At Tree Urchins, we nurture young minds through our outdoor nature-based preschool enhancement program. Our approach encourages preschoolers to explore their environment actively, fostering a deep connection with nature. Tree Urchins is a perfect complement to a traditional preschool program, or a valuable addition to a nature-based homeschool curriculum. Through hands-on exploration, children learn by engaging with the natural world around them. Whether it's using dead branches to construct forts, creating rock dams in streams, or discovering the perfect tree-climbing height, our curriculum is designed to spark curiosity and creativity.
We have a Corte Madera Town Park meeting point (or at your school if joining as a group) for small groups of children; there, we load up our Wander Wagon pre-secured with car seats to head out to the trails. Depending on weather, tides, traffic and more we rotate our excursions between a number of sites:
- Coastal sites: San Quentin Beach, China Camp, Blackie’s Pasture, and Rodeo Beach.
- Open spaces: Ring Mountain, Baltimore Canyon, Cascade Canyon, Roy’s Redwoods, Alto Bowl, Sorich Park, Phoenix Lake, and Sky Ranch.
FAQ
How does it work?
Groups of 6-18 kids join teachers on each day’s outing, and we use a passenger van with pre-installed car seats to help to access our off-campus playscapes.
The children bring their own backpacks, carrying a morning snack and water, as well as appropriate extra clothes. We encourage the kids to use all of their senses for exploration, and we expect to get dirty (and sometimes wet!) as we play in nature. That said, safety is always our first priority on off-campus adventures, and, at minimum, one teacher has NOLS Wilderness First Aid certification on every trip. Children, for their part, have to demonstrate that they can consistently abide by guidelines we establish to stay safe.
How do you handle toileting?
There are restrooms available at a couple of the sites, but generally speaking, the kids nature-pee. (And poop!) We are used to helping with this, if they need it, and most children get used to going in nature.
My kiddo isn’t much of a hiker. In fact, they flat-out refuse to join when we try to go as a family. I’m worried this isn’t going to work for them.
The nature adventures are NOT hiking trips, first and foremost. We do walk the trails together, but it’s pretty different when kids know there is a play destination in mind. And it’s also pretty different when they are out there with their peers (and adults who aren’t family!) We also design the trips with length of leg in mind!
What about ticks? And poison oak?!? And yellow jackets?!?
We do, in fact, encounter all of these at some point on our journeys. Also, we know most of the sites we visit fairly intimately, so we can often avoid exposure where others might not see the risk. We always communicate with families in cases where we’ve crossed tick-happy areas, and remind everyone that a bath and body check is a great routine every time your child has been out.
How will I know what clothing to send my child in?
Generally, we’re all about layers. However, we will send out a memo as we enter the thick of rainy (& cool) season, with some tips and tricks to keep your child comfortable. (Sneak preview: cotton is bad!) Footwear can be the trickiest bit to decide on, but we will make routine recommendations based on our route and destination.
What about that rainy season? Will the kids go out in a storm? With poor air quality?
Tree Urchins will try to abide by the “rain or shine” mantra, since a great deal can be learned on a rainy excursion. As the last couple of winters made abundantly clear, however, there are diminishing returns at the limits of every sound approach. We will NOT adventure when the combination of wind and rain makes it unsafe, or when it makes for predictable misery. We will also closely follow public health advisories around air quality. For weather-related cancellations, we are partnering with a local gymnastics studio to keep the kiddos moving. Details coming soon!
I’m having a little trouble picturing all this. What does a typical morning look like?
- 9 to 9:15am: Drop-off near the tennis courts at Town Park Corte Madera. We use a spot where kids can run around a bit, while we wait for everyone to arrive.
- 9:15 to 9:20am: Loading up our Wander Wagon. To keep things simple, teachers choose where everyone sits (and we mix it up over time, so everyone gets what they want…eventually!)
- 9:20 to 9:35am: Driving to the site. Though clearly riding in a big ‘ole van has little to do with nature, it is sometimes the highlight of the day for the preschooler set. They are together with their buddies, and they have the unique vantage point up high above the road. (Think wide eyes and lots of laughter!)
- 9:35 to 9:40am: Unloading the Van (excitement is in the air, but we have to make sure we have what we need!)
- 9:40 to 10am: Check-in/walk to site. Depending on the vibe (and weather!) on any given morning, it could be best to sit and drink in our surroundings for a moment, or it could be best to get ourselves moving!
- 10 to 10:10am: Scoping the scene together. This buffer serves 2 purposes: (1) it gives teachers a chance to remind the kids about the perimeter of play at any given site, and (2) it satisfies children’s impulse to check out the possibilities for play, so that they don’t skip over their snack out of sheer curiosity to know what’s around the corner!
- 10:10 to 10:35am: Snack and story. We like to experiment here with stories that draw a connection to our environment. If we’ve seen a spider’s web on the walk out to the site, we might get imaginations humming with a story about a little spider who was having trouble spinning what the others could. Proceeding this way, it won’t surprise us if post-snack play revolves around creatures in a webby world.
- 10:35-11:35am: Exploration! This is the heart and soul of the program, where kids use their curious minds and sense-craving bodies to test out their place in relation to earth’s elements. Children of all ages observe and touch their surroundings, and we encourage them to slow down long enough to listen to (and even sniff!) nature as well. As we wander, we also wonder: Can I use dead branches to build a fort? Does a lineup of rocks dam up the stream? How high up the tree is comfortable for me? The kids discover the endless loose parts of the natural world as they conduct their experiments, and gradually incorporate these in play to satisfy a strong desire for peer connection.
- 11:35 to 11:55am: Make sure we have left no trace, and return on our merry way to the Wander Wagon.
- 11:55 to noon: Say goodbye to our trail, and load up one more time.
- noon to 12:15pm: Drive back to the pickup site
- 12:15 to 12:30pm: Present our scruffy selves with pride to our friends and family!
- [On days where we're out until 2:30, we usually take a little time to craft and/or journal after lunch, and then head out on a second exploration in the afternoon!]
Urchin Leaders
Teacher Bio: Dylan Turner
I have been a preschool teacher in the Bay Area for nearly 15 years. I stumbled upon my vocation as a co-op dad at Laurel Hill Nursery school in SF, where I realized that nothing compares with the joy of being with young children every day. I started out with the 2s and 3s, and their sense of wonder and joyful spirit will always inform my approach to teaching. When we moved to Marin I became a trail runner, and it dawned on me that it would be fantastic to merge my work and play lives...and it has been!
I live in San Rafael with my wife, Nicole, my 13 year-old daughter, Sabine, and our cat, dog, and lizard. Our eldest daughter, Eva, chose to explore her Canadian roots (I'm from Ottawa) by attending university in Montreal, and she's made it to her 2nd year!
Teacher Bio: Catherine (Cici) Malin
I grew up in San Francisco and Marin, and from a young age was a nature lover. I always wanted to be outside; climbing trees, playing with friends, pretending to be a horse. I have been in early childhood education for 20 years. I first taught kindergarden and second grade at a small school, The Studio School, in New York city. Then I moved back to the Bay Area and worked at Aquatic Park School in Berkeley. I was a classroom teacher, and eventually a mentor teacher and curriculum specialist. I have an MA in ECE from San Francisco State University and have recently renewed my children’s first aid and CPR training.
It is a beautiful experience to spend time with young children in nature. To take the time to slow down and observe and use all our senses. To challenge ourselves physically and emotionally to maybe jump across that creek, or balance on that log. When I am out in nature with my own kids is when I breathe the deepest. I can’t wait to be a cultivator of these experiences with Tree Urchins!
Testimonials
"Both of my kids had Dylan as their preschool teacher when they were 3 yo. My son also went on weekly outdoor education outings with Dylan for two more years as part of his pre-school. Both of my kids adore Dylan. And it is clear that he genuinely loves working with kids too. He is sensitive, caring and very patient. I was routinely impressed by how thoughtful he was about what my children were going through and how he could help support and nurture them. He always created an environment where my children felt happy, comfortable and encouraged. Dylan was a beloved teacher at our preschool and he truly shined when he launched the school's outdoor education program. He found a way to perfectly blend his deep preschool teaching experience with his passion for outdoor education. His appreciation for the outdoors is infectious." - Noelle
"Dylan’s nature class has been a transformative experience for my daughter during her preschool journey. Embracing the belief that nature is the best classroom, Dylan facilitated educational adventures across Northern Marin that enriched my daughter's appreciation for the outdoors. His exceptional ability to guide and inspire a group of preschoolers on adventurous hikes, rain or shine, has left an indelible mark. The smiles and stories my daughter brought home made each day with Dylan the highlight of her week – a testament to his impactful teaching in the great outdoors. We feel so fortunate to have had Dylan in these formative years to show our daughter just how fun it is to be outdoors!!!" - Shannon
Join us at Tree Urchins, where outdoor preschool meets forest school principles, allowing children to thrive in an environment that celebrates curiosity and exploration.
Tree Urchins