the Vision
This year marks Weems’ 55th. Think of how many children have walked up our front steps, small hands holding the rail, while a grown-up waved goodbye — proudly, and perhaps a little trepidatiously.
Those steps have seen a lot of mornings. This year, we plan to rebuild them. In fact, we intend to give the whole front of our campus a little love.
The new front entry, as drawn by McHale Landscape Design.
New front steps, wider and shallower to better fit our young friends’ legs, with a landing halfway up. The stairway comes out a little further, reshaping the front walkway in bluestone. A new portico adds a covered entry at the top of the steps.
McHale designed it to sit comfortably with the building we already have: timeless, natural materials that complement the existing brick and age gracefully over time.
the garden
The Golden Spiral courtyard, with benches, plantings, and outdoor instruments.
the golden spiral
Out front, where we took the trees down last spring, the grass is finally coming in. This is the heart of the project — a courtyard and children’s garden built for play and gathering, with dozens of new plants, grasses and flowering shrubs, and benches for families. The key features include
Hands-on exploration through sight, sound, and touch.
Interactive musical instruments specially sized for preschool hands.
The courtyard is designed for gathering, with an inlay of Fibonacci’s Golden Spiral. Derived from the Fibonacci sequence, the Golden Spiral is a growth pattern found everywhere in nature — in galaxies, in ferns, and even in the chambers of a shell.
the project
The overall project is broken into three stages, with work estimated to begin in Summer 2027. Each stage builds on the one before it. It is a picture of continuous growth, and of how change and stability can live together.
The Entrance: $57,150 … $15,000 raised so far!
Porch and staircase rebuild, and the new front walkway.
The Garden: $68,000
Golden Spiral patio with engraved stones, the plantings, benches, and the Music Garden instruments.
The Portico: $60,000
The covered entry shown in the rendering above — our year-two goal.
Estimates from McHale Landscape Design and Freenotes Harmony Park, subject to the current cost of materials.
here’s how your gift works
Rooted at WEEMS is in the process of finalizing a fiscal sponsorship with a Maryland 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Once finalized, gifts made through this sponsor may qualify as tax deductible. We are happy to direct you on the next steps should you wish to make a donation through this fiscal sponsor.
Questions, or ready to make a gift? Email mary@weemscreeknurseryschool.com.
The master plan at a glance
For 55 years, Weems has been a place where little dreamers put down roots and grow. Here’s to renewing that commitment — for your children, and for all those to come.
“Experiencing music in nature engages the brain, builds social cohesion, and creates the conditions to build harmonious communities.”