About
Santa Cruz Forest School offers activities such as climbing, dramatic play, hide and seek, puddle-stomping and rain dancing, hole digging, and looking for creatures under logs. Children spend time building and crafting from what nature offers, whittling sticks using a potato peeler, and discovering and naming plants, birds, mushrooms, insects, lizards, and salamanders.
• Ages: 3–6 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 9:00am to 2:00pm, with a summer program running June 15 to August 13, 2026
• Price: $30 registration fee applies; monthly tuition fees are calculated based on number of days attending per week
The Santa Cruz Forest School is an entirely outdoor, nature-based program for 3 to 6-year-old children that began in 2016. The program focuses on a whole child approach, which emphasizes a child's development as a whole person. It is a play-based nature program in the Santa Cruz Mountains that meets outside, rain or shine, with rain shelters and campfires available. Groups contain up to ten children with two teachers, and the outdoor classroom uses open-ended materials, large and fine motor challenges, and nature-based experiences that engage all of the senses. The program is centered around cultivating friendship and experiencing the land season by season, including celebrating each season by noticing, gathering, sorting, tasting, and crafting with nature, and encouraging children to cultivate appreciation and respect toward the natural world and each other.
Santa Cruz Forest School partners with the owners of the NEST, an outdoor education center in Felton. Families are directed to clothing suggestions in the parent handbook under the “For Parents” tab.
Parent testimonials describe children spending hours playing outside, learning about plants and animals, and coming home with artwork and nature-inspired crafts. Parents also describe the teachers as wonderful, fun, kind, and great with the kids, and report that their children are excited to attend and experience new adventures and fun.
Last updated March 25, 2026.
• Ages: 3–6 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 9:00am to 2:00pm, with a summer program running June 15 to August 13, 2026
• Price: $30 registration fee applies; monthly tuition fees are calculated based on number of days attending per week
The Santa Cruz Forest School is an entirely outdoor, nature-based program for 3 to 6-year-old children that began in 2016. The program focuses on a whole child approach, which emphasizes a child's development as a whole person. It is a play-based nature program in the Santa Cruz Mountains that meets outside, rain or shine, with rain shelters and campfires available. Groups contain up to ten children with two teachers, and the outdoor classroom uses open-ended materials, large and fine motor challenges, and nature-based experiences that engage all of the senses. The program is centered around cultivating friendship and experiencing the land season by season, including celebrating each season by noticing, gathering, sorting, tasting, and crafting with nature, and encouraging children to cultivate appreciation and respect toward the natural world and each other.
Santa Cruz Forest School partners with the owners of the NEST, an outdoor education center in Felton. Families are directed to clothing suggestions in the parent handbook under the “For Parents” tab.
Parent testimonials describe children spending hours playing outside, learning about plants and animals, and coming home with artwork and nature-inspired crafts. Parents also describe the teachers as wonderful, fun, kind, and great with the kids, and report that their children are excited to attend and experience new adventures and fun.
Last updated March 25, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.