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

We do encourage parents to ensure that their children have been to the toilet right before their class. There are bathrooms on site that will be supervised and sanitized before being used. If your child is still in diapers and they attend nature preschool, that's just fine! Please be sure they're dry when dropping them off for school. We do ask that all spring and summer campers be fully potty trained.

Many of our classes meet at China Camp State Park in San Rafael, CA. All of our camps meet at China Camp. We love China Camp not only because of it's history, but because it offers children diverse landscapes including oak filled woodlands, meadows, tidal wetlands, and salt marshes. It is also home to many species of animals including deer, squirrels, coyotes, fox, bats and numerous birds. We are often greeted by wild turkeys in the early morning hours! We go on field trips within the park depending on the day/week which gives children a chance to connect with the land and all that it has to offer. Also, the park is wild but in a fairly central location, so if you haven't visited recently, we definitely encourage it! Our school year preschool meets at various locations including Lake Lagunitas in Fairfax. We are currently looking into an additional location and will be posting info soon!

We meet rain or shine! That being said, we will shut down programming for the day if there is a major natural disaster, the temperature is above 100 degrees F, in flash flood/landslide conditions or in extremely high winds.

That would be me, Liesha! I'm a certified early childhood educator and mother. I've been teaching camps and enrichment classes for over a decade and in 2023 I went back to college to study child development and become a preschool teacher. I absolutely LOVE exploring the world with young children.

All of our registration is managed by Enrichment.kids and you will find a link on our preschool and camp pages. Our nature preschool registration requires a semester commitment but we have a rolling admissions policy so you can join at any time. If you are joining us mid-semester, please message us in order to obtain a prorated tuition. Enrichment.kids offers several payment options including Affirm. Pay tuition in one lump sum, or make monthly, or bi-monthly payments over an extended time period.

Whether this will be your child's first school experience or if they are seasoned pros, we do have a short list of requirements - They can carry a backpack on short hikes They are able to follow teacher instructions while we explore in nature They are able to participate as part of a group All spring/summer camp students, must be fully potty trained * 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.

Camps meet M-F from 9:00AM-1:30PM.

SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM: NATURE PRESCHOOL - AGES 2-3 All classes meet from 9:00AM-11:00AM. NATURE PRESCHOOL - AGES 3-5 All classes meet from 9:00AM-1:00PM. Our school year program runs from September - May and is offered on a semester basis. Semester 1: September-November Semester 2: December-February Semester 3: March-May --- NATURE PRESCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS - AGES 3-5 Our camps meet in June, July & August from 9:00AM-1:30PM, 5 days a week. All campers must be fully potty trained.

Yes! We love exploring the different natural environments at China Camp and having beach access during the summer months is pretty awesome! We meet at various locations within the park including China Camp Beach, Miwok Meadows and the Back Ranch Meadows Campground.

As a forest school we are licensing exempt by the state, however we follow all CCLD regulations that can be applied to our setting for the health and wellbeing of the children and educators. Beyond early childhood education units, our educators are required to be up to date on CPR and First Aid certification, a negative TB test, pass a background check, COVID-19 vaccination. We are certified members of both the American Forest Kindergarten Association and the California Association of Forest Schools.

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.

Our camps day are similar to our school year days and we place a heavy emphasis on play. As Maria Montessori said, "play is the work of the child." Children learn through doing and with the freedom to explore what interests them they thrive and grow! We gather each morning in a welcome circle and share a small snack and story. Much of our day is spent exploring in nature with space to run and climb and discover. We learn more about local plants and wildlife and play fun games. There is time for arts and crafts and also down time where everyone enjoys a break from the busy day. There is always a short hike that leads to an exciting destination. Campers have plenty of opportunities to practice social skills as they get to know each other and discover their place within our small community.

NATURE PRESCHOOL: AGES 2-3 has a max of 6 children AGES 3-5 has a max of 8 children NATURE CAMPS: AGES 3-5 has a max of 6-8 children

Outdoor adventure school happens in all seasons, in all weather. 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 imperative that they come dressed appropriately for the forecasted weather that day. Outdoor School Shop is a great resource for clothing and layering suggestions: 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) 1-2 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 breaths well, dries quickly and insulates against the elements. Expensive brand name clothing is not necessary to keep your little one ready for any climate. Thrift stores, market place and getting clothes second hand are all great ways to find quality clothing for a cheaper price. 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. Optional: Extra boots 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.

Covered water bottle. Water bottle should be one that is easily transportable for your child and easy for them to operate and use on their own. Please ensure the bottle does not leak when inverted. Lunchbox with lunch. Must be a sealed lunch container (Bento Box, Yummo Lunch Boxes, metal thermos) that is small enough to fit in your child’s backpack. Sealed boxes prevent bugs and animals from taking an interest. We do not have refrigeration or re-heating capabilities so please be mindful of hot and cold weather when packing your child’s lunch. Insulated zipper bags are welcomed. Two seasonally appropriate extra changes of clothes. Two pairs of socks. Three pairs of underwear. Sunscreen. A snug fitting hat, appropriate to the season. If your child is in diapers, please bring diapers, wipes and a bag to pack out waste. Side fastening diapers work best.

We offer several weeks of summer camp and each camp is open to children between the ages of 3-5.

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. All students at Nature Preschool must be picked up at 12:30PM on rainy days. No extended care is offered on rainy days. When it rains we also set up a tent and tarp for children’s backpacks, our teaching supplies, and extra clothing. Outdoor School Shop is a great resource for clothing options - https://outdoorschoolshop.com/gear-checklists/#cali

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!

Yes! All of our registration is managed through Enrichment.kids. Once you select your schedule, you will be offered payment options. One of the options is to pay using Affirm. You will be able to select a payment schedule that works for you.

NATURE PRESCHOOL: We require a 30 day written notice if you'd like to withdraw your child from our nature preschool program. If we do not receive a 30 day written notice you will not be refunded for any payments made. We do not offer refunds for any missed days. We do not offer refunds for any days that must be cancelled due to extreme weather conditions. CAMPS: Cancellations made 30 days prior to the session start date receive a 50% refund. If we are able to fill the spot at the time of cancellation you will receive a 100% refund. We do not offer any other refunds. PLEASE NOTE: All refunds reflect a nonrefundable transaction fee which is collected by our registration platform.