Best Options for a Forest School in the San Francisco Bay Area
Forest Preschools are common place in Western Europe but they are few and far between here in the US. Luckily, in the Bay Area, there are a number of great options.
“The concept of nature-based education has been in fairly wide use throughout Scandinavia, Germany, and the United Kingdom for decades. It has just started to gain traction in the United States due in part to a best-selling 2005 book by journalist Richard Louv arguing that a lack of outdoor time is bad for kids.” — The Boston Globe
Here at Wonderschool, we are big advocates of Forest Preschools because research constantly states that structured play is incredibly important to a child’s brain development and if you can couple that with consistent outdoor time in nature then you have a great combination.
It’s also important to distinguish between a “Forest School” and a “Nature School.” The way we distinguish between the two is a “Forest School” is 100% outdoors while a “Nature School” can be up to 50% outdoor.
Here is a list of some Forest Schools in the Bay Area for those looking.
San Francisco
Little Earthlings Forest School. Metson Lake, San Francisco. (650) 731–3016. http://wndr.school/earthlings-forest-88c25
The Forest School. Stern Grove Park, San Francisco. http://wndr.school/the-forest-school
Fog City Explorers Forest School. Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. http://wndr.school/fog-city-explorers
Mi Escuelita en Español Forest School. Glen Canyon Park, San Francisco. http://wndr.school/mi-escuelita
Nature Nurture. 93 Moraga Avenue, Presidio, San Francisco. (415) 751–4000. https://www.naturenurture.com/
Parks + Creation. Two locations: Fulton Street and 10th Avenue, Goldren Gate Park, San Francisco. Pacific Avenue and Arguello Boulevard, Presidio, San Francisco. http://www.parkspluscreation.com/
Wise Forest Preschool. Fulton Street and 43rd Avenue, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. 415–670–0706. http://www.wiseforestpreschool.com/
East Bay
Emerging Sprouts Forest School. Various East Bay Parks, Berkeley, CA. http://wndr.school/emerging-sprouts-65348
Bay Area Bugs Forest School. East Bay Regional Park. http://wndr.school/bay-area-bugs
Berkeley Forest School. 1250 Addison St. Suite 101, Strawberry Creek Park, Berkeley. http://www.berkeleyforestschool.org
Early Ecology. Oakland. http://www.earlyecology.com/
Forest Freedom Preschool. A social justice-centered forest preschool program, primarily focused on serving black, brown, and queer families, and differently abled students. Consistent home bases are Lake Merritt Botanical Garden, Dimond Park, and the Redwoods of Joaquin Miller Park. http://abundantbeginnings.org/school/
South Bay/Peninsula
Chickadee Forest Preschool. Located on a private ranch in Portola Valley. http://wndr.school/chickadee-forest-preschool
Peninsula Forest and Beach School. A forest program in Belmont, a beach program in Pacifica, and a coastal trail program in Montara. http://wndr.school/peninsula
Please email us at hello@wonderschool.com if we are missing anyone or if any you have any questions!
