About the Program
The Salty Sunflower Nature Club is a mixed age outdoor early childhood education program for children 3 years old to about 8 years old (This is not a hard cut off, rather a suggestion based on our curriculum. Please reach out to us if your child is older than 8 but still interested in our program.)
We function as a nature immersion program with a heavy focus on socio-emotional development, while also introducing gentle academics at the child’s individual learning pace.
We are sibling inclusive, meaning that we encourage older siblings to come along and embark on their own journey in fostering leadership skills, creative thinking, resilience, and a sense of responsibility as they learn to become active participants in their communities. While our youngest adventurers develop early literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills, our older ones benefit from hands-on, inquiry-based learning, where they can explore science, math, and problem-solving through real-world experiences at their own pace.
Our classes meet Mon-Thurs from 9:30am-1:30pm. Children may be enrolled for 2, 3, or 4 days per week. We provide healthy snacks and lunch options, but your child is welcome to bring their own as well.
Included with enrollment, we make great effort to hold an optional “Family Friday” once per month in which families are invited to participate in additional enrichment activities such as playgroups, STEM activities, themed crafts, picnics, beach days, museum days, and more.
Enrollment for our 9 month program will begin during the Summer of 2025
literacy
Our nature enrichment program integrates language-rich experiences into outdoor exploration. Storytelling under the trees, nature journaling, and discussing observations encourage vocabulary development and early writing skills. Engaging with environmental print, such as reading trail signs or labeling nature connections, helps children connect words to real-world meaning. The sensory-rich setting also inspires imaginative play, which strengthens narrative skills and comprehension. By making literacy a natural part of their daily adventures, children develop a lifelong love of language and storytelling.
numeracy
Our program fosters numeracy by immersing children in hands-on, real- world math experiences. Counting pinecones, measuring puddles, comparing leaf sizes and recognizing patterns in nature make abstract concepts tangible and meaningful. Through playful exploration, children develop early math skills such as estimation, sorting, sequencing, and spatial awareness. Engaging with nature’s natural rhythms and structures helps build a strong foundation for mathematical thinking, making learning both intuitive and enjoyable.
critical thinking
We aim to nurture critical thinking skills by encouraging curiosity, problem-solving, and independent exploration. Children learn to assess risks, experiment with creative solutions, and adapt to new challenges as their outdoor environment is constantly changing. Whether building shelters, observing wildlife, or navigating natural obstacles, they develop reasoning skills and the ability to think flexibly. With hands-on experiences that spark inquiry and discovery, nature preschool fosters a growth mindset, empowering children to analyze situations, make decisions, and confidently explore the world around them.
ROTATING LOCATIONS
For the security of your children, we do not disclose our current locations online. Some examples of our rotating daily locations include but are not limited to – Balboa Park, local beaches (such as Mission Bay area), and lush open nature areas (such as Marian Bear Park and Montevalle Park).
