One Woman’s Journey Put All Aboard Child Development Centers On Track Across Southern Maryland

SOUTHERN MARYLAND — Caprice Nathaniel was preparing to close the successful family child care program she had spent years building.

After completing her master’s degree at Towson University, she planned to leave Miss Caprice’s Childcare and pursue a career as a professor of early childhood education. One of her own professors encouraged her to reconsider.

The Waldorf program had a waiting list and was already making a difference for local families. Instead of walking away, he urged Nathaniel to consider how many more children she could reach by expanding.

“He reminded me of my ‘why,’” Nathaniel said in an interview with The BayNet.

That “why” had been taking shape long before she opened a child care program of her own.

Nathaniel grew up watching her mother welcome foster children into their home and her grandmother care for children throughout their family. Later, when she could not find the quality care she wanted for her own daughter, she decided to create it herself.

After earning a two-year degree in early childhood education, Nathaniel opened her first in-home family child care program in New York in 1998. She continued operating family child care programs after moving with her growing family to New Jersey and later to Maryland in 2011.

In Waldorf, Miss Caprice’s Childcare flourished as Nathaniel pursued her master’s degree and continued building her expertise in early childhood education.

Then came the conversation that placed her work on a new track.

Today, Nathaniel operates three All Aboard Child Development Center locations: All Aboard at Home in Waldorf, All Aboard Child Development Center in La Plata and All Aboard Child Development Center II in Prince Frederick.

“We’re intentionally building more than a child care program,” Nathaniel said. “We’re building a community where children, families and educators grow together.”

A New Direction Becomes All Aboard

Through her professional network, she met Dr. Adon, owner of Adon Academy in La Plata. He had begun building the preschool in 2018 but needed a hands-on owner who could lead its daily operations.

Nathaniel began transitioning Adon Academy into All Aboard Child Development Center in fall 2022. The La Plata center officially opened Jan. 1, 2023.

Taking over an established program meant introducing a new vision to children, families and staff who already had their own routines. Nathaniel also temporarily closed Miss Caprice’s Childcare and moved its eight children into a dedicated classroom at the center, which already served about 50 students. She continued teaching those children while learning to lead the larger operation as its owner.

Miss Caprice’s Childcare reopened as All Aboard at Home in Waldorf in August 2025, allowing Nathaniel’s original in-home program to continue as the smallest of the three locations.

The All Aboard name represents more than the train imagery carried throughout the brand. It is tied to Nathaniel’s guiding scripture, “Train up a child in the way they should go,” and her belief that children, teachers and families are partners on the same journey.

“We are a school community, and we partner with families to provide guidance, connection, confidence, resources and individualized care,” Nathaniel said.

All Aboard Expands Into Prince Frederick

The journey reached Calvert County in late 2025 when the owners of Learning Ladders in Prince Frederick prepared to leave the child care industry.

Much like the transition in La Plata, they wanted someone they trusted to continue caring for their families and staff. After several weeks of planning and discussion, the program became All Aboard Child Development Center II on Dec. 1, 2025.

Located at 270 Bugeye Square, the Prince Frederick center is led by degreed administrators and lead teachers with more than a decade of experience in early childhood education. Its hands-on environment encourages children to explore, play, solve problems and develop independence.

La Plata and Waldorf are currently the primary focus of All Aboard’s trained Montessori instructional coach. During the 2026-27 school year, the coach is expected to begin working with the Prince Frederick team to gradually introduce additional Montessori-inspired concepts and practices.

All Aboard will also host a free back-to-school event from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Prince Frederick center. The event will offer resources and activities while helping the center build connections with Prince Frederick-area families.

The All Aboard Way

All Aboard serves children from infancy through pre-K and treats those early years as one connected learning journey.

Infants begin in nurturing, Montessori-inspired spaces focused on responsive caregiving, secure attachments, sensory exploration and early communication through songs, stories and baby sign language.

Toddlers and 2-year-olds build language, independence, social-emotional skills and confidence through hands-on exploration. Preschool classrooms expand upon those foundations through literacy, mathematics, science, technology and creative projects designed to prepare children for kindergarten and lifelong learning.

“Throughout every classroom, we focus on whole-child development — academically, socially, emotionally and physically — while making sure learning remains engaging, developmentally appropriate and fun,” Nathaniel said.

Nathaniel calls the blended educational model the “All Aboard Way.” It combines traditional play-based learning with Montessori-inspired principles that encourage independence, practical-life skills and child-led discovery. Research-based curricula guide classroom planning and align with the Maryland Early Learning Standards, with implementation varying to meet children’s needs.

Learning Through Exploration

A typical day follows a consistent rhythm of circle time, small-group activities, learning centers, outdoor play, meals, rest and exploration. Children learn through building challenges, experiments, dramatic play, sensory activities and creative projects. Technology is used to enhance rather than replace those hands-on experiences.

Children as young as 2 are introduced to Spanish through songs, games, stories and daily classroom interactions. All Aboard also plans to add a more immersive Spanish enrichment experience supported by a bilingual teacher.

Yoga, gardening, music, art and movement are incorporated into classroom routines. During gardening season, children W.O.W. the garden — Water, Observe and Weed.

One “Pizza Garden” project allows children to grow tomatoes, basil, cucumbers and herbs before harvesting the ingredients and making fresh pizza sauce. The schoolwide cooking activity introduces the farm-to-table process through an experience children can see, touch and taste.

Some enrichment is included in tuition, while optional outside programs may carry an additional cost and vary by location.

A Place Where Children Are Known

Nathaniel said inclusion is central to the All Aboard mission, particularly as the program supports children with autism and other developmental or learning needs.

“Inclusion is not simply something we offer; it’s part of who we are every day,” Nathaniel said. “Every child deserves to feel welcomed, understood and capable of success.”

Teachers receive continued training in child development, autism awareness, positive behavior support and inclusive practices. Staff members may use visual supports, predictable routines, sensory-friendly strategies and individualized accommodations while working with families and outside specialists when appropriate.

Her commitment extends beyond the centers through Frontlines Education Corporation, a nonprofit she created to support children with autism and their families.

All Aboard also keeps families connected through the Brightwheel app, which provides updates about meals, naps, activities and classroom moments along with photos, videos and developmental observations.

“We believe families should never have to wonder how their child’s day is going,” Nathaniel said.

Meals prepared on-site meet federal nutrition standards. The centers also maintain controlled access and daily health and hygiene procedures, while employees receive health and safety training.

All Aboard’s I.C.A.R.E. values — Integrity, Community, Acceptance, Responsibility and Excellence — guide the environments Nathaniel wants the centers to provide.

For her, the standard comes down to a simple principle: “These are all my children.”

More Than 25 Years Later

More than 25 years after Nathaniel welcomed her first child into care, she remains in contact with that former student and her family. The child is now 32, and Nathaniel said the family still speaks warmly about the care she received in 1998.

The relationship stretches back to the beginning of a career Nathaniel once thought she was ready to leave behind. Instead, a professor’s reminder of her “why” helped turn one in-home program into a growing network serving families across Southern Maryland.

“Our greatest hope is that every family feels their child is genuinely known, celebrated and loved,” Nathaniel said.

All Aboard is also hiring qualified teaching staff for the 2026-27 school year at all three locations. Nathaniel said recruiting locally is another way the organization invests in the communities it serves.

Additional information about All Aboard at Home is currently being added to the All Aboard website.

---