Birdsong Outdoor School Preschool Program

Birdsong Outdoor School Preschool Program is a play-based open-air preschool program where children take part in free play, cooking, gardening, music, movement, stories, puppet shows, art, picnic lunch, and field trips. The program operates in a nature-inspired environment and includes almost once per week field trips to local nature preserves or parks within a 20 minute driving radius. Lunch is packed from home, and parents or caregivers drop off and pick up at the field trip location, which is privately shared at least a month in advance.

• Ages: 3–6 years old
• Schedule: Families may choose between 2, 3, or 4 days per week offered Monday–Thursday from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM; the program generally follows the Sunnyvale School District calendar and runs for 10 months per year from mid-August through mid-June
• Price: Tuition for 2023–2024 Academic Year: 2 days per week = $525/month; 3 days per week = $770/month; 4 days per week = $1025/month

Birdsong Outdoor School Preschool Program is a mixed-age program for children ages 3–6 (age 3 by September 1) and is licensed for a maximum of 6 preschool aged children per day, or 7 if one kindergarten-aged child enrolls in the program. The program operates outside in a nature-inspired backyard in all weather and follows a daily rhythm that includes greeting and free play, optional snack, cooking or gardening activity, clean up, circle time, lunch, art, more free play, and a closing circle with parents or caregivers. Birdsong Outdoor School started in 2019 and generally follows the Sunnyvale School District calendar, running for 10 months per year from mid-August through mid-June.

Teacher, Director, and Owner Elizabeth Binkley is a State Licensed Family Childcare Provider (License #434415532), insured, and holds a preschool teacher permit at the Site Supervisor level through the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Her education includes completed college coursework in Child Studies, including Early Childhood Education, Child Development, Curriculum Development, Health, Safety and Nutrition, Student Teaching Practicum, and other courses, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California at Davis with high honors and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. She is certified in Pediatric CPR and First Aid, is a Licensed Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California, and has owned and operated a water resources consulting engineering business for over 20 years.

Elizabeth has over 10 years of volunteer farm, garden, and wilderness tour guiding experience for young children at Hidden Villa, has volunteered with Environmental Volunteers and the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter, and has over 100 hours of elementary school classroom volunteering. She has completed Mindfulness Fundamentals and Mindful Educator Essentials courses through Mindful Schools, as well as coursework in Positive Parenting. Birdsong’s focus is on development of the whole child, with emphasis on social and emotional development, kindergarten readiness skills, and connecting with nature, and its pedagogy is rooted in scientifically proven developmentally appropriate practice, with children learning through hands-on free play and a predictable daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythm. Teacher Elizabeth provides respectful guidance in a warm and nurturing environment, building a relationship with each child, and Birdsong celebrates the diversity of Silicon Valley, welcomes all, and includes learning about and experiencing different cultures.

Last updated March 7, 2026.