About
Acorn Village Forest School is a Waldorf-inspired outdoor preschool and kindergarten where children take part in nature-based play in the beautiful outdoor “classrooms” of the valley. Activities at the program include swimming, watching baseball, hiking the trails in the valley, roaming the river, reading in a hammock, gardening, painting, making jewelry and sculpture, making mud pies, cooking with fresh ingredients from the garden, making ceramics, and film photography. Children also engage in rock climbing, hiking the Santa Barbara trails, mushroom hunting, foraging, yoga, mindful movement practices, and bodywork.
Acorn Village Forest School weaves seasonal songs and projects into its outdoor classrooms and includes Waldorf festivals along with an emergent curriculum that the natural world provides, with a focus on building resilience and perseverance. The program describes itself as offering place-based, Waldorf-inspired education, outdoor education, and nature-based play and somatic awareness, and it features Edible Learning Spaces and “wild classrooms” that foster confident and healthy relationships with nature and community.
The founder, director, and CEO, Tracy Roberts, is also the Lead Teacher for the Acorns Preschool Program and President of the Board. Other members of the leadership and teaching team include Megan Dant, Lead Teacher for the Woodpecker Preschool Program; Casey Hynes, Lead Teacher for the Sapling Kindergarten Program; Carolyn Dorwin, Assistant Teacher for the Saplings Kindergarten Program; Marina Benedict Papazian, Office Assistant and former Assistant Teacher; Will Pate, Assistant Teacher for the Acorns Preschool Program; and Brenda Martinez, Substitute, former Lead Teacher, Teacher Trainer, and Board Member. Tracy received her BA in social science from the University of California, Irvine, completed a master’s program in the Child Development department at California State University, Long Beach, and completed Waldorf teacher training through the Waldorf Institute of Southern California (WISC) and Forest Kindergarten Teacher Training through the Academy of Forest Kindergarten Teachers.
The program’s mission statement describes Acorn Village Forest School as a Waldorf-inspired outdoor preschool and kindergarten that integrates Waldorf philosophy with outdoor programs, seasonal songs and projects, Waldorf festivals, and an emergent curriculum from the natural world. The school is located in the Santa Ynez Valley. Testimonials and quotes shared by the program include a Rumi quote cited by Lead Teacher Megan Dant, the saying “Not all classrooms have four walls,” and a quote by Nicolette Sowder about encouraging children to go outside in all weather.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Acorn Village Forest School weaves seasonal songs and projects into its outdoor classrooms and includes Waldorf festivals along with an emergent curriculum that the natural world provides, with a focus on building resilience and perseverance. The program describes itself as offering place-based, Waldorf-inspired education, outdoor education, and nature-based play and somatic awareness, and it features Edible Learning Spaces and “wild classrooms” that foster confident and healthy relationships with nature and community.
The founder, director, and CEO, Tracy Roberts, is also the Lead Teacher for the Acorns Preschool Program and President of the Board. Other members of the leadership and teaching team include Megan Dant, Lead Teacher for the Woodpecker Preschool Program; Casey Hynes, Lead Teacher for the Sapling Kindergarten Program; Carolyn Dorwin, Assistant Teacher for the Saplings Kindergarten Program; Marina Benedict Papazian, Office Assistant and former Assistant Teacher; Will Pate, Assistant Teacher for the Acorns Preschool Program; and Brenda Martinez, Substitute, former Lead Teacher, Teacher Trainer, and Board Member. Tracy received her BA in social science from the University of California, Irvine, completed a master’s program in the Child Development department at California State University, Long Beach, and completed Waldorf teacher training through the Waldorf Institute of Southern California (WISC) and Forest Kindergarten Teacher Training through the Academy of Forest Kindergarten Teachers.
The program’s mission statement describes Acorn Village Forest School as a Waldorf-inspired outdoor preschool and kindergarten that integrates Waldorf philosophy with outdoor programs, seasonal songs and projects, Waldorf festivals, and an emergent curriculum from the natural world. The school is located in the Santa Ynez Valley. Testimonials and quotes shared by the program include a Rumi quote cited by Lead Teacher Megan Dant, the saying “Not all classrooms have four walls,” and a quote by Nicolette Sowder about encouraging children to go outside in all weather.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
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