75+ Nature Preschools, Camps, Classes, and Forest Schools for Kids and Teens in Southern California

Are you looking for an outdoor camp, nature class, forest school, co-op, nature preschool, or other outdoor group for your child in Southern California? Here are a bunch of options for you, divided by region of Southern (and Central) California.

Nature Class Options for All Regions of Southern California

Before we get into the specific regions listed below, here are some resources and directories that apply state-wide:

• Homeschooling families might also try looking for a Wild and Free group near you.

• This interactive map of nature preschools is worth exploring to see if there’s one in your area.

• Outgrown hosts a variety of different groups and trainings, including Hike It Baby groups. You could check if there’s one near you.

• Another helpful list could be this directory of preschools and other learning centers with certified “nature explore” classrooms (though to be clear, many of these are still traditional preschool programs with cool outdoor playgrounds!)

• Free Forest School offers groups throughout the state and there could be one near you! (I’ll confess, we tried a Free Forest School years ago and it was QUITE the adventure that we would never want to experience again, lol. But, that was probably unique to me having four little kids, and your experience may be different! Ha!)

• The Mom Walk Collective organizes groups of moms walking (usually with strollers) to build community and enjoy time together. While nature isn’t the primary focus (you won’t be birdwatching with binoculars or nature journaling!) it’s still a chance to get outdoors with other moms. You can find a walking group near you here.

Note: I am providing this info as a starting point for your research, but I don’t necessarily endorse these programs — please look into them for safety policies, best practices, etc. One resource to help your evaluation of a program could be this nature-based preschool professional practice guidebook from the NAAEE.

How to Start Your Own Nature Group:

Can’t find a group that works for you? Here are some resources for starting your own:

• The Children and Nature Network has a helpful (free) Families Together in Nature Group Planning Guide — this is especially useful if you are running a formal group… they provide sample liability forms, sign in pages, info on publicity, and more!

Los Angeles County Outdoor Classes, Camps, and More:

• LA Nature Kids is based in Santa Monica and offers a nature-oriented preschool program, along with day camps for older children.

• Tumbleweed Day Camp — PK to 8th grade day camp in Los Angeles

• Nature School LA, in the Culver City area, offers a forest school for preschool and kindergarten students, along with nature classes for older homeschool children. They also offer summer day camps for Preschool - 11 year olds in Culver City and Pasadena.

• Camp Wildcraft offers a nature-oriented day camp in the Malibu/Calabasas area.

• Aventuras Forest School is a bilingual (Spanish/English) forest school for ages 3-6, offered near Fern Dell in LA’s Griffith Park.

• Brooklyn Early Education Center in Los Angeles and Haddon Avenue STEM Early Education Center in Pacoima (San Fernando Valley) are both part of LA Unified School District and have certified outdoor nature classrooms. (See other schools with these classrooms here.)

• Children’s Forest School offers classes for homeschool families in Los Angeles.

• Playgroup LA offers Forest Playgroups for little ones in the Sierra Madre/Arcadia/San Gabriel Valley area.

• The LA Arboretum offers a parent-and-me class called Acorns and Oaks for children ages 0-5. They also offer other classes for kids and families, including summer camps and night hikes.

• Wild Things Outdoor Learning provides a nature preschool, classes, and camps in the Agoura Hills/Westlake Village areas.

Orange County Forest Schools, Nature Preschools, and More:

• Looking for summer camps? My friend Michele at FunOrangeCounty Parks (aka OCPlayParks) has a round-up of pretty much all the options for outdoor-based summer camps/day camps in Orange County. She updates it every spring, and it’s worth a look! (Some of these programs also offer classes during the year, as well.)

• Live Oak Education is a weekly Charlotte Mason inspired homeschool program that meets in Orange County.

• Art and Wilderness Institute offers numerous classes, summer camps, and preschool programs in Orange County (and some in nearby parts of the Inland Empire). While most classes are non-religious, they also offer some Islam-based classes.

• Earthroots Field School offers a wide array of classes, including a forest kindergarten, homeschool classes, classes for teens on weekends, day camps, and more. They are based in Silverado (near-ish Lake Forest/Tustin) but some classes travel to other locations throughout OC.

• The ENC Nature Preschool at Environmental Nature Center offers a large nature-based preschool program. This program is very popular — get on the waiting list as soon as your child turns 1 if you’re interested! The Nature Center offers other classes and camps for other ages, as well. Programs take place in Newport Beach and at Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary in Modjeska Canyon.

• The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano offers a weekly gardening class for children age 1-5, along with summer camps for older children.

• Harvest Outdoor Education offers homeschooling classes in South Orange County.

San Bernardino County Outdoor Camps, Co-ops, and More:

• Sprout and Blossom offers gardening classes in Redlands and at other local homeschooling centers (in Riverside, etc.) My son took a class and loved it, and then I was delighted to be neighbors to their booth at a homeschool convention exhibit hall last year. If you are in the area, I’d definitely check out these classes! (They also offer subscription boxes to bring gardening fun to your home).

• Oak Glen Preserve offers a (free!) Junior Ranger program every summer - children commit to volunteering, attending classes, and have the chance to do a campout at the end of summer. They also offer other classes and activities.

• Raising Manzanitas is a Christian homeschool group with lots of outdoor activities, based in the Rancho Cucamonga area.

Riverside County Nature Classes, Adventure Clubs, and More:

• Hidden Valley Nature Center in Riverside offers a Knee-High Naturalists class for children ages 1-5. My daughters took this class when they were little and it was so sweet and fun (and reasonably priced!)

• Inland Empire Kids Outdoors in Riverside offers a nature preschool and a variety of classes for homeschoolers, along with day camps, weekend nature classes at Sycamore Canyon, and more. Our family has enjoyed participating in some of their activities over the years!

• Art and Wilderness Institute offers numerous classes, summer camps, and preschool programs. They are primarily based in OC, but do offer some classes in the Corona/Riverside area. While most classes are non-religious, they also offer some Islam-based classes.

• Wild Butterfly Nature School offers small classes for preschool, Kindergarten, and Parent-and-Me in the Murrieta/Temecula area.

• Iris Farms in Riverside offers farm-based classes for little ones and homeschool families.

• Kids Gardening Center offers cooking and gardening classes and gardening activities throughout Riverside, Temecula, and other parts of the IE. (We randomly ran into their director at the Woodcrest Library’s community garden and she could not have been more kind and gracious in showing my kids around the garden and teaching them. If the classes are anything like that random experience, I’d highly recommend!)

San Diego County Outdoor Classes, Nature Preschools, and More:

• Coastal Kiddos offers day camps, summer camps, and after-school classes, based in North County or La Jolla.

• Wild Child San Diego Nature School — offers classes for preschoolers and homeschoolers, near Mission Bay and also in East County.

• All Friends Nature School meets in San Diego with preschool classes and a homeschool enrichment program.

• Kidwings Nature School meets at various locations throughout San Diego for nature preschool and kindergarten, homeschool classes, day camps, and other activities.

• The Family Adventures in San Diego meetup group provides a way for like-minded families to connect for hikes and other activities.

Imperial County Nature Classes, Groups, and More:

• There is an Imperial County 4-H (farming) program for children.

• You can try checking with local Parks and Recreation departments like the El Centro Park and Rec department for current classes. The City of Imperial also has a Parks and Rec department and sometimes hosts events or classes.

• The Calexico Nature Connection has a partnership offering nature opportunities to students through local schools.

Ventura County Outdoor Classes, Forest Schools, and More:

• The Ventura Land Trust offers a slew of classes through its Ventura Wild program, including Parent and Me, a Nature Preschool, Homeschool Classes, After-School Classes, and more!

• Lanterns Global offers a variety of classes, including Spanish immersion, marine biology, and farming classes. All classes take place outdoors. Most classes are for homeschoolers, but there are also summer camps and a few after-school classes. Locations are throughout the state, including: Santa Cruz, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Malibu, Palos Verdes, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Fullerton, Irvine, and San Diego.

• Junior Naturalist Club leads classes at Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura.

• Ventura Charter School is a public school that highly values outdoor education.

• The Little Blue Creche in Ventura offers summer outdoor day camps for children (along with a nursery/preschool and co-working space that takes place indoors with an outdoor play space).

• Nature’s Explorers Childcare in Thousand Oaks offers day care with an outdoor emphasis.

• BeHere offers homeschool classes at locations throughout Ventura County.

• The Conejo Parks and Rec department offers a number of outdoor science classes and activities.

• Conejo Valley Tinkergarten offers classes for little ones at several locations, including Camarillo, Moorpark, and Thousand Oaks.

Santa Barbara County Nature Camps, Classes, and More:

• Wild Roots Forest School takes place entirely outdoors, with programs for preschool, kindergarten, and summer camps. This is a long-establish, popular program — get on the waitlist early!

• The Wilderness Youth Project offers an outdoor nature preschool in Goleta and Carpinteria, along with programs for homeschoolers, after-school classes, and camps.

• A Thousand Mornings Forest School is an outdoor early childhood program that rotates through locations in Santa Barbara and Goleta.

• Lanterns Global offers a variety of classes, including Spanish immersion, marine biology, and farming classes. All classes take place outdoors. Most classes are for homeschoolers, but there are also summer camps and a few after-school classes. Locations are throughout the state, including: Santa Cruz, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Malibu, Palos Verdes, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Fullerton, Irvine, and San Diego.

• Acorn Village Forest School meets in the Santa Ynez Valley for preschool/kindergarten aged children.

• Sweet Mountaintop Nature Preschool Program meets in Carpinteria.

• The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History offers various summer camps and classes called “Nature Adventures.”

• Nature Rangers offers programs for homeschool children and summer camps in Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez.

• The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden hosts summer camps and various classes (often free!) through their Backcountry Pathfinder program.

• The Santa Barbara Zoo offers “Early Explorers,” a nature preschool program for kids 3-5. (This seems so fun!)

• Goleta Family School is a traditional public school with an emphasis on time outdoors.

• Busy Bees Adventures is a nature preschool in Santa Barbara.

San Luis Obispo County Nature Classes, Outdoor Co-ops, and More:

• Outside Now provides classes for preschool, school-age, and teenagers throughout San Luis Obispo.

• There are several free “Adventures with Nature” classes offered through the state parks along the Central Coast — you can find out more info here about upcoming classes.

• Monarch Hills Education in San Luis Obispo provides homeschool classes for K-6, along with summer camps. Their program seems just delightful from social media!

• Delphinus School offers outdoor science camps in San Luis Obispo.

• One Cool Earth in San Luis Obispo features a nature preschool, along with outdoor classes for pregnant women and postpartum families with young children.

• Town and Country Day Preschool in San Luis Obispo is a home-based preschool with lots of outdoor time.

• Lanterns Global offers a variety of classes, including Spanish immersion, marine biology, and farming classes. All classes take place outdoors. Most classes are for homeschoolers, but there are also summer camps and a few after-school classes. Locations are throughout the state, including: Santa Cruz, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Malibu, Palos Verdes, Laguna Beach, Long Beach, Fullerton, Irvine, and San Diego.

Kern County Nature Classes, Camps, and More:

• Little Hikers of Bakersfield looks like an awesome community group of families exploring nature together.

• Wind Wolves Preserve hosts nature classes and activities for children - all free!

• Children First offers access to various outdoor activities for kids in Bakersfield.

Hope you were able to find a group or class to connect with near you! Is there a school, class, or group you think I should add to the list? Please email Kelly@SoCalNatureKids.com and let me know - thanks!