Vilda Nature Days

Vilda Nature Days includes activities such as exploring the creeks and hillsides, looking for and finding frogs in a creek, eating wild plants and making a meal out of them, and making a fire by friction. Participants also plant trees, clear brush, dye a shirt and create natural dyes with berries, learn how to turn a piece of wood into an instrument, and take part in visits with farm animals and farm themed activities. Additional activities include archery, gardening, carpentry, hiking, play, listening, laughing, singing, and backpacking trips, within small group outdoor nature connection programs that are active, hands on, and place-based.

• Ages: 6–11 years old
• Schedule: School year programs run as continuous programs from September through June, with Nature Day – Mill Valley meeting Tuesdays from 9:30am to 3:30pm between August 26, 2025 and June 2, 2026, with specified days off.
• Price: Nature Day – Mill Valley tuition is a $100 non-refundable deposit plus 9 monthly payments at Rate A: $636, Rate B: $489, or Rate C: $406.

Vilda Nature Days is part of Vilda, which started in 2008 and has been running programs since then, and is described as a locally grown, grass-roots non-profit that has been connecting kids with nature since 2008. The program follows a core curriculum that guides learning of earth skills that were once a way of life, with wilderness skills, nature connection and ecological stewardship included in the activities. Vilda states a mission of being dedicated to facilitating meaningful connection to the natural world and is committed to ensuring earth skills continue into future generations and that nature connection is accessible for all.

The organization offers small group outdoor nature connection programs for ages 4–13 during the school year, with instructor to student ratios described as very intimate, and states that each participant is known and cared for personally and respected as competent and unique. Families can join outside one day each week or more, and there is a policy that enrollment can be canceled with a 30 day notice. Pricing tiers are described as Rate A representing the actual cost of running a program and funding long-term goals and work, Rate B covering basic costs for running the particular program but not organizational costs, and Rate C being subsidized by Rate A and donations, with scholarships available.

Vilda describes its programs as simple, grounded outdoor time combined with expert naturalist instruction and social/emotional attention, and as active, hands on, and place-based. The organization states that its programs include play, listening, laughing, singing, and hiking, and that they offer an opportunity to learn about the natural world together, expand awareness, and build a caretaking ethic. Vilda notes that if a child is neuro-divergent or may need additional attention for any emotional, social or health related reason, parents are asked to contact Vilda before signing up.

Vilda reports that it provides Nature Education, Youth Programs, Homeschool Programs and Summer Camps in Fairfax, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Point Reyes, Novato, Petaluma, Tahoe, Truckee, Sonoma and Marin County, and describes its summer camps as an organic, all natural, local, free range summer experience. One parent testimonial states that their son is flourishing and that they value the instructors as examples, another parent notes that their children are noticing nature more, and another parent describes Vilda as their son’s favorite camp.

Last updated March 28, 2026.