mentors, our pods create a joyful bridge between playtime and school time, helping every child grow at their own pace, whether they hop, crawl, or cruise their way toward learning.
Our Vision
At Bunnies & Turtles, we envision a joyful start to learning where young children in Pre-K through 1st grade build the social, emotional, and academic foundations to thrive in school and in life.
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By pairing little learners with trained mentors and junior mentors, we create a unique environment of peer inspiration and gentle guidance, where big kids model cooperation, patience, and curiosity, and younger children learn by example.
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Together, we nurture confidence, kindness, and a lifelong love of learning, one playful step at a time.
How it all started
It all started when I was in Pre-K and attended a small class in the basement of Mrs. Jo’s home. She was warm, inviting, and incredibly approachable, I could tell right away that she loved kids. It was my safe, happy space where I always felt accepted and loved.
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Mrs. Jo played games with us but never just let us win, we had to earn it, and when we did, it felt great. When we didn’t, I learned that even though losing felt uncomfortable, I could always try again. She read stories, taught us sight words, laughed when we laughed, and she was there for us when we cried, too. Sometimes, an older student would join our class as a mentor, and not only did I looked up to them, I too wanted to be a mentor. I couldn’t wait for those playdates each week.
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Through those early experiences, I discovered that cheating meant sitting out a turn, learning could actually be fun and confidence comes from within. Mrs. Jo never rushed me. She let me observe for as long as I needed, and when I was ready, she was right there, cheering me on.
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One of my favorite stories growing up was “The Tortoise and the Hare.” I loved that story, maybe because I could relate to it so much. I was definitely the tortoise in my classes, quiet, observant, and slow to start and I still am. I used to wish I could be more like the hare: fast, confident, and always ahead. However, as time went on, I realized something important, everyone crosses the finish line. Some of us hop, some of us crawl, but we all get there together.
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From Pre-K through first grade, I felt truly free to play, explore, and learn. Mrs. Jo called her classes Miracle Kids, and like a miracle, I’m standing here almost a decade later still thinking about those days. That little basement classroom taught me lessons that have lasted a lifetime, about making choices, giving choices, and understanding that sometimes, there are no choices at all.
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I my passion and my mission through Bunnies and Turtles is to share what I have learned and hopefully reach the hearts, minds and souls of all the bunnies and turtles out there.
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-Catalina, Founder of Bunnies and Turtles