The Hollingworth Center

At a table, a young child sits in the foreground. In front of him is a simple circuit he built out of wires, a battery, conductive clay, and an LED light. His LED is shining and he is looking up into the distance with an inspired look on his face. In the background, a teacher sits next to another student who is figuring out their own circuit.

40 Years of Nurturing Potential

The Hollingworth Center is: a science camp, a preschool, research site, teacher training site. A community of children, loved ones, graduate students, educators, researchers and scholars. A community woven into the fabric of Teachers College, stitched across the neighborhood and wrapped around the globe. A community that is ever-growing. Welcome!

More About Us

Learn more about our on-campus programs, open to all!

Hollingworth Preschool

Hollingworth Preschool is an internationally recognized, university-based early childhood center located on the Upper West Side campus of Teachers College, Columbia University. Our program serves children 3-5 years of age and features child-lead, inquiry-based education in a close-knit community setting.

Four Students are gathered around a table working closely together. They are all focusing intently on a cup of water with cereal submerged in it. Using magnets, the students are collecting iron particles from the iron-fortified cereal that is dissolving in the water.

Hollingworth Science Camp

Hollingworth Science Camp is an immersive day-camp located on campus at Teachers College, Columbia University. Our program features hands-on, inquiry-based science exploration for elementary-aged children. Our classrooms are facilitated by teams of experienced educators and Teachers College graduate students, supported by a staff of full-time educators and teacher mentors. 

Three photos of TC grad students working closely with Hollingworth children. In one photo a teacher is leadings a squid dissection with science campers. In another the teacher and student are testing our the child's water wheel design. In the last photo a teacher is working with preschoolers on building simple circuits.

Opportunities For Graduate Students

Come work and learn with us! Both our Preschool and Science Camp hire graduate students to teach in our classroom and administrative teams. These lab schools offer pre-service teachers opportunities to teach and learn in immersive classroom settings. If you are interested in learning more about the opportunities we offer, please click below.

All Are Welcome

Hollingworth Center at Teachers College, Columbia University welcomes students, families, staff and faculty regardless of their race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, sexual or romantic orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, gender expression or any other criterion specified by federal, state or local laws and thereafter accords them all the rights and privileges generally made available to students, families, or employees at Teachers College.

Learn more about our local and global initiatives


Partnerships

Learn more about our partnerships in New York City and across the globe.

Expertise

Learn more about our research and expertise.

Land Acknowledgment

The Hollingworth Center operates on the unceded territory and traditional lands of the Munsee Lenape, Canarsee, Rockaway, Wappinger, Manahatin, Reckgawanc, Unkechaug, Matinecock, Haudenosaunee, and more. These indigenous communities have historically inhabited, navigated, and protected the land we now call Manhattan, and that movement and work continues today.

Lenape means "the people" in the Lenape language (one of the 20 distinct Algonquian languages), and in Lenape the Hudson River is called Shatemuc, which means “the river that flows both ways”. We acknowledge the Lenape and all indigenous nations as the past, present, and future stewards of the land.

Learn more about Lenapehoking and explore a free k-12 Lenape curriculum designed by TC's own Dr. Rachel Talbert in partnership with the Lenape Center. This curriculum is designed to combat the erasure of Lenape history. Click the button below to learn more.

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