Fern Grove Cooperative Learning

Fern Grove Cooperative Learning offers project-based and emergent (child-centered) learning that includes integrated academics with a play-based focus. Children take part in activities such as language and literacy skills, early mathematics, science knowledge, arts and culture, hikes, free play, circle time, and reading.

• Ages: 3–10 years old
• Schedule: Academic year programming Monday–Thursday, 9am–3pm
• Price: Sliding scale tuition ranging from approximately $13–18 per hour

During the academic year, the daily rhythm runs from 9:00am to 3:00pm and includes arrival and a game, snack and free play, an opening circle, two activity blocks, a hike, lunch with free play, circle time with reading, a hike back, and free play during pick-up time. Fern Grove Cooperative Learning organizes children into two cooperative learning cohorts: Ferns for ages 6–10 and Fiddleheads for ages 3–6.

The program states a mission that includes project-based, emergent (child-centered) learning, anti-bias learning, earth stewardship, and a 6:1 student-teacher ratio. The mission also describes four focus areas: being inclusive, nature-based, cooperative, and centered on learning through questioning, investigation, and experimentation. Fern Grove Cooperative Learning notes that it is a nomadic outdoor learning program with locations that change monthly throughout the academic year and that it is based in Santa Cruz, California, with various locations around Santa Cruz County. It also notes that Summer Camp 2026 registration is open and that Summer Camp 2026 starts in June.

The leadership team includes co-founder and lead teacher Sarah Amadei for the Ferns (6–10 years) and co-founder and co-lead teacher Caryn Hewlett for the Fiddleheads (3–6 years). Staff credentials include degrees in primary education, international and agricultural development, early care and education, early childhood education, psychology, liberal arts and sciences, ecology and evolutionary biology, and social communication, along with CPR and First Aid certifications and, for one staff member, Wilderness and Remote First Aid and fluency in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.

Fern Grove Cooperative Learning includes a land acknowledgement stating that the land on which the program gathers is the unceded territory of the Awaswas-speaking Uypi Tribe and references the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band’s work to restore traditional stewardship practices and heal from historical trauma.

Last updated March 25, 2026.