Story Garden Preschool

Story Garden Preschool offers a 2026 Art Camp where children take part in activities such as water play, messy art projects, gardening, tie dye, cooking, sculpting, full-body painting, and time at a sensory table and block area. Children experiment with light, shadow, and color on multiple light tables and have chances to plan their own art projects. The program also includes outdoor experiences such as climbing trees, searching for newts, and jumping in puddles, and children use an open-ended play structure, a large mud kitchen, a chalk playhouse, and a sandbox with water access.

• Ages: 3.5–6 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 am–1:00 pm, offered in four sessions (July 6–9, July 13–16, July 20–23, and July 27–30)
• Price: $370 per session

Story Garden Preschool states that its goal is to provide a safe, nurturing place for children to learn and grow. The program is described as play-based and Reggio-inspired for children ages 2 to 5 years, with a focus on nature-connection, imaginative play, and social-emotional growth. Every Monday is Forest Day, spent in Briones Regional Park climbing trees, searching for newts, and jumping in puddles. The preschool is founded on the belief that children are hands-on learners who learn through meaningful relationships, with a strong connection to the teacher and other children at the core of the program. The program notes that Attachment Theory plays a large role in daily interactions, and that it draws on the Reggio Emilia approach, the project approach, Handwriting Without Tears, and Tools of the Mind, using tools and strategies that fit the children currently in care. Story Garden is licensed as a well-child facility (Lic #073409126).

Families are asked to send a water bottle, a packed lunch, a change of clothes, and diapers if needed, and to complete required Community Care Licensing paperwork, including up-to-date immunization records, before the first day of camp. The program states that children with contagious illness must stay home and lists specific symptoms that require a child to be kept home, including fever of 100.0°F or higher in the past 24 hours, vomiting or diarrhea in the past 48 hours, sore throat, wet cough, conjunctivitis, lice or nits, excessively runny nose, fatigue, or being too unwell to take part in the daily routine. The program also notes that there is no extended day option for this summer. For families seeking additional options, Story Garden Preschool refers parents to Oak Heart Forest Program in Lafayette and El Sobrante, The Oak Tree Playhouse in Martinez, and Foothills Forest School in Walnut Creek.

Last updated July 26, 2026.