Palo Alto Outdoor Preschool
An Entirely Outdoor Preschool
Tender Tracks is 100% Outdoor Nature Awareness Preschool, designed for children ages 3 to 5. Eight to nine children attend each season, from September through June. The days and hours are determined by the child’s age.
Tender Tracks families drop off and pick up their children at a local park. The children are transported to their many adventures in a mini school bus that is chock full of all that one needs to explore the out of doors, come rain or shine.
What if it rains? We put on boots and coats! Extra clothes are always kept in the van so the participants can change into dry things after wet or muddy adventures. Sometimes we put up a canopy or find a nice, dry nature center to visit.
Learning About Our Earth
Children are natural explorers, capable of discovering and figuring out many aspects of life given the freedom and framework to do so.
We at Tender Tracks believe that by guiding each child’s inherent awe and wonder about our Earth, they grow towards greater unity to self and all life. They embrace self-respect, self-confidence, self-awareness and self-esteem. These essential qualities help children weather the many challenges that life presents. Children learn through seeing, doing and being. Tender Tracks is filled with not only seeing and doing but also allowing the time needed for integration – BEING.
The children’s days are filled with activities that develop motor skills and balance, communications skills, and stimulate all of their senses.
The art of questioning is an ongoing tool that builds the foundation of basic life skills of how to learn. The educators’ model this learning with enthusiasm, encourage investigation and problem solving.
The small group setting encourages safe exploration of their world and the development of social skills, including leadership, conflict resolution and cooperation, all in a developmentally appropriate style.
Exploring Your Own Backyard
The Bay Area is our playground and schoolhouse. From the wetland marshes to the redwood forests, from county parks to wildlife preserves, we discover wonders everywhere.
Tender Trackers have a lot of fun while building a bond with the natural world. They learn about ecosystems and how to “read” nature. They hike, picnic, track animals, and learn about seasons and scat, friendly and formidable plants, first aid and friendship. The children develop habits of observation; to see the deer up close, you must be still.
Roots and Shoots
Bonding with the Earth comes by way of being in it, with it. Every day the children use their senses of touch, taste, hearing and smell. Tender Tracks children are provided with many different types of experiences to aid them with exploring their world and developing a deep and abiding connection with it. They may cook foods from nuts and berries, weave cornhusk dolls and stuff pillows with cattail seeds. For rainy days, they gather wood and, when and where possible, cook over a fire. They learn dozens of imaginative songs and stories throughout their days.
Current Programs for 2013-2014:
Tues/Thursday 4 yr. old program
9:15-2:15
Sept. 3, 2013- June 5, 2014
Wednesday 3 yr. old program
9:15 to 1:15
Sept. 4, 2013- June 4, 2014
Applications are being received now. Please go to Required Forms
Parent Info. Night: March 15, 2013 6:30 to 8 PM. in Los Altos RSVP Required
All Family Interview Day March 16, 2013 10 am to 11 am
For more information please contact Wendolyn at 415 419 5274 or email tendertracks@gmail.com.
Visit the Required Forms Page to download the application form for the program.
