Nature School

CLICK HERE TO ADD TO THE 2026/27 WAITLIST 

A group of children in matching shirts poses outdoors with two adults, surrounded by colorful fall foliage.
A group of children in a forest exploring and pointing at mushrooms growing on a log, looking curious and engaged.
Child touching a turtle through aquarium glass.
Two smiling people in front of a floral meadow backdrop, standing near educational materials.
Children are playing in a shallow stream, surrounded by trees, wearing colorful hats and holding toys.
Children painting a large piece of wood outdoors with colorful paint.
Children and an adult weaving sticks into a vertical loom made of white ropes outdoors.
Kids in raincoats and boots standing on a muddy path in a wooded area.
Four kids smiling next to cups filled with red, yellow, and blue liquid.
Three children sitting around a small campfire in a wooded area, with branches and rocks nearby.
A child inspects a large animal skull while others observe in a nature-themed setting.
A group of children and two adults smiling in an autumn forest setting.
Children are sitting on the floor, observing a stick insect on one child's hand.
A woman helps a child jump from a log in a forested area, with other children playing around.
A smiling child observing a snail next to a blue crayon on a blue surface with greenery in the background.
Four children smiling inside a makeshift wooden shelter outdoors with a playhouse visible in the background.
Children and an adult sit in a circle on rocks in a wooded area, with a stick shelter and colorful play tunnel nearby.
A group of children with an adult in a forest setting, some making playful gestures with their hands.
A smiling child with braided hair wears a "Nature School" shirt and has a playful orange and black fish toy on her shoulder.
A group of children sitting on the floor observing a person holding a snake.
A group of children wearing handmade animal ear headbands, posing playfully under a tree.
Two children are playfully hiding among green leaves and branches, smiling at the camera.
A group of young children gather around an adult engaging in a hands-on activity, examining items on a plate.
Children sitting on grass, smiling, with rocks arranged in a shape next to them.
Children playing with autumn leaves in a park.
Hands holding fish decorated with star-shaped cutouts.
A group of children are following a leader in a grassy park, engaging in an activity or exercise together.
A group of people, some wearing orange fox hats, smiling together outdoors.
A child playing with sand and twigs next to a paper labeled "Shorebird" showing a bird illustration.
Children playing on a large fallen log in a forested area.
Children observing a tortoise indoors, with visible excitement and curiosity.
A group of children and two adults in costumes posing in a classroom with a nature-themed backdrop.
Children playing by a riverbank with buckets, under trees with dappled sunlight.
Children holding a colorful parachute outdoors.
Children playing on a structure made of sticks and branches in a forest setting.
A young child mesmerized by colorful paint swirling in a dish, with a grassy background and another child in the distance.
Two children, one with a surprised expression, are reaching for a crystal hanging above them in a natural outdoor setting.
Two young girls play outdoors, arranging leaves in a natural setting, engaged in imaginative play.
A smiling child in a hoodie is playfully clinging to a tree branch amidst a forest-like setting with wooden structures.
A group of children and a caregiver walk through a forested area during a cloudy day, surrounded by trees and leaves.
A group of children in matching shirts poses outdoors with two adults, surrounded by colorful fall foliage.
A group of children in a forest exploring and pointing at mushrooms growing on a log, looking curious and engaged.
Child touching a turtle through aquarium glass.
Two smiling people in front of a floral meadow backdrop, standing near educational materials.
Children are playing in a shallow stream, surrounded by trees, wearing colorful hats and holding toys.
Children painting a large piece of wood outdoors with colorful paint.
Children and an adult weaving sticks into a vertical loom made of white ropes outdoors.
Kids in raincoats and boots standing on a muddy path in a wooded area.
Four kids smiling next to cups filled with red, yellow, and blue liquid.
Three children sitting around a small campfire in a wooded area, with branches and rocks nearby.
A child inspects a large animal skull while others observe in a nature-themed setting.
A group of children and two adults smiling in an autumn forest setting.
Children are sitting on the floor, observing a stick insect on one child's hand.
A woman helps a child jump from a log in a forested area, with other children playing around.
A smiling child observing a snail next to a blue crayon on a blue surface with greenery in the background.
Four children smiling inside a makeshift wooden shelter outdoors with a playhouse visible in the background.
Children and an adult sit in a circle on rocks in a wooded area, with a stick shelter and colorful play tunnel nearby.
A group of children with an adult in a forest setting, some making playful gestures with their hands.
A smiling child with braided hair wears a "Nature School" shirt and has a playful orange and black fish toy on her shoulder.
A group of children sitting on the floor observing a person holding a snake.
A group of children wearing handmade animal ear headbands, posing playfully under a tree.
Two children are playfully hiding among green leaves and branches, smiling at the camera.
A group of young children gather around an adult engaging in a hands-on activity, examining items on a plate.
Children sitting on grass, smiling, with rocks arranged in a shape next to them.
Children playing with autumn leaves in a park.
Hands holding fish decorated with star-shaped cutouts.
A group of children are following a leader in a grassy park, engaging in an activity or exercise together.
A group of people, some wearing orange fox hats, smiling together outdoors.
A child playing with sand and twigs next to a paper labeled "Shorebird" showing a bird illustration.
Children playing on a large fallen log in a forested area.
Children observing a tortoise indoors, with visible excitement and curiosity.
A group of children and two adults in costumes posing in a classroom with a nature-themed backdrop.
Children playing by a riverbank with buckets, under trees with dappled sunlight.
Children holding a colorful parachute outdoors.
Children playing on a structure made of sticks and branches in a forest setting.
A young child mesmerized by colorful paint swirling in a dish, with a grassy background and another child in the distance.
Two children, one with a surprised expression, are reaching for a crystal hanging above them in a natural outdoor setting.
Two young girls play outdoors, arranging leaves in a natural setting, engaged in imaginative play.
A smiling child in a hoodie is playfully clinging to a tree branch amidst a forest-like setting with wooden structures.
A group of children and a caregiver walk through a forested area during a cloudy day, surrounded by trees and leaves.

Nature School

2026-27 Nature School Parent Handbook.pdf2026-27 Nature School Calendar.pdf

Nature School is an outdoor based, first learning experience for kids ages 3-5, who are potty trained and ready for an experience away from their family. This program has zero screen time and is predominantly held outdoors. Nature kids get to visit live animals at the Nature Center, go on nature walks daily and practice nature identification along the way. We provide fun themes every two weeks. All units include play-based learning, healthy body movement like yoga and dancing, themed stories, songs, art projects, sensory exploration and sign language. Throughout the year, we work on social emotional skills including sharing, teamwork, expanding our emotional vocabularies and independent problem solving. We work on age-appropriate school readiness skills including tracing names, cutting with scissors, rhyming, patterns, comprehension questions, raising our hands, as well as number and letter identification. Most importantly, we PLAY, we teach KINDNESS and we truly nurture a love of NATURE!

Instructor: Ellen Flasch

Location: Chico Creek Nature Center, Howard S. Tucker Exhibit Hall

Ages: 3-5

Program Dates: August 17, 2026 through June 5,  2027. 

Enrollment Options:  We do not offer a combination of these two options.

  • Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays

Times: 9:00am-1:00pm

Fee: This program has a $10 registration fee. Billing is processed on a month-to-month basis, and monthly fees vary depending on the number of program days. The fee for the 2026-27 school year is $37 per day. Please note that CARD does not prorate for missed days or if a child leaves the program mid-month. If you plan to withdraw from the program, we require a minimum of two weeks’ notice. This allows us time to fill the spot; otherwise, you will be responsible for payment until the space is filled.

Registration: Families enrolled through the end of the school year have priority to re-enroll for the following year. Re-enrollment information will be emailed at the beginning of April, and we begin offering any remaining spots to new families on the waiting list in May. In addition, enrolled families have priority to enroll siblings alongside their currently enrolled child during re-enrollment. If a sibling is not eligible to start at the beginning of the year but turns three during the school year, they will receive priority for the next available opening.

Attendance: There are no attendance requirements. Your child may attend days/hours as needed. However, consistent attendance is strongly encouraged for the benefit of your child, fellow participants, and the overall program. CARD does not prorate for days unattended.

Program Details: For program details, view the Parent Handbook. Children must be able to use the restroom independently to participate in the program.

Participant Readiness Quiz

Our goal is for your child to be successful at the program. If your answer is "NO" to one or more of these questions, your child may not be ready to attend on their own.

  • Can they meet the Participant Expectations?
  • Are they able to stay with the group and not run away when upset or overwhelmed? Our programs maintain set ratios and are not designed for one on one care.
  • Is your child overwhelmed with loud noises? At times, programs can be loud.
  • Is your child comfortable when you are not present?
  • Does your child warm up to new situations where they do not know anyone?
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