The Fern and Feather preschool at Mass Audubon Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary is closing after six years of operation.

According to Felix Neck director Suzan Bellincampi, the decision was made due to staffing shortages. Even though housing was offfered, not a enough qualified candidates applied for the job.

“Because the position requires licenses from the state, we need people with credentials and we haven’t been able to find staffing,” she said.

The school opened in the fall of 2019, providing nature-based education for children ages 3 to 5 as part of the wildlife sanctuary’s overall mission. Each year approximately 13 students were enrolled.

The preschool sent out a notice to parents in June that they were experiencing staffing shortages, and in mid-August told families that the school would be closing.

According to parent Garrett Burt, Fern and Feather offered a program unlike any other on the Island.

“I think it’s a real shame to lose a program like theirs because for my kids, they got to be outside essentially every day year-round,” he said.

Mr. Burt still had one child enrolled for this year, but after hearing about the potential closure he took immediate action and started putting his daughter on preschool waitlists around the Island. He has secured childcare for this upcoming school year, but he knows not all parents were as lucky.

“We’re so sad for how this personally affects us but it’s also an Island-wide problem,” he said. “It’s a shame to lose any childcare here, but to lose such a special program is crushing.”

Kris Scopinich, Mass Audubon senior director of education, said the preschool team knows this is a loss for the community.

“We understand the impact this will have on our preschool families and we have a deep appreciation for them and our staff who have worked so hard to provide an enriching educational experience,” she wrote in a statement.

Ms. Bellincampi said that Felix Neck’s mission of offering nature-focused education will continue through its after-school and weekend programming, along with its Fern and Feather summer camp.

“Our school-based education program will continue,” she said. “Island kids will continue having field trips. We’re going to think about how we can continue supporting that population and we’re not going anywhere. We will be here to support nature education forever.”