In Forest Kindergarten, nature is the teacher. Earthroots instructors are skilled mentors who guide children into deep, meaningful, outdoor play, while providing hands-on, inquiry based explorations in nature.
This Spring Break version of Forest Kindergarten will have the same components of our regular Forest Kindergarten program. Participants may register for one or both days of camp.
Children ages 3-6 are invited to play and explore in the unspoiled beauty of Big Oak Canyon, a 39-acre property located on shared ancestral lands of the Juañeno Band of Mission Indians Acjachemen Nation and neighboring Tongva/Gabrieleño and Payómkawichum/Luiseño tribes in Silverado Canyon. This land includes 200+ year old oak trees, diverse native flora, flowing creeks and ample intact ecosystems, for children to observe and explore.
Children will develop their sensory awareness as they listen to bird calls, compare plant features, squish in mud, or splash in the creek. Songs, stories, games, and activities will connect to seasonal observations and local ecosystems.
Our hope is that participation in this program will foster a life-long love of the natural world!
Camp Details:
Who: Children ages 3-6 attending with a parent or guardian
*Siblings 2 and under may accompany the parent and the paid participant.
When: Tuesday & Thursday | April 7 & 9 | 9:00-2:00pm
Where: Big Oak Canyon (Silverado Canyon)
Price: $175
What to bring
Sunscreen and a sunhat
Water in reusable water bottle
Piece of diced fruit for shared snack (preferably organic)
Personal snacks and a lunch
Backpack
Picnic Blanket
What to bring:
- Water in reusable water bottle
- Piece of diced fruit for shared snack (preferably organic)
- Personal snacks and a lunch
- Backpack
- Picnic Blanket
- Sunscreen and a sunhat
Scholarships Available
Earthroots is committed to creating nature connection opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) participants and families in need.
Sibling Policy
Siblings who are within the age range of camp (3-6 years old) must be registered as a regular participant. Siblings outside the age range of camp (age 2 or older than 6) are called ACORNS. We invite ACORNS to attend with their parents. There is a $35 fee per day for siblings ages 2 years old or older than 6. There is no additional charge for children younger than 2 years old. Payment for ACORNS must be received at least one week prior to the date of camp.
Meet the Instructors
Angela Capps
Angela Capps loves nurturing and encouraging children’s natural imaginations. As an Earthroots teacher and theatre instructor, Angela appreciates that nature connection is essential for the soul.
After studying theatre and improv at South Coast Repertory and Improv Olympic, she received her early childhood education teaching certificate and began teaching preschool music and children’s theatre.
A homeschooling mom of two from Mission Viejo, she developed her fascination with nature as a young child camping with her family in remote locations. At Earthroots, Angela enjoys combining her love for the creative arts with the beauty of the outdoors. She believes that when spending more time in nature, children (and adults) have the opportunity to slow down, find more joy and realize that nature is for everyone!
Vanessa Lopez
Vanessa is an educator and naturalist with a passion for turning students’ curiosity into hearts for conservation. With over a decade of experience—from leading trail rides and marine science explorations to guiding chemistry and algebra classes—she strives to make learning hands-on, motivating, fun, and a little bit magical. She loves helping students build lasting connections to the environment that will inspire them to understand and protect the natural world.
When she’s not teaching, you’ll find Vanessa exploring state and national parks, snorkeling and kayaking along the coast, and fostering kittens until they find their forever homes—always seeking to live out her belief that curiosity, compassion, and care for our planet are lessons worth sharing.