Steward Outdoor School is a private day school for students in grades K–6. At Steward, we engage learners through a holistic, hands-on approach with nature as our guide. Children intuitively know that learning lives outdoors—they are meant to explore, play, and grow in every season, from warm summer breezes to the crisp chill of winter.
Steward began in January 2021, on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, when families were reimagining what school could be. A small group approached Jen Malaguti—then Director of Bushy Hill Nature Center and Bushy Hill Summer Camp—with a simple request: If you build an outdoor school, we will enroll our children. That spark of trust became Steward.
Jen holds a B.A. in Developmental Psychology and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction (K–8) from Keene State College and is certified to teach grades 1–6 in Connecticut. After eight years teaching in New Hampshire public schools, she returned to Bushy Hill as Director, leading programs and curriculum development. Opening Steward fulfills her lifelong vision of creating a school where children learn deeply through nature, community, and meaningful work.
As interest in the school grew, Diego Castrillón joined Steward as the second teacher. Diego holds a B.A. in Spanish and English Teaching from Universidad Pedagógica Nacional and brings nearly eight years of international teaching experience. His background in leadership, mentorship, and experiential education strengthens Steward’s commitment to curiosity, independence, and strong relationships.
Steward Outdoor Day School is a program of Incarnation Center, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with a 130+ year legacy of transformative education, retreat, and camp programs.
I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees. ~D.Thoreau
