The Garden School (Evergreen Children’s Academy)
30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross, CA 94957
About
The Garden School (Evergreen Children’s Academy) includes exploring the grounds, garden adventures with Gardener Michael, and wet weather play in school-provided rain suits on rainy days. Children take part in activities such as Gym Bus, Music, Garden time, Pixie Park playtime, all school circle time, inside child directed choice time, curriculum time, all school snack, story, and all school lunch, with lunch sometimes held picnic-style in the front courtyard.
• Ages: 2–5 years old
• Schedule: Open 8:30 am–1:00 pm with full-time (Monday–Friday) and part-time (Tuesday–Thursday) options
The Garden School is an independent nonprofit preschool that continues on the Marin Art & Garden Center campus, and children have access to all 11 acres of the Center. The program is nature-based and uses an Emergent Curriculum, with teachers planning curriculum based on children’s interests and including early mathematics, early literacy, fine and gross motor, and language development skills in every curriculum unit. Materials are mostly naturally sourced, either by teachers or collected by the children from the garden, and children can independently choose work off the shelf that is ready to go and presented. The Garden School is a 100% child-focused program in which teachers act as facilitators, aim never to be the loudest voice in the classroom, and meet children where they are to work with them individually. The classroom is arranged so that children can be successful independently and develop self-help skills, and the program states that the environment is an added teacher. Children spend the majority of their time outdoors, and on rainy days they wear school-provided rain suits. Children in diapers are eligible for enrollment, and the program accepts children ages 2 through 5 for full- or part-time enrollment. The Garden School uses the Ross School District calendar as a guideline for all public holidays and regular vacations.
All teachers at The Garden School have taken at least 12 core units of Early Childhood Education classes. The leadership team includes Emma Norris (Director), Katie Hodgson (Assistant Director), teachers GiGi Henry, Bernadette Marshall, and Rosaura Pinones, and teachers’ aide Sofia Vazquez. Marin Art and Garden Center, where the program operates, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural and landscape design significance and for its role in the women’s garden club movement that started in the 1940s. The campus is a community resource whose grounds are open to the public free of charge from sunrise to sunset year-round.
Last updated May 16, 2026.
• Ages: 2–5 years old
• Schedule: Open 8:30 am–1:00 pm with full-time (Monday–Friday) and part-time (Tuesday–Thursday) options
The Garden School is an independent nonprofit preschool that continues on the Marin Art & Garden Center campus, and children have access to all 11 acres of the Center. The program is nature-based and uses an Emergent Curriculum, with teachers planning curriculum based on children’s interests and including early mathematics, early literacy, fine and gross motor, and language development skills in every curriculum unit. Materials are mostly naturally sourced, either by teachers or collected by the children from the garden, and children can independently choose work off the shelf that is ready to go and presented. The Garden School is a 100% child-focused program in which teachers act as facilitators, aim never to be the loudest voice in the classroom, and meet children where they are to work with them individually. The classroom is arranged so that children can be successful independently and develop self-help skills, and the program states that the environment is an added teacher. Children spend the majority of their time outdoors, and on rainy days they wear school-provided rain suits. Children in diapers are eligible for enrollment, and the program accepts children ages 2 through 5 for full- or part-time enrollment. The Garden School uses the Ross School District calendar as a guideline for all public holidays and regular vacations.
All teachers at The Garden School have taken at least 12 core units of Early Childhood Education classes. The leadership team includes Emma Norris (Director), Katie Hodgson (Assistant Director), teachers GiGi Henry, Bernadette Marshall, and Rosaura Pinones, and teachers’ aide Sofia Vazquez. Marin Art and Garden Center, where the program operates, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural and landscape design significance and for its role in the women’s garden club movement that started in the 1940s. The campus is a community resource whose grounds are open to the public free of charge from sunrise to sunset year-round.
Last updated May 16, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.