About
Room to Grow is a parent-participation preschool program where children take part in hands-on involvement and in-depth exploration of the world around them. Children spend time exploring, playing in the mud, dressing up, pretending, camping, rafting, rowing, going on hikes and bike rides, harvesting fruit trees, irrigating a large garden, climbing trees, and wandering through swamps.
• Ages: 2–5 years old
Room to Grow is an emergent curricula program that includes both high quality preschool experiences and parent education. The program is based on accepted theories of child development and early learning and is inspired by the Children’s Schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Its classrooms, both indoor and outdoor, are considered the “3rd teacher,” and the program describes a strong connection to nature as promoting cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills and abilities. Room to Grow is a nonprofit corporation and includes a book titled “You Are Going To Like It Here,” created by the children of Room to Grow for new children.
Room to Grow states that, through participation in the program, parents learn about child development and early learning while fostering their relationship with their child. It also states that children, with the support of caring adults, learn through hands-on involvement and in-depth exploration of the world around them, and that the program respects and supports children’s need and right to play as a critical way of exploring their world, gaining knowledge, and building the foundation for later learning.
The program’s leadership team includes Karen Nattrass, MA; Debbie Vigil; and Debbie Lignell, MFT, a trio of local early childhood professionals who formed a nonprofit corporation and adopted the original Room to Grow name. Staff credentials include Karen Nattrass, who has a master’s degree in Human Ecology; Gwen Anaya, who is certified from Las Positas College as an associate preschool teacher and has been a childcare provider for over 12 years; and Debbie Lignell, who is identified as MFT.
Room to Grow traces its history to a program originally established in the 1960s as St. Bartholomew’s Nursery School. The original Room to Grow closed in 1989. In 2007, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church again offered its classrooms and grounds as a site for an early childhood program, and over a five-month period they worked to renovate and equip the facility. In October 2007, Room to Grow welcomed its first children.
Room to Grow has reached out to the community by collaborating with a local nonprofit agency, CAPE, Inc., to provide opportunities for quality preschool to underprivileged families through the Head Start program. St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church offered its classrooms and grounds to the community as a site for this early childhood program.
Last updated July 22, 2026.
• Ages: 2–5 years old
Room to Grow is an emergent curricula program that includes both high quality preschool experiences and parent education. The program is based on accepted theories of child development and early learning and is inspired by the Children’s Schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Its classrooms, both indoor and outdoor, are considered the “3rd teacher,” and the program describes a strong connection to nature as promoting cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills and abilities. Room to Grow is a nonprofit corporation and includes a book titled “You Are Going To Like It Here,” created by the children of Room to Grow for new children.
Room to Grow states that, through participation in the program, parents learn about child development and early learning while fostering their relationship with their child. It also states that children, with the support of caring adults, learn through hands-on involvement and in-depth exploration of the world around them, and that the program respects and supports children’s need and right to play as a critical way of exploring their world, gaining knowledge, and building the foundation for later learning.
The program’s leadership team includes Karen Nattrass, MA; Debbie Vigil; and Debbie Lignell, MFT, a trio of local early childhood professionals who formed a nonprofit corporation and adopted the original Room to Grow name. Staff credentials include Karen Nattrass, who has a master’s degree in Human Ecology; Gwen Anaya, who is certified from Las Positas College as an associate preschool teacher and has been a childcare provider for over 12 years; and Debbie Lignell, who is identified as MFT.
Room to Grow traces its history to a program originally established in the 1960s as St. Bartholomew’s Nursery School. The original Room to Grow closed in 1989. In 2007, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church again offered its classrooms and grounds as a site for an early childhood program, and over a five-month period they worked to renovate and equip the facility. In October 2007, Room to Grow welcomed its first children.
Room to Grow has reached out to the community by collaborating with a local nonprofit agency, CAPE, Inc., to provide opportunities for quality preschool to underprivileged families through the Head Start program. St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church offered its classrooms and grounds to the community as a site for this early childhood program.
Last updated July 22, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.