Yes! Not only will your child be exposed to a variety of language, math, and science experiences, they will also develop important life skills. This includes opportunities for growth in critical thinking, social skills, self-regulation, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, problem solving, respectful interactions, and more. Children leave Snails & Turkey Tails as curious observers with a love of learning.

We do encourage parents to ensure that their children have been to the toilet right before their class and there are bathrooms on site at some of our local nature spaces. They will be supervised and sanitized if used. If we are out in nature, have portable toilets and pack out solid waste. All Snails & Turkey Tails students, for all programs, must be potty trained. For us, that means that they must be able to let a teacher know that they have to go to the bathroom, AND hold it until a teacher can help them get to the bathroom. If your child needs regular reminders to go to the bathroom to prevent an accident, they are not quite ready for our program.

We will shut down programming for the day if there is a major natural disaster, the temperature is above 100°F, in flash flood/landslide conditions, or in extremely high winds. If it is raining, we will meet for the full day if it's a light rain. On heavier rain days we meet for just half of the day to help children build tolerance.

They are fully potty trained They can carry a backpack on short walkabouts They can put on their socks and shoes independently They can change their clothes if needed They are able to follow teacher instructions while we explore in nature They are able to participate as part of a group * If your child is neurodiverse, or has special needs, please let us know.

We support a diverse community and scholarships are available upon request.

SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM: Our school year program is offered on a semester basis from August - December and January - May. Class meets M-F from 9AM-1PM. --- HOLIDAY CAMPS: Our camps meet from 9AM-1PM. Depending on the holiday, we meet anywhere between 1-5 days of the week.

Feel free to give us a call to get the ball rolling. Once it's determined that our program is a good fit, you can register online via our Register page. All payments are processed through Square.

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 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 the 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.

All of our classes and camps have a maximum of 8 children.

Forest 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. 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.

We have a 1:4 ratio. We have a maximum of 8 children with 2 teachers.

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.

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, 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.

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!

Ours is an intimate group, with just 6 students and 2 teachers. For this reason, we do not currently offer sibling discounts. If our group dynamic were to shift in the future we will definitely consider a sibling discount!

Cancellations made two or more months prior to the session date receive 100% refund. All other refunds are as follows: 65% if cancelled 4 weeks before camp 40% if cancelled 2 weeks before camp 20% if cancelled 1 week or less before camp Any camp cancelled by Snails & Turkey Tails due to an act of nature, something outside of our control (illness, fire, pandemic, earthquake, etc.) will be given a 50% refund for any and all cancelled remaining days regardless of the above time frames.