About
The Native School is a forest kindergarten where children spend their time in living classrooms and laboratories that are native to the school’s preserves and wildlife spaces. Students take part in activities such as climbing trees, swinging from high branches, and walking across logs as part of their outdoor experiences.
The Native School states that it supports children, parents, and educators in embarking on transformative, nature-based learning experiences unlike any other. The program is inspired by Scandinavian Forest School models and Reggio Emilia teaching practices and uses inquiry-based learning in its outdoor environments. It integrates California State Education Standards, including evidence-based literacy instruction, and connects math, literacy, science, and social-emotional learning to real-world contexts outdoors. The school describes itself as a forest kindergarten that covers all of the standards with a focus on nature and being stewards of the earth. The Native School uses ProCare Connect for enrollment and Jumbula for camps and online events. Affiliations listed for the program include the American Forest Kindergarten Association, San Diego State University, the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance, Changing Tides Foundation, Natural Start Alliance, and the San Diego Reggio Roundtable. One parent testimonial describes a child gaining confidence through climbing trees, swinging from high branches, and walking across logs, and refers to the teachers and friends at The Native School by name. Another quoted statement associated with the program is, “Children cannot bounce off the walls if we take away the walls.” The Native School also states that it partners with like-minded organizations and expresses that it is stronger together with these partners.
Last updated April 9, 2026.
The Native School states that it supports children, parents, and educators in embarking on transformative, nature-based learning experiences unlike any other. The program is inspired by Scandinavian Forest School models and Reggio Emilia teaching practices and uses inquiry-based learning in its outdoor environments. It integrates California State Education Standards, including evidence-based literacy instruction, and connects math, literacy, science, and social-emotional learning to real-world contexts outdoors. The school describes itself as a forest kindergarten that covers all of the standards with a focus on nature and being stewards of the earth. The Native School uses ProCare Connect for enrollment and Jumbula for camps and online events. Affiliations listed for the program include the American Forest Kindergarten Association, San Diego State University, the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance, Changing Tides Foundation, Natural Start Alliance, and the San Diego Reggio Roundtable. One parent testimonial describes a child gaining confidence through climbing trees, swinging from high branches, and walking across logs, and refers to the teachers and friends at The Native School by name. Another quoted statement associated with the program is, “Children cannot bounce off the walls if we take away the walls.” The Native School also states that it partners with like-minded organizations and expresses that it is stronger together with these partners.
Last updated April 9, 2026.
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