About the Hopwood School & Camp

Hopwood Nursery School was founded in 1968 by Ann and Richard Hopwood and is currently owned and directed by their daughter Heidi Hopwood Geverd. The school is licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education and Department of Public Welfare.

Hopwood is conveniently located in Towamencin Township, between Lansdale, Harleysville, Hatfield and North Wales, Pennsylvania. The school is about one mile from the Lansdale exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike's N.E. Extension (I-476).

The Hopwood School & Camp has been consistently voted the "Best" or "One of the Best" by local readers of The Reporter since the inception of the newspaper's annual awards. Hopwood's 2009 awards included BEST Preschool / Nursery School, BEST Child Care / Day Care and One of the BEST Children's Camp.

Hopwood's curriculum is based on the High Scope Curriculum. The High Scope approach emphasizes the "active learner" and incorporates five basic elements of sound developmental practices for children and effective program management strategies for adults.

Hopwood has a dedicated staff of certified teachers that, on average, have been with the school for over 10 years. Additionally, the average age of our teaching staff is approximately 50 years old.

Hopwood resides on 8.5 acres in a country setting and is a unique, year round, indoor and outdoor learning experience. Open spaces, trees, ponds and wildlife offer a rich environment for children to learn, play, explore, and interact. The school's enclosed play yard alone is over 2/3 of an acre and includes an all weather, 2000 sq. ft. covered play pavillion. When not in class, Hopwood children sled in the winter, chase butterflies in the spring, swim in the summer and jump in fall leaf piles! Hopwood's resident animals (Cupcake the pony, Spunky, Zack, and X-Y-Z the llamas, Harry and Harley the alpacas) provide learning opportunities and offer gentle, engaging and often comical distractions for the children.

Take a peak

• School Video / Winter (requires Flash)
• School Video / Spring - coming soon
• School Video / Fall - coming soon

• Summer Camp Video (requires Flash)
• Summer Camp Slide Show (requires Flash)
• Slide Show of the Hopwood animals (requires Flash)

A Brief History

Ann Hopwood graduated from West Chester College with a degree in elementary education and is a state certified teacher. In 1968, Ann decided to leave full time teaching in public schools and pursue a dream of starting her own school. After two years with the school in their home, the Hopwoods purchased land and completed construction of a new school building in 1971. In 1981, the Hopwoods purchased additional land adjacent to the school and introduced the Hopwood Summer Day Camp.

Heidi Hopwood Geverd grew up working with her mother and father on the myriad tasks associated with the school. She graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in early childhood development and is a state certified teacher. She was a preschool teacher at the Hopwood School in the 1980’s before moving to Florida in 1988. Heidi taught in private preschools and public elementary schools in Florida throughout the 1990’s. Heidi, along with her husband and three children, returned to Pennsylvania in 2003 to buy the family business.

After of service, the Hopwood School & Camp is still committed to providing quality care and education to young children. Heidi and the dedicated teachers, aides and counselors carry on the tradition of excellence at Hopwood. The philosophies, curriculum and work ethic set forth by Ann and Richard Hopwood is the standard to which Heidi holds herself and the Hopwood staff.

In accordance with applicable Federal and State civil rights laws and regulatory requirements, services are provided at this facility without regard to race, origin, color, religious creed, handicap, ancestry, national origin, English Language Proficiency (LEP), age, or gender.