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 summer version of Forest Kindergarten will have the same components of our regular Forest Kindergarten program.
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
When:
Week 1: Tuesday & Thursday | June 2 & 4 | 9:00 am -1:00 pm
Week 2: Monday & Wednesday | June 8 & 10 | 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: Big Oak Canyon (Silverado Canyon)
Price: $130 for 2-day camp
$120 per additional sibling within the age range of the camp
Sibling Policy
Siblings who are within the age range of class (3-6 years old) must be registered as a regular participant. Siblings outside the age range of class (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 camp date.
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.
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!
Deora Levy
Deora enjoys sharing with others an awareness and appreciation of our surroundings in the natural world. Exploring the connections between our biological and ecological lives on this awesome planet.
Raised in a small rural town in Pennsylvania, her childhood was full of simple outdoor play, skiing, and visiting a family cabin in the Laurel Mountains. Deora felt a sense of connection to the world beyond ourselves from a young age.
Now calling Southern California home for the last 13 years, not a day goes by that she doesn’t appreciate the sunshine, marvel at the mountains, and enjoy the active, holistic lifestyle. Deora is a mother to three children under age 10. Cultivating and prioritizing outdoor adventures where their inquisitive spirits can grow.