classes

Class curriculum is based on weekly natural science themes with an emphasis on building and creating the scaffolding for early-literacy, mathematics, and science skills through the scientific method. We do not abide by one strict educational philosophy, but incorporate concepts from the Reggio Emilia, Steiner, and Montessori philosophies, and meet standards and guidelines set forth by the North American Association for Environmental Education Guidelines for Excellence in Early Childhood Education, the California Preschool Learning Foundations, and Common Core Standards to ensure children are prepared academically and social-emotionally for their next adventures.

​

Our community-based nature enrichment classes operate on private park land through a low-impact, community-supported model. To comply with use guidelines, we invite families to make monthly contributions (or in the case of caregiver-and-me, per-session contributions) in amounts that reflect the true cost of program operation. These contributions go directly toward: paying staff; maintaining supplies and safety equipment; and insurance and compliance costs. While we are not a non-profit and contributions are not tax-deductible, family support directly benefits our learning community.

​

Charter Schools:

​

We gladly accept students using select charter school funds. If your family is part of a charter that allows you to use educational funds for enrichment programs, please email us to determine if we are an approved vendor.

​

A word about licensing:

​

We are an outdoor, nature-based early childhood program that operates entirely in open-air spaces in an approved private park, with appropriate insurance coverage in place. Because California’s child care licensing system is designed for programs operating from permanent indoor facilities, fully outdoor programs like ours fall outside of that framework and are therefore license-exempt under current state guidelines.

In the years following COVID-19, we’ve seen a significant increase in forest schools and outdoor programs. While we love the growing interest in connecting children to nature, we also recognize the importance of ensuring these programs are run using sound industry practices, established safety standards, and thoughtful supervision.

We support the development of clear and appropriate licensing pathways for outdoor programs and welcome collaboration with educators, advocates, and organizations working to promote licensure or formal recognition of forest school preschool programs in California. By working together, we can help ensure that nature-based education is both accessible and safe for all children.

Our program follows industry standards established by the California Association of Forest Schools, which promotes professional development, ethical practices, and shared safety standards for outdoor educators across the state.

​

​

​

​