Enrichment Camps

Summer Sessions 2026

June 22nd - August 15th

San Dieguito Park Buena Vista Park Batiquitos Lagoon

Del Mar Vista Carlsbad

Ages 2.5 - 13

Our summer sessions offer children the chance to explore, create, and grow through meaningful experiences in nature - guided by curiosity and supported by experienced educators in small groups.

Join us beneath the trees for a summer your child will carry with them long after it ends.

Spots are limited and fill quickly

Choose waitlist & email us at admin@thenativeschool.com if the class is full! New class sessions may open on demand.

Save Your Spot

Curious what other families have to say?

Read Parent Reviews

More than a summer camp, this is nature-focused learning in SD North County

During our Summer Sessions, your child will experience a nurturing, nature-immersed learning environment where curiosity leads the way.

Through hands-on exploration, collaborative play, and child-led inquiry, students deepen relationships, build confidence, and engage in meaningful learning that unfolds over time.

Our classes are emergent, rooted in exploration, creativity, and connection to the natural world.

Consistent routines and extended projects support emotional regulation, sustained inquiry, and joyful discovery - while honoring each child’s developmental pace and interests.

Mix and match to create your own 8-week adventure or select specific weeks that fit your family’s schedule. Please note that not all options are available at all locations.

Explore ages to learn more!

How old is your little?

Seedlings

preschool
camps
2.5 - 4yrs

Wildlings

early elementary
camps
4 - 6yrs

Saplings +

school-aged summer camps
7 - 9yrs

Let yourself be supported

We believe you should feel just as supported as your child.

Families enrolled in our program receive access to:

a detailed summer orientation (including gear, maps, and daily logistics)
a daily reflection slideshow with photos, quotes, and learning highlights
ongoing communication and access to teachers for support
resources on our class website

This means you’re not left wondering what your child needs, or what they experienced. You’re informed, prepared, and connected.

Support can also look like stability and continuity.

That’s why we offer longer 6 and 8-week programs.

As children return day after day, they begin to:

build deeper relationships
feel a stronger sense of belonging
take more risks in their learning
grow in confidence and independence

Older explorer? Mentorship Class for ages 10-13 now available! Check out all our Summer Sessions!

Save Your Spot

Peek Inside Summers Past

Summer Session Options

Reviews

Last Summer...

“My son attended the Wildings summer session at San Dieguito park. He loved attending and was beaming with excitement every morning on the way! We were greeted each morning by the kind teachers which made him feel so special. Tamara in particular is so warm and made him so comfortable he immediately skipped off toward the adventure of the day. He was so proud to share the fun facts he had learned. He already has plans to take us back to be our tour guide and show us everything he saw! I loved how much freedom they are given to explore and discover in the beautiful park. We look forward to next summer when he can attend again!”

- Loren D.

The circle holds something simple, and something profound…

A place where everyone can see and be seen. Where ideas are shared. Where connection grows.

In nature, circles mark time - in tree rings, in seasons, in cycles of growth.
Children’s learning follows that same rhythm. It returns, deepens, and comes full circle.

Would you like to join our circle, or “family of families?” If you’re looking for a place where your child can experience this kind of learning and connection, we’re enrolling for Fall 2026 now. 🌱
 🔗 Learn more → link in bio

#NatureBasedLearning #OutdoorEducation #CommunityBuilding #EarlyChildhoodEducation #SanDiegoFamilies

This is not a kite,🪁 it’s so much more…

What begins as a simple project becomes an exploration of ideas, movement, problem-solving, and imagination all unfolding at once.

Children test, adjust, collaborate, and create meaning as they go. What looks like simple play is layered with thinking, persistence, and discovery.

This is not a kite, it is the “hundred languages of children” made real, tangible, touchable.

This is not a kite… it just so happens to fly. 🤍

If you’re looking for a place where your child can soar - learning through play with experienced, thoughtful educators - we’re now enrolling for Fall 2026. 🌱

🔗 Learn more → link in bio

#NatureBasedLearning #PlayBasedLearning #OutdoorEducation #HandsOnLearning #SanDiegoFamilies

A favorite spring tradition… 🍓 each year, our students wait patiently for the native lemonade berries to ripen.
Sometimes we taste these sticky sweet-sour treats right off the bush, but on special days like this one, we make lemonade berry trail tea!

From harvesting to tasting, children experience the full process - building connection, awareness, and respect for the natural world while experiencing with all their senses.
Learning becomes something you can taste. ✨

At the Native School, we value authentic experiences and the learning that naturally grows from following children’s curiosity and heart-connections.

Join our mailing list to get TWO FREEBIES - the Lemonade Berry Tea Recipe & Foraging Guide + our Nature Explorer Kit!

More links in bio →
☀️ Summer Sessions
👉 Parent Info Sessions
✨ FREE Guided Play Drop In
🌱 Enrollment for the 2026–2027 School Year

#NatureBasedLearning #OutdoorEducation #ForagingWithKids #SanDiegoFamilies #HandsOnLearning

Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful 🌿 Someday, they won’t remember the gift.
�They’ll remember the time you spent with them.�The moments you slowed down.�The way you showed up.

These are the things that last.

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate, consider slowing down and stepping outside. Let your child lead, follow their curiosity, and create something together.
These are the moments that stay with them.

Happy Mother’s Day! We hope you enjoy the moment. 🤍

#MothersDay #SanDiegoFamilies #NatureBasedLearning #Parenthood #SlowChildhood

Have you visited our blog? 🌿 It’s where we share a deeper look at our philosophy, our classrooms, and the thinking behind what we do.

Our newest post “The Educators Behind the Experience: What it Means to Be a Teacher at The Native School” offers a closer look at the role of our teachers and the intention, training, and reflection that shape each day.

📖 Read the full post → link in bio

#NatureBasedLearning #OutdoorEducation #EarlyChildhoodEducation #SanDiegoFamilies #ParentEducation

Glimpse into a summer day in the class Nature as Our Muse.☀️ Where days shaped by curiosity. Where art, movement, storytelling, and exploration all begin with what children notice in the natural world around them.

It may look simple…�but these are the moments where confidence grows, ideas take shape, and learning becomes something children truly own.

This is just one day.
Imagine a whole summer like this. 🌱

Summer sessions are enrolling → more links in bio:
☀️ Summer Sessions
👉 Parent Info Sessions
✨ FREE Guided Play Drop In
🌱 Enrollment for the 2026–2027 School Year

#SanDiegoFamilies #NatureBasedLearning #OutdoorSummer #ForestSchool #PlayBasedLearning

Splashing into spring like… 💧

Not long ago, some of these same children paused at the edge - watching, unsure, testing the water with careful steps. Big weather felt unfamiliar. The puddles felt like something to navigate around, not run through.

And now… they move toward it.

Running, laughing, fully immersed - no hesitation, just confidence and joy.
This is what growth looks like here.

What once felt uncertain becomes familiar.�What once felt overwhelming becomes something to seek out.
Learning doesn’t move in a straight line.�It returns, deepens, and comes full circle. 🌿

#NatureBasedLearning #OutdoorEducation #PlayBasedLearning #ChildhoodMoments #SanDiegoFamilies

The heart of our program 🤍

This week, we’re celebrating the educators who make this work possible - not just for what they do, but for how they show up each day.

With patience, intention, and deep respect for children, our teachers create environments where curiosity is welcomed, ideas are valued, and growth unfolds naturally. They observe closely, respond thoughtfully, and hold space for each child to develop confidence and a sense of belonging.

What you see in the classroom is only part of it - behind every moment is care, preparation, reflection, and a commitment to doing this work well.

We’re so grateful for this team!

Links in bio:
☀️ Summer Sessions
👉 Parent Info Sessions
✨ FREE Guided Play Drop In
🌱 Enrollment for the 2026–2027 School Year

#TeacherAppreciationWeek #EarlyChildhoodEducation #OutdoorEducation #NatureBasedLearning #SanDiegoFamilies

Summer should feel different ☀️ Not rushed. Not overstimulating. Not just something to fill the time.

At The Native School, summer is a season of exploration - where children build real skills through play, follow their curiosity, and spend their days immersed in the natural world.
They leave with more than memories.
 They leave with confidence, connection, and a deeper understanding of themselves and their environment.

Are you looking for something more meaningful this summer? This is your invitation to step outside with us at the Native School!

☀️ Summer sessions are enrolling now 🔗 Link in bio

#SanDiegoFamilies #NatureBasedLearning #OutdoorSummer #ForestSchool #PlayBasedLearning

What happens when children’s ideas are taken seriously? 🎨
They create work that’s thoughtful, expressive, and full of meaning. Because it comes from real experiences, real curiosity, and real care.

Our ongoing Art & Documentation Shows are a celebration of that process - making children’s thinking visible through both their artwork and the stories behind it.

For those who want to hold onto a piece of that work, we’ve turned select student artwork into keepsakes:
🌀 Can coolers
🎀 Scrunchies
📌 Pin-on button sets
🗓️ Wall calendars

These pieces aren’t just products, they’re a way to honor children’s voices and creativity beyond the classroom.

🛍️ Shop now → link in bio
Proceeds support our in-class art projects & trail improvements. Thank you for giving voice to their work. 🤍

#ReggioInspired #OutdoorEducation #LearningVisible #StudentVoice #SupportYoungArtists

What does teacher training have to do with your child’s experience? 🌿 Everything.

Behind every calm, engaging, and meaningful day is a team of educators who are constantly learning - studying child development, refining their practice, and deepening their understanding of how children learn best.

From international forest school training to structured literacy and Reggio-inspired practice, this ongoing work allows us to create an environment that is both joyful and deeply intentional.

Links in bio:
☀️ Summer Sessions
👉 Parent Info Sessions
✨ FREE Guided Play Drop In
🌱 Enrollment for the 2026–2027 School Year

#NatureBasedLearning #OutdoorEducation #EarlyChildhoodEducation #TeacherDevelopment #SanDiegoFamilies

Waldkinergarten in Zurich has been a semi annual professional development site for our supervisory team for the past several years. Teachers who have professionally studied European Forest Schools in action share their experiences with our entire team. Through collaboration this development opportunity aides our team to fully envision a dramatically different style of education than today’s norm; experiential, self directed, inquiry-based, teamwork, and self-reliance.

The Native School firmly believes in utilizing evidence-based and developmentally appropriate methods, within multi tiers systems of support; proactive observational assessment, evidenced frameworks, and direct supervisory mentorship.

To learn more about our frameworks for ensuring developmentally appropriate practice and collaborative professional mentorship, follow our education blog by clicking the link in our bio.

It begins with connection & curiosity - where to go, what to notice, what questions to follow.�Children choose what calls to them, learning and practicing skills through play and discovery. ✨

From there, the day unfolds through movement, collaboration, quiet focus, and moments of discovery that can’t be planned in advance.

Children climb, build, observe, create, and return to ideas again and again - supported by teachers who guide with intention and trust the process.

It may look simple from the outside.�But there’s a depth to these days that stays with children long after they leave.

This is what learning looks like during a day in forest kindergarten. 🌿

Come experience it for yourself this summer before committing to the school year!

Links in bio:
☀️ Summer Sessions
👉 Parent Info Sessions
✨ FREE Guided Play Drop In
🌱 Enrollment for the 2026–2027 School Year

#NatureBasedLearning #ForestSchool #OutdoorEducation #SanDiegoFamilies #PlayBasedLearning

Earth Day is a reminder that caring for the planet starts with connection 🌎

When children spend time in nature - planting, observing, creating, and caring - they begin to understand their role in it. Not because they’re told to, but because they feel it.

If you’re looking for simple, meaningful ways to celebrate today, we’ve put together a few nature-inspired activities your family can try together. From planting and composting to building, creating, and exploring, these small moments add up.

Earth Day doesn’t have to be big to be impactful. It just has to be intentional. 🌱

Save this for inspiration and come back to it throughout the season ✨

#EarthDay #NatureBasedLearning #LearningThroughNature #SustainableLiving #RaiseNatureLovers

✨WHAT IS NARRATION?

Narration, put simply, is just retelling. This skill of telling comes naturally to children - it simply needs to be refined. Give a child a carefully selected topic or facilitate the narration (to “tell” about) of an experience and it becomes the basis of composition.

Composition is the art of arranging thoughts and presenting them to others in a way that makes sense. Oral narration eventually will develop into the ability to write well, to compose in writing as we do out loud. Narration gives children the opportunity to make full use of their abilities to think and compose, without being hindered by
needing to write and spell on paper.

When a child is asked to tell what they know
routinely, they start to listen and read more
closely. As they narrate, they build a relationship with that knowledge or story, bringing it into their imagination and storing it in their memory. 🤍

✨The process before the reward is often the most meaningful✨

This past Sunday, our North County community enjoyed connecting to the land through the eyes of our students, and their months of hard work!

As professional educators we validate that achieving learning outcomes and gaining skill proficiency is important, but the journey and joy along the way often means so much more! 🦋

At our Spring Festival, families experienced what makes The Native School feel different - hands-on creativity, child-led exploration, and a community rooted in curiosity and connection.

Thank you Native School forest kindergarten teachers for your support of Nurture Their Nature (501c3). Your dedication for curating an atmosphere for learning through inquiry and supported creativity was truly felt by our broader San Diego community today.

This is the same spirit we carry into our summer programs. Days filled with outdoor discovery, meaningful projects, and space for children to grow in confidence, creativity, and independence. If you’re looking for something more than a typical summer camp… this is your invitation to take a closer look.

🐞 Happy Spring everyone! 🐞

☀️ Summer sessions are enrolling now 🔗 Learn more & register → link in bio

#TheNativeSchool #NurtureTheirNature #NatureBasedLearning #ForestSchool #WholeChildEducation

🍃Welcome to Guided Play, a family nature play experience that provides a slower introduction to preschool at The Native School.

Follow the link in our bio to register for 6-week sessions or utilize one complimentary class.

What families notice when they visit... 🌿

Children who are deeply engaged - not distracted or disengaged, but focused in a way that comes from genuine curiosity.
Teachers who guide rather than control - stepping in with intention, and stepping back to allow independence.
A calm, purposeful rhythm to the day - not rushed, not chaotic, but steady and meaningful.
Confidence in even the youngest learners - built through trust, real experiences, and the freedom to try.
Learning happening everywhere - not confined to a single moment, but woven into play, conversation, and exploration.

It’s something you feel as much as you see.

If you’ve been wondering whether this could be the right fit for your child…
this is your invitation to take a closer look.

🌦️ Read the new Blog Post to peek into a day at forest school.

🌱 Free Guided Play Drop-Ins end this week but Summer Sessions are open!

Links in bio:
☀️ Summer Sessions
👉 Parent Info Sessions
✨ FREE Guided Play Drop In (ending 4/16!)
🌱 Enrollment for the 2026–2027 School Year

#PlayBasedLearning #InquiryBasedLearning #LearningThroughNature #ForestSchool #ChildhoodUnplugged

You can read about it. You can scroll past it. You can try to imagine what it feels like.
But the moment it really makes sense… is when you see it in person. 🌿

The rhythm of the day.
The way children move, explore, and collaborate.
The quiet focus. The confidence. The joy.

There’s only so much we can show online.
What families notice when they visit isn’t just the environment- it’s the feeling.

If you’ve been curious, this is your invitation to take a closer look.

🌱 Free Guided Play Drop-Ins end this week!
Come experience it for yourself while you can.

Links in bio:
☀️ Summer Sessions
👉 Parent Info Sessions
✨ FREE Guided Play Drop In (ending 4/16!)

#PlayBasedLearning #InquiryBasedLearning #LearningThroughNature #ForestSchool #ChildhoodUnplugged

Step into our Forest Kindergarten class 🌿
It looks like children moving freely - within a thoughtfully prepared environment.�It sounds like questions, collaboration, and moments of deep focus.�It feels calm, purposeful, and alive with curiosity.

Teachers know when to step in and when to step back.�Learning is guided, not rushed.�There’s a rhythm to the day that supports both exploration and growth.

From the outside, it might look like “just play.”�But there’s so much happening beneath the surface.

Come take a closer look. ✨

Links in bio:
☀️ Summer Sessions
👉 Parent Info Sessions
✨ FREE Guided Play Drop In (ending 4/16!)
🌱 Enrollment for the 2026–2027 School Year

#ForestKindergarten #NatureBasedLearning #OutdoorEducation #ChildhoodUnplugged #ForestSchool

If you make your own paintbrush… �you just might want something to paint.
And if you have something to paint…�you might decide to make it into your own kite! 🪁

In our Forest Kindergarten class, one idea leads to another - children gather natural materials, create their own tools, and then use them to bring their ideas to life. The process becomes the learning.

Want to try it at home? Here’s how to make a simple nature paintbrush:�🌱 Gather materials like pine needles, grasses, small twigs, leaves, or flower petals�🪵 Use a stick as your handle�🧶 Secure materials with string, yarn, or a rubber band�💧 Dip in paint and explore the different textures each brush creates

Every brush makes a different mark - just like every child brings a different idea.
Sometimes all it takes is one small invitation and the rest unfolds.

Links in bio:
☀️ Summer Sessions
👉 Parent Info Sessions
✨ FREE Guided Play Drop In (ending 4/16!)
🌱 Enrollment for the 2026–2027 School Year

#PlayBasedLearning #InquiryBasedLearning #LearningThroughNature #ForestSchool #ChildhoodUnplugged

POV: you’re 4 years old 🌿
Your days are spent climbing trees, discovering bugs, building with your hands, and running beside your friends.�
You follow your curiosity.�You ask questions - and someone listens.�You try, fail, try again - and no one tells you to stop.

No desks.�No behavior clips.�No one telling you your ideas don’t matter.

Just space to be a child. ✨

One day, you’ll look back and realize how rare that was - how meaningful it was to be trusted, to explore, to grow in your own way.

Someday we’ll dream about today.�Don’t miss it now. 🤍

Want this for your child? Links in bio:
☀️ Summer Sessions
👉 Parent Info Sessions
✨ FREE Guided Play Drop In (ending 4/16!)
🌱 Enrollment for the 2026–2027 School Year

#LetThemBeLittle #NatureBasedLearning #OutdoorEducation #ChildhoodUnplugged ForestSch

Art is more than what you see on the page - it’s a window into how children think, feel, and make sense of the world 🌿🎨

In our classrooms, art is layered with observation, storytelling, experimentation, and meaning. Each piece reflects a process of curiosity, risk-taking, and expression, not just a final product.

Next week, we’re excited to share that process with you at our Spring Art & Documentation Shows ✨

And for families who want to take a piece of this work home:�🖼️ Online Auction of original student artwork opens Sunday → closes Saturday�🛍️ Online Store featuring keepsakes made from student art

These events are a celebration of children’s voices, ideas, and growth - made visible through both their artwork and the documentation behind it.

We can’t wait to share it all with you 🤍

#ChildrensArt #DocumentationMatters #ReggioInspired #LearningVisible #StudentVoice

What children learn in a single day at nature school is not measured on paper, but by experiences. ✨

From confidence and collaboration to problem-solving and deep curiosity, these are the foundations that support lifelong learning. And when paired with intentional teaching, documentation, and standards-aligned instruction, they become even more powerful.

This is what we mean when we say: learning here is different.

📖 Read the full blog: What Children Learn in a Single Day at Nature School (That You Can’t See on a Worksheet)

👉 Info Sessions Available T/Th
✨ FREE Guided Play Drop Ins Wed/Fri
🌱 Enrollment for Summer & the 2026–2027 School Year is ongoing
 🔗 Link in bio

#PlayBasedLearning #InquiryBasedLearning #LearningThroughNature #ForestSchool #ParentEducation

🐛 Ready 🐞 Set 🦋 Go
Today is the start of Project Week! ✨We are busy researching, outlining, writting, and presenting while underneath the warmth of sunshine, bird songs, and the gentle ocean breeze 🤗

NO WAY. THE HUNDRED IS THERE

The child
is made of one hundred.
The child has
a hundred languages
a hundred hands
a hundred thoughts
a hundred ways of thinking
of playing, of speaking.
A hundred always a hundred
ways of listening
of marveling of loving
a hundred joys
for singing and understanding
a hundred worlds
to discover
a hundred worlds
to invent
a hundred worlds
to dream.
The child has
a hundred languages
(and a hundred hundred hundred more)
but they steal ninety-nine.

The school and the culture
separate the head from the body.
They tell the child:
to think without hands
to do without head
to listen and not to speak
to understand without joy
to love and to marvel
only at Easter and Christmas.
They tell the child:
to discover the world already there
and of the hundred
they steal ninety-nine.
They tell the child:
that work and play
reality and fantasy
science and imagination
sky and earth
reason and dream
are things
that do not belong together.

And thus they tell the child
that the hundred is not there.
The child says:
No way. The hundred is there.

Loris Malaguzzi

In forest school, seasonal changes like the Spring Equinox 🌸 become opportunities to slow down, observe, and celebrate the rhythms of the earth.

See how sweet E. created her own nature outfit using leaves, proud to show her creation. Moments like this blend creativity, storytelling, observation, and confidence building.

Children aren’t just playing; they’re noticing patterns, textures, and how the natural world can inspire their imagination.

If you’d like to celebrate Spring forest-school style, here are a few simple nature-inspired activities to try as a family:
🌱 Plant seeds together and talk about what growth requires. Visit your seedlings and watch them grow!
🌸 Bake or make herbal infusions using foraged seasonal herbs or edible flowers. Wild radish, wood sorrel, and nasturtiums are all edible plants you can find growing wild!
🍃 Play nature dress-up using leaves, flowers, grasses, and twigs. Explore patterns, textures, and camouflage.
🪨 Create a nature mandala using found natural materials arranged in a circle to represent cycles and renewal.
🌼 Press flowers or leaves to begin a spring nature journal. On walks, predict signs of spring and collect seasonal keepsakes.

Want your child to experience this? Summer sessions are enrolling now. Or drop in to Guided Play with your child to see it for yourself first!

Links in bio:
☀️ Summer Sessions
👉 Parent Info Sessions
✨ FREE Guided Play Drop In (ending 4/16!)
🌱 Enrollment for the 2026–2027 School Year

#PlayBasedLearning #InquiryBasedLearning #LearningThroughNature #ForestSchool #ChildhoodUnplugged

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Enrichment Camps