About
Two Pines Forest School offers daily outdoor activities such as child-directed play, storytelling, nature-based art, immersive science, planting and gardening, and nature conservation projects. Children take part in wildlife tracking, bird watching, shelter building, tree and plant identification, survival skills, woodworking and craft, music and dance, as well as simple yoga, breath work, meditation, and quiet times that can include nap time, reading stories, rest, and time to relax. The program also includes a Maker's Space for artistic projects and general art activities.
• Ages: 2–6 years old
• Schedule: Monday to Thursday from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, with two-day or four-day weekly options; semester-based fall, winter, and spring sessions from September to late May, plus several weeks of summer camp during summer break
• Price: Sliding scale tuition from $22 to $30 per hour ($1,782 to $2,430 monthly for four days a week, or $891 to $1,215 monthly for two days a week); after care available until 4 PM at $14 per hour
Two Pines Forest School is led by co-founders and forest school practitioners Behnaz Khaleghi and Baharak Khaleghi, who have been working with young children in the United States since 2015. Each co-founder holds a Master of Fine Art degree, an Early Childhood Education Certification from The State University of New York, Forest School Certificated Teacher status from the Forest School Teacher Institute, SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) Facilitator certification from Breath for Change, Wilderness First Aid certification from NOLS, and CPR/AED, Standard First Aid, and Blood-borne Pathogens (BLS) certification from the American CPR Care Association; one co-founder is also a Certified Yoga Teacher. The program has two class groups, each with up to four children ages 2–6, and does not use commercial toys, instead using natural materials as tools for play.
The program operates outdoors every day except in extreme conditions, when indoor spaces are used. On most rainy days, the group goes to the Little Farm in Tilden Park, with the option to use the Visitor Center, and may also use libraries or community centers as needed. The program moves indoors when the air quality index reaches 100 and is climbing, using Purpleair.com with the US EPA conversion, and aims to inform families about indoor days the night before or by 7:30 AM when same-day decisions are needed. Bathrooms are available at local nature spaces, and when out in nature the program uses portable toilets and packs out solid waste.
Two Pines Forest School states a belief in the power of nature, unstructured childhood, free play, and intrinsic curiosities, and describes nature as the main teacher with learning as a process that happens through real-life experiences. The school describes its community as including children, families, and educators, and maintains a WhatsApp group for enrolled families. The program is licensing exempt by the state but follows applicable Community Care Licensing Division regulations, stays current with information from the California Association of Forest Schools, and carries all required liability coverage and general liability insurance for operating in public parks.
Families are asked to send children with a filled water bottle, yoga mat, sunscreen applied at home (with teachers able to reapply), a placemat or cloth for meals, a hearty snack and lunch, a hand towel, a full set of extra clothing in a sealed bag, optional gardening gloves, a hat, a magnifier, a “treasure bag” with a zipper for collecting small nature items, and 2–3 side-opening diapers with wipes if needed. Children are expected to come dressed in layers, sturdy closed-toed shoes, and clothes that can get dirty, with well-fitted, water-resistant gear on rainy or water play days; the program recommends a layering guide and gear from outdoorschoolshop.com. There is a 5% discount for siblings in the same program.
Two Pines Forest School has exhibited multidisciplinary art projects in Bay Area venues including the Berkeley Art Museum, the De Young Museum, and other galleries. One parent testimonial describes the school as a “gem,” notes that their 2-year-old daughter is eager to attend, and mentions positive impressions of the teachers, daily experiences, and time outdoors in different weather, as well as observing almost no sickness in their child.
Last updated June 16, 2026.
• Ages: 2–6 years old
• Schedule: Monday to Thursday from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, with two-day or four-day weekly options; semester-based fall, winter, and spring sessions from September to late May, plus several weeks of summer camp during summer break
• Price: Sliding scale tuition from $22 to $30 per hour ($1,782 to $2,430 monthly for four days a week, or $891 to $1,215 monthly for two days a week); after care available until 4 PM at $14 per hour
Two Pines Forest School is led by co-founders and forest school practitioners Behnaz Khaleghi and Baharak Khaleghi, who have been working with young children in the United States since 2015. Each co-founder holds a Master of Fine Art degree, an Early Childhood Education Certification from The State University of New York, Forest School Certificated Teacher status from the Forest School Teacher Institute, SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) Facilitator certification from Breath for Change, Wilderness First Aid certification from NOLS, and CPR/AED, Standard First Aid, and Blood-borne Pathogens (BLS) certification from the American CPR Care Association; one co-founder is also a Certified Yoga Teacher. The program has two class groups, each with up to four children ages 2–6, and does not use commercial toys, instead using natural materials as tools for play.
The program operates outdoors every day except in extreme conditions, when indoor spaces are used. On most rainy days, the group goes to the Little Farm in Tilden Park, with the option to use the Visitor Center, and may also use libraries or community centers as needed. The program moves indoors when the air quality index reaches 100 and is climbing, using Purpleair.com with the US EPA conversion, and aims to inform families about indoor days the night before or by 7:30 AM when same-day decisions are needed. Bathrooms are available at local nature spaces, and when out in nature the program uses portable toilets and packs out solid waste.
Two Pines Forest School states a belief in the power of nature, unstructured childhood, free play, and intrinsic curiosities, and describes nature as the main teacher with learning as a process that happens through real-life experiences. The school describes its community as including children, families, and educators, and maintains a WhatsApp group for enrolled families. The program is licensing exempt by the state but follows applicable Community Care Licensing Division regulations, stays current with information from the California Association of Forest Schools, and carries all required liability coverage and general liability insurance for operating in public parks.
Families are asked to send children with a filled water bottle, yoga mat, sunscreen applied at home (with teachers able to reapply), a placemat or cloth for meals, a hearty snack and lunch, a hand towel, a full set of extra clothing in a sealed bag, optional gardening gloves, a hat, a magnifier, a “treasure bag” with a zipper for collecting small nature items, and 2–3 side-opening diapers with wipes if needed. Children are expected to come dressed in layers, sturdy closed-toed shoes, and clothes that can get dirty, with well-fitted, water-resistant gear on rainy or water play days; the program recommends a layering guide and gear from outdoorschoolshop.com. There is a 5% discount for siblings in the same program.
Two Pines Forest School has exhibited multidisciplinary art projects in Bay Area venues including the Berkeley Art Museum, the De Young Museum, and other galleries. One parent testimonial describes the school as a “gem,” notes that their 2-year-old daughter is eager to attend, and mentions positive impressions of the teachers, daily experiences, and time outdoors in different weather, as well as observing almost no sickness in their child.
Last updated June 16, 2026.
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