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Expanding Nature-Inspired Play Spaces in Child Care Sites Across San Francisco

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Ten San Francisco child care centers and family child care homes have been transformed into nature-filled oases that inspire learning, movement, and imaginative play.

The transformations were made possible by the Department of Early Childhood (DEC) and the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) in collaboration with the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department (Rec & Park) and SF Children & Nature.

Transformations at Family Connections – Portola and a family childcare home (photos: Maria Durana)

The program’s success is a testament to the power of community. It has brought together unique public and private partnerships and the dedication of hundreds of volunteers through Rebuilding Together SF. Their efforts, combined with in-kind donations of natural materials, including logs and stumps from the Presidio and Golden Gate Park, have transformed these outdoor spaces into vibrant learning environments.

Balancing and exploring on the stump adventure path installed by Rebuilding Together SF volunteers.

The transformed play areas include new plantings and gardens for experiencing nature and inviting pollinators, 40 new trees in addition to logs and tree stumps for climbing, bug hotels, sand and gravel pits, two creeks, mud kitchens, and natural loose parts for creative and imaginative play. The designs were developed with educators and administrators to support educational goals and sustain outdoor learning opportunities over time. In addition to the physical transformations, LIIF provides one year of professional development and technical assistance for all the teachers on best practices in nature-based early childhood education to prepare them for meaningful outdoor learning.

Sand play area at a family childcare home.

Since its launch in 2021, the program has revitalized 21 outdoor play spaces across the city into natural oases for our youngest residents.

The initiative is poised for further growth, with plans to expand into 14 more childcare centers and family child care homes in the coming year. This expansion will continue our mission of nurturing children’s connection with nature and providing safe, enriching, and stimulating settings to develop their skills and curiosity while fostering a love for the outdoors.

“San Francisco continues to invest in families and deliver support for the health and well-being of our children. We know that access to outdoor space is essential to the development and growth of all of children, and that nature promotes creativity and responsibility, and provides an opportunity for kids to play, imagine and just be themselves. I want to thank all of the organizations and volunteers who partnered with the City to connect all of our children to the outdoors,” said Mayor London Breed.

Water play in the running creek of a family childcare home.

“We’re proud of our financial commitment to transformative outdoor enhancements that provide a unique natural haven for young children in child care centers and family child care homes,” said Department of Early Childhood Director Ingrid Mezquita. “We’re thrilled to have partnered with the Children & Nature Collaborative to improve outdoor play spaces and encourage nature-based learning in early education. It’s an amazing opportunity to help our children grow and learn with help from the natural world.”

Caring for strawberries at Friends of St. Francis Child Care Center

“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and community engagement,” said Elizabeth Winograd, ECE Deputy Director at LIIF. “We are proud to have played a role in creating a more natural and healthy environment for young children in San Francisco.”

Preparing the mud for play at Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center

“We are thrilled that Golden Gate Park trees and other materials from our parks have found new life instilling a love of nature in San Francisco’s youngest residents,” said Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Children are natural explorers and nature makes them happier and more resilient. We are proud to be part of SF Children and Nature, a collaborative that works to ensure all City kids have the same opportunity to experience nature every day.”

Program partners celebrated with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The event featured remarks from San Francisco Board Supervisors Myrna Melgar, Rafael Mandelman, Hillary Ronen, Ahsha Safaí, and Connie Chan; it also included General Manager Phil Ginsburg, Department of Early Childhood Director Ingrid Mezquita, and additional notable guests.

Logs from Golden Gate Park and the Presidio were repurposed for play at Friends of St. Francis.

Renovated Sites

Child Care Centers:

  • Family Connections – Portola
  • Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center
  • Kai Ming – Geary
  • Mission Kids
  • Wu Yee Children’s Services – Bayview

Family Child Care Homes:

  • Brilliant Kids FCC
  • FCC Qixia Deng
  • Happy Angels FCC
  • Pasitos FCC
  • Superkids Preschool FCC
Learning to care for plants at Kai Ming – Geary.

Program collaborators:  

  • Low Income Investment Fund  
  • Department of Early Childhood  
  • San Francisco Children & Nature 
  • SF Recreation & Park Department 
  • Rebuilding Together SF  
  • SF Public Library  
  • Presidio Trust  
  • Scientific Art Studio 
  • BASE Landscape Architecture 
  • California Native Plant Society (Yerba Buena Chapter) 
  • Friends of the Urban Forest 
  • Arborist Now  

Finding quiet cozy spaces for reading and imaginative play at Family Connections.
Learning to fly at a family childcare home.

Nature Play Day was a TREE-mendous success!

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Nature Play Day at Heron's Head Park
Heron’s Head Nature Exploration Area

Wow! What a day!!! 

After a three year hiatus, on August 30th, 2022, Nature Play Day returned to the parks. 150 preschoolers and 80 adults from early childhood centers, family child care homes, neighborhood resource centers and SF families came out to Heron’s Head Park to observe wildlife, run an obstacle course, touch worms, read books, make crafts and kites, create with nature, and so much more!  

See event photo gallery here >>

Favorite moments:

Touching animal pelts, seeing the butterflies, getting up close with worms, seeing a variety of books and being able to share this with my son.

Playing by the water and bird watching. There was so much to explore and learn while connecting with nature. The books were a highlight.

My kids absolutely loved crab hunting, but I was really enthused by the obstacle course and the nature play section.

Fifteen organizations under the umbrella of SF Children & Nature contributed staff time and resources, helped spread the word, translated event materials, welcomed attendees, guided groups, facilitated 12 distinct nature-inspired activities, and shared their passion for connecting with the natural world.

Many thanks to our event partners who made Nature Play Day possible:

  • Bayview Family Resource Center Evans Campus (MNC)
  • California Academy of Science
  • Children & Nature Network (National)
  • Edgewood Center for Children and Families
  • FACES Bayview
  • First 5 San Francisco  
  • Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy 
  • KABOOM! 
  • Low Income Investment Fund 
  • Mimi and Peter Haas Fund 
  • Randall Museum 
  • Children’s Council of San Francisco & Healthy Apple Program 
  • SF Public Library
  • SF Rec & Park (EcoCenter, Volunteer, Urban Agriculture, Girls Play Sports, Partnerships) 
  • Tandem Partners in Early Learning 

See you in the Parks and sign up to keep in touch.

Free and low-cost strategies for “Naturing-Up” your outdoor space

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Transforming our Play Space at Stonestown YMCA’s St. Francis

By Erich Wieland, St. Francis Site Supervisor
Photos: Maria Durana

The St. Francis teachers and I have always seen the outdoor play space as a third teacher, and over the past year, we have collaborated extensively on ways to keep children engaged and connected to nature while encouraging exploration and  discovery. Here are some of the things we learned by repurposing what we had and bringing in free or low-cost items. 

A welcoming space 

There’s a mysterious invitation when we approach the gate to our outdoor preschool space. A tall, dark holly tree obscures the view from the sidewalk and prompts folks to want to see more. Once you’re in, the entire space opens up and welcomes you with warm sunshine and cool breeze. A large flowering saliva plant, “Indigo Spires,” is positioned in the corner further draws the eyes inward. It is important to be thoughtful about the approach to your outdoor space and think about ways to welcome participants with visual presentations. 

Repurposing free or low-cost materials 

I am always looking for ways to further connect children to nature. One venue I explore is the free section of Craigslist. You would be surprised at the things that get given away! One person gave away a large amount of lumber which I picked up and brought to the preschool. With a little bit of know-how, I had the children help me cut the wood with a hand-saw, drill the wood with a power drill, and hold the screws as we put together the planter boxes. Now we have three large planter boxes for free! I have also received dirt, sculptures, a piano (too heavy so I couldn’t transport it), and more. 

An old rope

One item that came in handy was a length of rope. The rope had seen better days, but I untied the various knots and washed it in a bucket of water. The willow tree in the center of our space seemed inviting and I felt the potential there for a swing. I tied it off along with a small branch we had onsite and Viola! Ever since, the children have swung their ways to delirious joy. 

Pro Tip

If you are interested in hoisting a swing of your own, I suggest learning a few simple knots. Here are two or three that I always use: square knot, clove hitch, and fisherman’s knot. There are other knots you can use but these are consistent and safe for children. Rope itself is inexpensive at any hardware store and can be used in multitudinous ways. A sturdy stick that is 20-24 inches in length is a solid option for a handle as well. It should be firm and have a weight to it that does not indicate rot. 

Branches 

Branches can also be used to create intimate spaces. Branches that were previously stored on top of the shed were repurposed to create a wood structure on the fence. 

Rocks

Existing stones were used to create a “rock-pile” which is a warm and calming area that also provides opportunities to balance and create. 

Tools 

In the tool corner we have a leaf rake, garden rake, garden hoe, and shovel, all of which are age-appropriate and sized appropriately for young children. There are only two rules young children must follow: no tools above their heads and tools stay in the tool corner. The tools are inspiring to the children because it develops their sense of autonomy and builds their confidence. Most of the students who use the tools end up wanting to assist teachers with sweeping, watering the plants, or moving large objects around the outdoor playspace.  

Mud and dirt

One challenge we seem to always face is that we just don’t have enough dirt. Young children love to play in dirt, and we encourage the students to get dirty and make mud, or whatever their minds want to do. And that I get

Plants! 

Having a green thumb is not that difficult, I promise! If you are thinking of having some plants but are nervous and don’t know what to do, don’t let that hold you back from trying new things! It’s simpler than you might think. All plants need sunshine, water, dirt and air. I noticed that Whole Foods has a very nice selection of plants for sale; these are all very good varieties and cheaper than garden stores. Simply buy the plant, bring it to your preschool, take the plant out of the pot, and stick it into a hole in the ground (a sunny spot and not where children trample). Then make it a habit to water every other day and let the students help you do the watering. Most of your plants will survive, but even if they die, you are still trying something new and the students will learn from this journey. 

One way to boost your plant populations for free is to utilize a method known as propagating. This is essentially cutting a small twig-sized branch off the host plant and inserting the cut end into moist soil.  Cut somewhere just below a leaf and then strip the leaves off the bottom end of your cut stem. Once the cutting is firmed in the soil, trim the leaves back to a couple of little leaves (more leaves on the stem force the plant to focus on photosynthesis rather than putting out roots), put somewhere outside with a little bit of shade and a little bit of sun (think balance). Over the next two weeks keep the soil consistently moist but not too wet and you will start to see new buds form. Some plants do so well with this method of propagation that you can stick the cut stem in water and watch roots grow in a glass. A rose does incredibly well in a glass of water, as well as most of your indoor houseplants.  

Bugs! 

Are you O.K. with bugs? I sure hope so because the students are almost always interested in bugs. We have roly-polies, worms, beetles, earwigs, flies, bees, and yes, spiders. All these invertebrates play a crucial role in our ecosystem and need to be acknowledged by people for the role they play. Young children should be encouraged to explore our connection with insects and discover them in dark and dank places like under the stumps in our “stump dump” or “rock pile.” If you are curious about inviting insects into your outdoor play space, you need to build habitat for them. A pile of branches will suffice, or the bottom of a stump or you can even create a “bug hotel” out of straws or bamboo. Think of establishing an area of your outdoor space to dedicate to bugs; the shadier the better. 

I was so impressed that a group of students had figured out on their own how to leverage large rocks with a 3-ft piece of 2X4 lumber. They used a steel bowl as the fulcrum and levered pretty much all of the large volcanic pieces of basalt we have in our outdoor play space; all this to find bugs like beetles, spiders, centipedes, and other creepy-crawlies. This is a terrific example of student-initiated teamwork that comes from their own desire to explore more and discover whatever they can find. I think this also really points to the importance of having sturdy and durable items in your outdoor space. A solid steel bowl that is 20 inches in diameter will never rust because the students constantly use it. The 2×4 pieces of lumber have been smoothed down and greased by human handlers everyday and are now smooth and glossy. This also leads to a safer outdoor experience because the materials are reliable and strong. The more the students use these items, the safer they are to use. 

Worms

A group of dedicated students spent at least 4 weeks exploring the life cycle of the earthworm. One of the teachers noticed that the students were expressing lots of interest in worms, and despite her own squeamishness she led the students through an in-depth exploration of the unheralded worm. Luckily, I personally have tons of experience with worms as I compost my food waste in my backyard and utilize red wigglers from the local garden shop to make worm castings (or worm poop). I brought in my own worms as well as helped the students find worms in the gopher mounds left around our outdoor play space, and they compared their sizes and colors. We kept a group of worms in a plastic bin in the classroom so that the students could find the worms everyday in the morning, and the teacher recorded their conversations to share with the group during circle time. The students still get excited when they find worms outside, and now they are expert at finding them. 

Creating Habitat

The other day I saw a dragon fly for the first time. I suspected that the insect had discovered our mini-pond that we put together. Quite simply we filled a medium-sized bucket with water and put various cuttings as well cattails from local ponds into it. Often times if you walk by the edge of a pond you will find washed up “rafts” of cattails, lilies, marsh marigold, mint, Egyptian papyrus, and more. All these plants will do extremely well in a bucket of water. This is also excellent habitat for benthic macroinvertebrates like dragonflies and damselflies. The cattails will grow long, tender leaves with a beautiful cotton-style flowerhead that is visually and texturally appealing. The papyrus alike is also visually striking and can be cut and dried for display in the classroom. 

Tidy up

One of the most important things you can do with your outdoor space is to just clean it up.  The teachers were supportive and on-board with the “spring cleaning” that we did in the beginning of the fall. We took everything off and out of the metal sheds and cleaned them vigorously with soap and water. Once the deep cleaning was finished, we noticed how many toys and tools were available that had been put away and forgotten, and how interested the children in these “new” items.  

Loose Parts for Construction 

A combination of natural materials and found objects.

It’s ok if your outdoor space isn’t completely “organic.” For example, we have large waffle blocks that are constructed of plastic. These waffle blocks have been critical over the past 10 months we’ve had them. Their usage is limitless and as open-ended as you could ask for. They’re not made of wood, but they do connect children to nature because the children construct structures on the wood chips and crawl through tunnels or make pathways to run on or hop from. I think these waffle blocks were the best purchase we made for our outdoor play space. 

Bringing the outside in

The teachers at St. Francis have become adept at collecting interesting items from nature and displaying them in the classroom. They dried flower heads, cut branches, collected pods, dried vines, and more, all of which are gathered from our outdoor space. In this, the teachers continue the connection between nature and child even while we are indoors. The large branches are hung from the ceiling with fishing line and the slender branches are placed in large glass vases that have water in the bottom which keep the leaves green for a long time. 

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About Erich

Erich has always been a “green human”and drawn to all things outdoors. During his youth, neighbors would pay him to climb their trees and cut down branches by hand, mow their lawns, weed their gardens, and rake up leaves. His love and passion for being outdoors was encouraged by his parents who turned off the tv and video games! 

Prior to working at the YMCA, Erich worked as a naturalist at an environmental education camp in Northern California, a fisherman in the Gulf of Alaska, and a backpacking guide in the Southwest. He holds BA’s in Environmental Studies and Adventure Education, and MA in Education with an emphasis in Experiential Learning. 

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Learn more about the YMCA’s early childhood programs here.

2021 Highlights

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We are excited to share our 2021 community report with you. As we enter our fifth year of collective action, we take time to celebrate the people and partnerships that made this past year our most impactful yet. 

With 4 new nature exploration areas, 9 preschool play spaces transformed, 430 volunteers, and over 30 local organizations contributing to these efforts, the highlights below are a testament to what collective action can accomplish. 

Thanks for being a part of this movement. Let’s keep working together. 

View 2021 Highlights >>

New outdoor playspace Wander Woods opens at the California Academy of Sciences

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New garden playspace inspires creativity and imaginative play, offering children the opportunity to foster meaningful connections with nature through hands-on discovery.

Photo: Jim Watkins

This winter, the California Academy of Sciences’ East Garden was transformed into a wonderland of discovery with a new hands-on, whimsical outdoor playspace: Wander Woods.

Situated outdoors beneath beautiful old-growth cypress trees overlooking Golden Gate Park, Wander Woods offers multi-sensory discovery and learning opportunities through areas dedicated to crawling, climbing, and other imaginative play activities. Winding pathways take visitors on an exploration of the garden, revealing a hands-on area where guests can build their own den from natural materials, a space for nature-driven creativity and honing fine motor skills, a log tunnel to crawl through, and a hillside nest and perch that provides a thrilling new view of the entire garden.

“Wander Woods will offers hands-on experiences that unleash imaginations and foster a deep connection with nature. This kind of place-based environmental learning is powerful, helping children view themselves as part of, not apart from, the natural world,” said Scott Sampson, Executive Director of the California Academy of Sciences. “Understanding that we are embedded in the places we live is a critical step on the path to regenerate the natural world and ensure a healthy Earth for generations to come.”

Photo: Jim Watkins

Photo: Jim Watkins

To create this unique new space, the Academy partnered with renowned nature-based playspace designers and builders Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds. “It was a true pleasure to design and build this park,” said Adam Bienenstock, Founder and CEO of Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds. “What emerged from the collaborative process is a place for the young and old to find a reprieve from the city to connect to nature and each other. The Academy’s commitment to these connections are not only shown in their investment in creating this space but the ongoing programming of it.”

Constructed from locally-sourced materials like salvaged tree trunks, Wander Woods features a variety of stroller- and wheelchair-accessible playspaces that provide visitors an immersive way to explore the natural world. From observing a bug crawl to balancing on a log, Wander Woods promotes inquiry-based activities that nurture collaboration and complex reasoning. Although Wander Woods is ideal for children up to 12 years of age, guests of all ages can reflect, recharge, and reawaken their connection to nature in the Academy’s newest outdoor space.

In addition to self-directed outdoor play that stretches the body and opens the mind to creative thinking and problem-solving, Wander Woods features pop-up facilitated nature play activities and seasonal public programs.

Learn more >>

Photo: Jim Watkins

‘Green’ Makeovers of Child Care Spaces Connect San Francisco’s Youngest Children to Nature

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Young children at nine San Francisco child care centers and family child care homes are enjoying green outdoor play spaces after community volunteers worked multiple weekends to create natural play spaces that allow children to explore their world in a way that inspires learning, movement and imaginative play. Connecting Children with Nature 2021, a project created by the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) and the Department of Early Childhood in partnership with SF Recreation & Park Department (Rec & Park) and Rebuilding Together SF (RTSF), unveiled the “green” makeovers at a ribbon cutting ceremony in October at a child care center in the Bayview, Wu Yee Children’s Services at Kirkwood. 

Tender Love
Wu Yee Kirkwood
Wu Yee Kirkwood
Wu Yee Kirkwood
FACES Bayview
FACES Bayview
FACES Bayview
Guidry’s Family Child Care
Guidry’s Family Child Care
Valle de los Ninos
Banana Fana

The transformed play areas include new plantings and gardens for experiencing nature, logs and tree stumps clusters for climbing, and loose parts to use in creative & imaginative play.  Wu Yee Children’s Services, an Early Head Start/Head start program, which serves children from birth to 5 from families with incomes below the federal poverty line, is one of four child care centers and five family child care homes that received this transformation. Other centers include FranDelJa Enrichment Center locations in the Bayview and Hunters View and FACES SF in the Bayview. Family child care homes include Banana Fana Preschool, Guidry Early Care and Education Program, both in the Ingleside neighborhood; Las Mañanitas in Westwood Park; Tender Love Childcare in Silver Terrace; and Valle Los Niños in Noe Valley. 

The 2021 Connecting Children with Nature program was launched in March 2021 by LIIF, First 5 SF, and the San Francisco Office of Early Care and Education.  The project brought together a unique partnership with RTSF, Rec and Park, and San Francisco Children and Nature along with hundreds of volunteers and in-kind donations of natural materials. In addition to the physical transformations, LIIF is providing one year of professional development and technical assistance for all the teachers on best practices in nature-based early childhood education to prepare them for meaningful outdoor learning. 

Wu Yee Bayview (photo: Maria Durana)

“We know that access to outdoor space is essential to the development and growth of all of our City’s children. Nature promotes creativity and responsibility, and provides an opportunity for kids to play, imagine and just be themselves. Investing in outdoor space and nature is investing in our children’s mental and physical health. I want to thank all of the wonderful organizations and volunteers who partnered with the City to connect all of our children to the outdoors,” said Mayor London Breed.

“Children in every neighborhood deserve access to nature,” said San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Shamann Walton, who represents District 10. “The Connecting Children to Nature project brings outdoor equity to our youngest children, sparking a love for the natural world and instilling the value of stewardship.”

“Years of research show that health outcomes improve when we invest in early childhood education.  Providing enhanced natural play areas ignite our young children’s imagination and exploration.  The pandemic proved more than ever how vital natural open space is in our lives. I am proud to support this incredibly important initiative and hope to see more natural play spaces across the city,” said District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar. 

“Being outdoors is an important setting for young children’s social-emotional development and self-regulation skills development. The challenges of the past two years have underscored how critical engaging outdoor space and quality child care are to families, the community and our economy. However, many child care facilities, particularly those serving low income children, haven’t had access to the resources needed for really dynamic outdoor spaces,” said Elizabeth Winograd, senior program officer at LIIF.

“Research has shown positive changes in children’s behavior after changes to outdoor spaces coupled with professional development for teachers. LIIF is proud to have provided nine grants to child care providers in San Francisco; with these funds and a partnership with SF Rec and Park and Rebuilding Together and many other local nonprofits. This project is a perfect example of how important community partnerships are in creating a successful program.”   

“We know outdoor play provides opportunities for learning with direct benefits for children. Within a generation, children’s lives have largely moved indoors with a significant loss of freedom to explore the natural world. Research indicates that direct experiences of nature in early childhood contribute to the care for nature across the lifespan. Providing this daily opportunity for our children is monumental to help restore their freedom to explore the natural world,” said Office of Early Care and Education Director Ingrid Mezquita.   

Frandelja Enrichment Center (photo: Maria Durana)

Many of the logs and other natural materials that make up the transformed play areas came from Golden Gate Park. 

“We are thrilled that Golden Gate Park trees and other materials from our parks have found new life instilling a love of nature in San Francisco’s youngest residents,” said Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Children are natural explorers, and nature makes them happier and more resilient. We are proud to be part of SF Children and Nature, a collaborative that works to ensure all city kids have the same opportunity to experience nature every day.”

“We are proud to be part of a project that will bring joy and inspiration to the future generations of our community,” said Mahogany Roland, Rebuilding Together San Francisco’s executive director, “ I’m grateful for the 350 volunteers from Rebuilding Together San Francisco that donated their weekends in order to make this ambitious vision a reality.  Without their skills, expertise, and shared goal of improving our communities, we would not have been able to make this happen.“

 “We are committed to the success of San Francisco’s children and physical surroundings are an important part of every child’s health and development,”  said Wu Yee Children’s Services Executive Director Monica Walters, “Wu Yee Children’s Services believes nothing is more essential than excellent child care and education for all our children, right from the start, and nature is an integral part of their learning. Providing unstructured time to play in a natural environment inspires discovery, exploration, creativity and joy in young children.”

“Children and families in San Francisco need outdoor engagement, and it is part of our mission to provide this space. To the detriment of their health, most children here do not have access to green spaces in their neighborhoods. It is therefore vital to the family child care community to access funding to enhance our green spaces. This funding will improve their programs and guide their children, families and community towards a lifelong connection with nature,” said Monique Guidry,  director of Guidry Early Care and Education Program, a family child care in the Ingleside.  

FACES Bayview (photo: Maria Durana)

SAN FRANCISCO CHILDREN & NATURE

SF Children & Nature is part of the national Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN) initiative and is working to address the disparities in nature access along socioeconomic and racial lines to ensure all children have the opportunity to play, learn and grow in the outdoors.

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(415) 298-7532
info@sfchildrennature.org