Our camps meet at both China Camp State Park in San Rafael and at Lake Lagunitas in Fairfax.

Purpose To protect the health and well-being of all children and staff, Snails & Turkey Tails requires that children who are ill remain at home. Group care increases the spread of illness, and sick children need rest and care that cannot be provided in a school setting. If we notice signs of illness we will contact you to pick up your child. When Children Must Stay Home Children should not attend school if they have any of the following: Fever • A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher • Children must be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning Gastrointestinal Symptoms • Vomiting • Diarrhea (two or more loose stools in 24 hours) • Must be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning Respiratory Symptoms • Persistent coughing • Difficulty breathing • Wheezing not related to a known, managed condition Contagious Conditions • Suspected or diagnosed contagious illness (e.g., flu, COVID-19, strep throat) • Children may return based on medical guidance and when no longer contagious Other Symptoms • Severe sore throat • Unexplained rash • Eye discharge or redness (possible conjunctivitis) • Extreme fatigue, lethargy, or inability to participate in normal activities Illness During the School Day • If a child becomes ill while at school, families will be contacted promptly. • The child will be supervised in a comfortable, quiet area away from the group until picked up. • Families are expected to arrange pickup as soon as possible. Medication Policy • Staff do not administer medication unless required by licensing and accompanied by proper authorization. • Children who require medication to mask symptoms (such as fever reducers) should remain at home. Return to School Children may return when: • They are symptom-free for 24 hours • They can comfortably participate in daily activities, including outdoor play • Any required exclusion period has passed A doctor’s note may be required for certain illnesses or repeated absences. Outdoor Program Consideration Because our program involves significant outdoor activity: • Children must be well enough to participate in outdoor play in current weather conditions • Mild symptoms that limit outdoor participation may require staying home Family Responsibility Families are asked to: • Monitor children daily for signs of illness • Notify the staff of contagious illnesses • Keep emergency contact information current

• Each day children should bring an appropriately sized day pack containing a snack fitting to their appetite, water bottle, jacket if needed, and hand sanitizer if desired. *TIP try to make their pack as light as possible avoiding heavy food containers, thick jackets, and heavy bottles. • A seasonally appropriate extra changes of clothes including socks and underwear. • Sunscreen. • A snug fitting hat, appropriate to the season.

We meet rain or shine! We require that children come dressed appropriately to ensure comfort and safety. That being said, if it is a high wind day (20mph or higher) we will cancel class for the day due to the risk of falling branches. A combination of wind and rain is more dangerous than just wind alone and safety is our top priority. If the area is experiencing flooding or power outages we will cancel class for the day.

We believe in the motto: There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing choices. We make sure that everyone is dressed appropriately for the wet weather. We will provide suggestions for rain gear if needed. Rainy days can be the best days! Puddles abound and streams flow, while worms and salamanders creep out of their usual places. When it rains we also set up a tent and tarp for children’s backpacks, our teaching supplies, and extra clothing. That being said, if it's a severe weather day we will move indoors if possible or cancel. Outdoor School Shop is a great resource for clothing options - https://outdoorschoolshop.com/gear-checklists/#cali (https://outdoorschoolshop.com/gear-checklists/#cali) In cases of extreme weather we will shorten our day or cancel class.

Yes! We are outside every day no matter the weather, except in extreme conditions. We are fully prepared for all seasons. Kids are a lot more resilient than we give them credit for, but we still pay close attention to their well being. In addition, we communicate with families about proper clothing for different seasons. Outdoor schools have found that when kids are prepared for the weather, they thrive and have fun. The kids at our school love wet weather! During rainy days, the salamanders and worms are a lot more active. All weather brings opportunities for learning.

NATURE SCHOOL CLASS & CAMPS: We do encourage parents to ensure that their children have been to the toilet right before their class. Some of our locations have toilets nearby and some do not. Some families bring portable potties with them and at certain locations we encourage nature pees! Children who attend our LITTLE SPROUTS classes and camps do not need to be potty trained but all students in our 3-8 year old classes and camps should be fully potty trained.

Learning doesn't just happen in dry/sunny summer weather. Often times, “uncomfortable” weather makes for the best learning and the most engaging activities. To ensure our participants enjoy their experiences at Snails & Turkey Tails and are comfortable throughout the day, it’s important that they come dressed appropriately for the day's weather. Outdoor School Shop is a great resource for clothing and layering suggestions: https://outdoorschoolshop.com/gear-checklists/#cali (https://outdoorschoolshop.com/gear-checklists/#cali) Not matter the season… Children should have all of the following essentials when they are attending forest school, not matter the season or weather. • Small well fitting backpack • Snacks and lunch (no access to fridge or microwave) • 1 FULL water bottles • Seasonally appropriate clothing (see detailed list below) • An extra change of clothes (underwear, socks, base layers) • Proper footwear made for running (always close-toed) • Hat (season appropriate) The material of your child’s clothing is very important. Cotton is not a suitable material for outdoor adventures in most temperatures. Cotton dries slowly and can cause your child to be chilled when wet. Choose synthetic, wool or silk clothing which breathes well, dries quickly and insulates against the elements. Cool Rainy Day Clothing (Fall/Winter/Spring): • Base Layer: Synthetic or wool long john shirt and pants; wool socks • Mid Layer: Fleece or wool sweater and pants. • Outer Layer: Durable, WATERPROOF raincoat and rain-pants; warm hat; waterproof, insulated mittens; waterproof boots (Bogs, Kamik or similar). • Extra Layers: 1-2 pairs of wool socks, 1-2 pairs of waterproof insulated mittens; warm hat; mid layer as indicated above; underwear. • Optional: Extra boots Cool Dry Day Clothing (Fall/Spring) • Base Layer: Synthetic or wool long john shirt and pants; wool socks. • Mid Layer: Lightweight fleece or wool pants and sweater. • Outer Layer: Warm jacket; durable rain-pants, waterproof boots, waterproof mittens; warm hat. • Extra Layers: 1-2 pairs of wool socks, 1 pair of waterproof insulated mittens; mid layer as indicated above; underwear. Cold Winter Day Clothing: • Base layers Long pants and shirts made of wool, fleece, polyester, or silk, and wool socks. You can also try merino wool base layers. • Mid layers A fleece or wool sweater and pants, or a fleece or wool neckwarmer. On warmer days, a fleece vest may be enough. • Outer layers A weatherproof winter jacket with a hood, or a fleece zip-up jacket with a hood. The hood can help keep warmth in, protect the neck, and be pulled up over a hat to protect the ears. You can also add a neck gaiter or hat/neck gaiter combo. • Other items Closed-toed shoes, such as hiking boots or running shoes. Waterproof mittens or gloves. Insulated waterproof boots. You can also bring an extra set of socks, shoes, pants, underwear, shirt, sweatshirt/fleece, hat, and gloves. Some other tips include: • Avoid jeans, which can be hard for children to put on and take off, absorb moisture quickly, and restrict movement. • Consider non-cotton base layers and socks, such as wool or synthetic materials like polyester and nylon. • If it's warmer, you can remove the mid layer. If it's raining or wet, you can add a rain suit as your outermost layer. Warm Rainy Day Clothing (Fall/Spring): • Base Layer: Lightweight, synthetic material t-shirt and long sleeve; lightweight, synthetic material pants (quick-dry material is ideal); wool socks. • Outer Layer: Durable, WATERPROOF raincoat and rain-pants; waterproof boots. • Extra Layers: Fleece Sweater; wool socks, hat. Warm Dry Day Clothing (Fall/Spring): • Base Layer: Lightweight, long pants that can easily be rolled up; t-shirt; lightweight synthetic socks. • Outer Layer: Fleece sweater or jacket; closed toe running shoes or hiking boots; sun hat • Extra Layers: Extra socks; base layer. **Please do NOT bring: • Toys from home • Electronics (iPads, iPods, cellphones, etc.) • Pocket knives or tools • Anything valuable or special that may be lost or broken.

CAMPS: Our school year camps have a max of 8 children and summer camps have a max of 10 children.

Health and safety is the number one priority at all times. We are trained in First Aid and CPR, carry cell phones and first aid kits, and our low teacher-to-student ratio allows us to keep a close eye on students at all times. If there is an accident of any kind, a full report will be taken and caregivers will be notified at the end of the day, if not sooner. Generally, children who have experience playing outside injure themselves much less frequently than children who don’t have the privilege of extended outside time. This is because they are given the space and time to practice real-life risk assessment, gain essential gross motor skills, and understand their physical limits. These are skills that, when developed early in life, can help foster a lifetime of self-awareness and safety in the outdoors!

Whether this will be your child's first school experience or if they are seasoned pros, we do have a short list of requirements - 1. They can carry a backpack on short hikes 2. They are able to follow teacher instructions while we explore in nature 3. They are able to participate as part of a group * If your child is neurodiverse, or has other special needs, please let us know. We strive to be an inclusive community and want to be sure we can meet the needs of every student.

Each class or camp page has a registration link.

We understand that plans can change, and we strive to approach cancellations with both compassion and clarity. Our programs require significant preparation in advance — including securing staff, supplies, and permits — which is why we maintain the following policies. Camps Camp tuition is non-refundable. If your plans change, we are happy to offer a transfer to another camp session, space permitting. Transfers must be used within six months of the original scheduled camp date. Nature School: Semester Tuition & Withdrawal Enrollment reserves your child’s space for the full semester. If withdrawal becomes necessary, written notice is required. Tuition is non-refundable; however, if we are able to fill the space, a prorated refund may be considered at our discretion. Weather and Emergency Closures All programs are held outdoors. In the event that camp or classes must be canceled due to circumstances beyond our control — including extreme weather (such as high heat, lightning, severe storms, or heavy rain), power outages, fire, public health emergencies, or government action — refunds will not be issued. Many program costs are incurred in advance, and weather-related closures are a shared risk of participating in outdoor programming. When possible, we will offer a transfer to another class or camp date, space permitting. Transfers must be scheduled within six months of the originally scheduled program date. As a small organization with intentionally small class and camp sizes, cancellations and changes significantly impact our ability to plan and staff responsibly. We appreciate your understanding and support. By registering, you acknowledge and agree to these policies. Policies are subject to change.

Yes, all programs that operate in public parks and recreation areas are required to carry liability insurance.

Yes we do! If you'd like to purchase a gift card just message us.(snailsandturkeytails@yahoo.com)

All children who attend our 3-5 year old classes and camps should be fully potty trained. Children in our Little Sprouts Nature School do not need to be potty trained.

Yes. Our Lead Teacher, Liesha, also works at local schools and has completed a background check and the LiveScan fingerprint process. All other staff have undergone a background check.