our history

arrow offers classes, camps, and workshops for children, parents, and parents-to-be that are rooted in the belief that young children learn through play and exploring the natural and creative arts.

arrow was founded in february 2010 by two moms who wanted to create a community space for their young children. arrow's classrooms are filled with lots of natural light, creative playthings, and a backyard garden spot for outdoor play.

inspired by waldorf and reggio emilia, arrow embraces the natural, the simple, the elemental, the handmade, the nurturing, and the healthful. by having a small selection of open-ended playthings, we have seen the children's imaginations open. by offering art & music to the children we have seen them smile. by watching parents learn from each other, we have watched a community grow.

in 2011, arrow became a non-profit organization, first as an incubator program under a local non-profit, and then as our own independent 501(c)(3) in march 2015.

in june 2012,  rachel sleppy was brought on as our new executive director. rachel received her b.f.a. from the savannah college of art & design and has served on both the lyndon house arts foundation & athens-clarke heritage foundation boards and currently resides in athens with her husband bob & their daughter, finley.  rachel continues to work closely with co-founder rinne allen to further arrow's mission to help create a creative community for the families of athens.

in february 2019, we relocated to a new home on pulaski street and have settled in nicely. our new space affords us more room to spread out for new adventures!

what makes us unique?

* offerings that cater to all members of the family, including continuing education workshops for parents

* low caregiver to child ratio in our preschool offerings. our ratio is typically 1:4.

* small class sizes provide more individual attention for your child. our class maximum is typically 8 children.

* an emphasis on different educational philosophies that encourage students to appreciate their natural & cultural world, while developing curiosity and imagination

* collaborative partnerships with other local artists, organizations & businesses foster our dedication to our community

* our urban neighborhood setting presents unique opportunities: walk-able field trips to local restaurants, urban community gardens & nearby historic properties