An After School Art and Nature Class
AGES 3-6
Tuesdays and Thursdays
3PM-5PM
8 children max
Join us at China Camp State Park
Attend 1-5 days weekly.
Register for the month or pick and choose the days that work for you!
Advance registration required.
$40/day
NATURE CLUB
Let's have some after-school fun together!
Curious what happens at Nature Club? Think art meets nature meets movement meets science - basically a super big play date packed with 2 hours of adventure, excitement, and discovery. Pretty awesome, right?
We go on fun scavenger hunts to gather materials for crafting, as well as repurpose items that typically wind up in the landfill. New ideas are always sprouting and students come up with the most imaginative pieces! Kids try new activities like balancing on the slack line, creating art using hammers and handsaws, make blackberry paint with a mortar and pestle, and get creative in the mud kitchen.
China Camp State Park is a magical place where children can roam, wonder, and discover nature up close. With winding trails, wide grassy spaces, shady oak trees, and a peaceful shoreline, the park feels like a giant outdoor playground made just for curious minds.
It’s a perfect spot for our nature club because everything invites hands-on fun and gentle adventure. Children can hunt for animal tracks, listen for bird songs, go tidepooling, and collect treasures like leaves and sticks that can be transformed into works of art. The safe, open spaces are just right for small legs and big imaginations, encouraging learning through play, movement, and joyful connection with the natural world.
Program Details -
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3PM-5PM
Register for a monthly package or pick and choose the days that work for you - easy!
We meet at China Camp State Park, with fieldtrips within the park.
Oh yeah, there's a lot of learning going on too!
Learning happens organically as children create with natural materials, tell stories through art, count and sort found treasures, and observe seasonal changes. Children practice early literacy and language skills through storytelling and conversation and build science knowledge by watching bugs, tracking weather, and noticing how the world changes through the seasons. Social-emotional growth is at the heart of our afternoons—children practice cooperation, problem-solving, self-regulation, and care for one another and the land.
This class is a wonderful complement to traditional school or homeschool schedules, offering children a nurturing, enriching way to spend their afternoons.
Come wander, wonder, and grow with us. Join Snails & Turkey Tails Nature Club—where curious kids learn by getting a little wild.
ACTIVITIES
TOOL STATION
MUD KITCHEN
HAMMOCK
SLACK LINE
SENSORY TENT
GENTLE HIKES
ARTS & CRAFTS
TRUCK PIT
TRAIL RIDES
THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT -
Supports Whole-Child Development
Nature-based learning nurtures cognitive, physical, social, and emotional growth at the same time.
-
Children climb, balance, dig, and run → builds gross motor skills
-
Handling sticks, leaves, and tools → improves fine motor skills
-
Real experiences connect thinking, feeling, and doing
Enhances Cognitive Skills & Curiosity
Young children learn best through exploration.
-
Open-ended natural materials encourage problem-solving and creativity
-
Observing insects, weather, and plants builds early science skills
-
Asking “why” and “how” strengthens critical thinking
Strengthens Attention & Self-Regulation
Studies show nature helps children:
-
Focus longer
-
Reduce stress and impulsive behavior
-
Develop self-control and emotional regulation
This is especially important for ages 3–6, when attention skills are still developing.
Builds Social Skills & Cooperation
Outdoor play naturally encourages collaboration.
-
Children negotiate rules, take turns, and solve conflicts
-
Mixed-age or group play supports empathy and communication
-
Less competition than indoor, toy-based settings
Promotes Rich Language Development
Nature creates meaningful reasons to talk.
-
New vocabulary (plants, animals, weather, textures)
-
Storytelling inspired by outdoor adventures
-
More sustained conversations with peers and teachers
Encourages Independence & Confidence
In safe, supervised natural settings, children:
-
Take manageable risks (climbing, balancing)
-
Make choices about play and exploration
-
Develop confidence, resilience, and decision-making skills
Supports Emotional Well-Being
Nature has a calming, grounding effect.
-
Reduces anxiety and overstimulation
-
Provides space for emotional expression
-
Builds a sense of belonging and connection to the world
Fosters Environmental Awareness
Early experiences in nature help children:
-
Develop respect for living things
-
Learn care and responsibility
-
Build a lifelong connection to the environment
Aligns With Early Childhood Learning Standards
Nature-based programs can meet early childhood learning goals by integrating:
-
Math (counting stones, measuring sticks)
-
Literacy (nature journals, storytelling)
-
Science (life cycles, seasons)
-
Social-emotional learning
FUN FACT: Various studies have shown that children who spend long-term, ongoing time in nature are:
-
sick less often
-
more physically active
-
more resistant to stress
-
have a higher measure of self worth
-
have greater emotional intelligence
-
learn how to assess risk intuitively
-
have increased imagination & creativity