Play-And-Learn Outdoor Explorers

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Nature-Based Facilitated Playgroup

ECM’s Play-and-Learn Explorers group is for children ages 20 months-3 years accompanied by their parent/caregiver! We also have a 15-24mo group called Junior Explorers for younger toddlers!

Ages 20mo-3y: Locations vary weekly -Various locations throughout the city.

SPRING 2024 SESSION (10 CLASSES): Registration is full!

SUMMER 2024: Tuesdays, June 18-July 30, 10am-noon (Alexis Buckley) 7 classes - REGISTER HERE

Ages 15-24mo:

Junior Explorers

Our Junior Explorers Program will focus on 15-24 month olds and will help toddlers to develop emerging social skills, connect with nature, gain confidence in their bodies and experience the amazing power of the sensory/natural world for developing brains! This group meets in the Golden Gate Park Botanical Gardens.

SPRING 2024: Wednesdays, March 27-May 29 (skip 4/10), 9:15-10:45am with Alexis Buckley, (9 classes) - REGISTER HERE
Note: If you are joining starting 4/3, please use the prorate code at registration - 1CLASS


WHY Should I take this class?

  • Opportunity to connect to nature in a meaningful way each week. Children will learn about and explore insects, worms, leaves and fauna, mud, sticks, trees and using nature in art!

  • Opportunity to challenge their bodies and receive the crucial sensory and movement experiences children only receive in the natural world--balance on uneven surfaces, strength, climbing skills, and positive risk taking to name a few!

  • Opportunity to connect with the teacher, where she'll guide children as they learn to follow directions, routines, and group expectations

  • Opportunity to safely connect to, talk, observe, interact with and learn from other  children their age. Children learn so much from being around and watching peers!

  • Opportunity for parents and caregivers to safely connect with other parents who are also parenting through these challenging times!

“I still have such fond memories from our days spent… exploring nature throughout SF! Your classes (you) helped our family so much in those first years, to which, I will always be thankful!

It's still astonishing to me given he was/still is a bit slow to warm in personality but I attribute much of his self confidence stemmed from what he learned in his very early years. Thanks for a "gift" that keeps on giving.”

- Former Play-and-Learn Explorers parent of a now elementary aged child

"We absolutely loved Explorers! We did several sessions with Rebecca in SF and my son still talks about Teacher Rebecca several months later, especially when he spots an interesting bug. I initially signed my son up for Explorers to get him more social interaction with other kids as well as to get outside and explore - although my son went to a great daycare, he was developing a significant speech delay. Rebecca was so wonderful at helping the kids form relationships with each other, and my shy son was soon very comfortable with other kids and LOVED going every week. The pace and structure of the class was perfect. I personally really enjoyed the articles Rebecca shared, connecting with other parents who were also interested in getting outside and developing their parenting skills, and just slowing down to a 2 years old's pace. Although I lived in SF off and on my entire life, I learned various new hidden corners great for kid exploration from Rebecca that we have returned to many times. Very highly recommended!!!"

MORE ABOUT OUR NATURE PLAYGROUPS

The latest in research shows that spending time in nature is not only intuitively a good idea, but essential for healthy brain development. Play-and-Learn Explorers is a parent-child participatory playgroup for two-to-three year olds and their caregivers. Each week, the group meets in a variety of outdoor locations, taking advantage of open spaces and the natural world that surrounds us in this amazing city. Destinations include Glen Canyon Park, Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, Crissy Field, and more. The Junior Explorers group will meet each week in the GG Park Botanical Gardens.

The groups will be led by Alexis Buckley, Rebecca Walsh, or Mahroushka Papazian. More our expert Early Childhood Educators here.

During the group, the teacher will guide families through child-directed exploration of nature, using children's inherent curiosity to create excitement about learning. Each weekly session will also include circle time, yoga movement and stretches, puppet shows and weekly readings/discussions on important toddler topics. This is a great opportunity to offer your child some consistent peer socialization, facilitated by an expert Early Childhood Educators, before or while your child begins preschool.

Email info@earlychildhoodmatters.org for more details.

Supporting families on the road to connected and effective parenting.

parenting workshops * parent/toddler playgroups * presentations * private consultations

Email kellam@earlychildhoodmatters.org if you are interested in finding out about sliding scale tuition for our parenting series, mom’s groups, and playgroups. We are happy to help support parents who are in a situation where these courses might otherwise be cost prohibitive.

Our cancellation policy:

Full refund 30 days or more (less a 20% transaction fee), less than 14 days before the start of class a 40% refund will be granted, unless the participant finds a replacement to fill their spot, less than 7 days participants will be responsible for paying the full amount of the class/series price, unless they find a replacement participant to fill their spot.