Rainforest House
Rainforest House
Friedrich-Ebert Anlage 28
69117 Heidelberg, Altstadt
RSVP to stephanie.saxton@dai-kids.de
Wednesday, 30.09.2026.
Wednesday, 28.10.2026.
Wednesday, 25.11.2026.
Wednesday, 16.12.2026.
Wednesday, 27.01.2027.
Wednesday, 24.02.2027.
Wednesday, 31.03.2027.
Wednesday, 28.04.2027.
Wednesday, 26.05.2027.
Wednesday, 30.06.2027.
An oasis in the heart of the Heidelberg Altstadt.
Rainforest House is an Altbau right in the Heidelberg Altstadt, bringing together the character of a historic building with the energy of one of the city’s most lively neighborhoods. Opened in 2010, it is centrally located and well connected by public transportation, making it an easy part of everyday family life in Heidelberg.
The house has a three-tiered garden, giving children plenty of space to play, move, and spend time outdoors. Each level has unique features, and at the very top, the garden feels like an extension of the mountanside forest.
During the warmer months, the children help care for our vegetable garden, planting, watering, watching things grow, and eventually enjoying what they have grown themselves.
Inside, the beautiful Altbau architecture gives Rainforest House a warm and cozy feel, with plenty of character and spaces that feel like a home. Outside, the city and surrounding nature are both close by, giving children a mix of urban life, outdoor exploration, and everyday opportunities to discover something new.
Rainforest House accepts childrean aged 2-6. Apply now!
The Rainforest Team
The Rainforest House team brings energy, creativity, and a genuine love of working with children to everyday life at the House. They enjoy getting to know each child as an individual and creating opportunities for children to learn, play, explore, and follow their own interests.
The teachers are enthusiastic and actively involved in the children's everyday experiences, bringing a sense of fun and curiosity to the group. Their genuine enjoyment of working with children shines through in the way they engage with them, encourage their ideas, and celebrate their development along the way.
NewLi is very grateful to have such a caring and committed team at Rainforest House. Their enthusiasm, creativity, and genuine enjoyment of the work bring a special energy to the House and make it a wonderful place for children to grow.
Stephanie Saxton, House Leader
Stephanie Saxton is the House Leader of the Rainforest Kindergarten. She has been part of the NewLi International Kindergartens family since 2018 and has worked in education for around 15 years.
Stephanie received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Valley Forge in 2012 and spent the following three years working at a private school in the United States. In 2015, she moved to Germany to fulfill a lifelong dream of living in another country and learning a new language. She spent her first year here as an au pair, where she had the opportunity to experience German culture firsthand while attending German language courses.
After completing her au pair year, she continued her education at Heidelberg University, where she earned her master's degree. Shortly afterwards, she joined us as a kindergarten teacher. Since then, she has continued to grow within the organization and has worked as a state-recognized early childhood educator, taking on increasing leadership responsibilities along the way.
Stephanie strongly believes in a child-centered approach to learning. For her, childhood should be filled with curiosity, discovery, creativity, and plenty of opportunities to play. Her goal is to bring fun and meaningful learning into each and every day while encouraging children to explore the world around them and develop their own desire to learn. It is important to Stephanie that children feel safe, valued, and encouraged to be themselves. She is excited to continue building a warm and welcoming environment at Rainforest Kindergarten where children can grow, learn, play, and thrive.
As House Leader, Stephanie is passionate about supporting her team in bringing these values into their everyday work. She encourages teachers to create environments where children feel safe to explore, express themselves, make choices, and develop their own interests and ideas. She values collaboration and reflective practice, working alongside her team to create a consistent, caring, and child-centered experience for every child.
She believes that every child deserves to be celebrated for who they are. Each child brings their own personality, interests, strengths, and needs to the community, and she believes in recognizing and supporting these individual differences while creating a strong sense of belonging within the group.
