Ventura Wild is an education initiative of Ventura Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our programs aim to rekindle a deep sense of belonging and connection to wild places by nurturing awareness, knowledge, skills and stewardship of the natural world.

Our registration fees cover the cost of running the program and that’s it. Our team of highly experienced and skilled outdoor educators are simply here to share the joy and love of nature while tending and protecting our environment.

The lands we visit are the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Chumash People.

Click here to learn more about Ventura Wild.

Ventura Wild’s Forest Preschool is an early childhood education program that takes place entirely outdoors. Children learn what it means to be a caring community member—living in relationship with the land, plants, animals, and one another. Guided by a strong daily rhythm, children move through their day with a growing sense of belonging and confidence, securely finding their place within the community.

Our days weave together tracking, plant identification and traditional uses, bird language, social-emotional learning, and healthy risk-taking. Through learner-inspired, hands-on experiences in nature, children develop curiosity, autonomy, and self-trust. Along the way, they strengthen language and early literacy skills, deepen their knowledge of the natural world, and build a foundation for a lifelong love of learning.

“We could never have loved the earth so well if we had no childhood in it.”
- George Eliot

Experiential Learning
Forest Preschool is rooted in hands-on, experiential learning. Children actively engage with their environment through sensory experiences, exploration, and reflection. Their natural curiosities spark questions that guide discovery, while time outdoors invites deep wonder and expansive learning. Educators are present to witness this process, support collaboration and communication, and help children build strong interpersonal skills.

Social & Emotional Development
Children are supported in recognizing, expressing, and regulating their emotions in healthy ways. Through daily practice of boundaries, consent, kindness, communication, and body awareness, children develop self-care skills and build respectful relationships with peers and the wider community.

Risk-Taking & Resilience
Children are encouraged to assess and take age-appropriate, calculated risks, strengthening spatial awareness, motor skills, and self-confidence. For example, children learn how to approach tree climbing safely, understanding risks, listening to their bodies, and growing their comfort within clear boundaries. With a 4:1 child-to-instructor ratio, educators are present every step of the way. Early experiences with risk-taking build resilience and sound judgment that children carry throughout their lives.

Deepening a Relationship with Nature
Our program is grounded in nurturing meaningful relationships with the natural world. By observing the same plants, animals, and landscapes through the seasons, children develop a deep sense of belonging, respect, and care for all living things—fostering a lifelong connection to nature.

Ventura Wild Forest Preschool is not a licensed or accredited preschool, as preschool licensing in California is based on a permanent building or indoor facility. Because our program is entirely outdoors, we operate as a “program” rather than a “school.” While Forest Preschools are now accredited in Washington State, California has not yet established a comparable accreditation process.

That said, Ventura Wild is led by highly qualified instructors and grounded in clearly defined best-practice standards for nature-based early childhood education and social-emotional development. We continuously seek out and apply current research and internationally recognized practices in the field, and our staff are deeply committed to excellence, reflected in the thoughtful, enriching experiences children have with us each day.

9:00–9:10 | Arrival & Gentle Transition
Staff warmly welcome each child, supporting the transition into the day with a hand to hold, a familiar game, or quiet connection as children arrive and settle in.

9:10–9:30 | Opening Activity
A playful, often movement-based activity or game to awaken bodies, build confidence, and foster group connection.

9:30–9:45 | Seasonal Song Circle
Through seasonal songs and intentional movement, we support all areas of development while creating rhythm within our day and throughout the year. Singing together strengthens social bonds, supports self-regulation, and nurtures a sense of belonging and community.

9:45–10:00 | Bathroom Break & Handwashing

10:00–10:30 | Community Circle & Snack
We gather to sing, light our candle, and share tea and snack together. Children practice caring for themselves and one another, passing cups and plates, sharing gratitude, and engaging in meaningful conversation, while honoring the idea that the community is as important as each individual.

10:30–11:30 | Child-Led Free Play & Exploration
Children engage in open-ended, self-directed play with an optional art or handwork invitation. Adults model creative processes, often inspiring children to observe, participate, or explore materials in their own way. Natural materials encourage curiosity, imagination, and process-based learning.

11:30–12:00 | Bathroom, Lunch & Storytelling
We refuel our bodies while listening to oral stories or shared read-alouds, creating a calm and nourishing transition in the day.

12:00–12:45 | Open Nature Exploration
Children explore, often including supervised creek or river play where available. These spaces support physical development, curiosity, and deep connection to place as children encounter birds, tadpoles, frogs, turtles, and more.

12:45–1:00 | Reflection & Closing Circle
A gentle pause to reflect on our day together, offering a moment of inward focus before transitioning home.

1:00 | Pick-Up

Though we maintain core routines to create familiarity, we allow great flexibility within our ‘schedule’ to allow space for creativity and following spontaneous moments in nature.

Pricing is by semester. Payment plans and scholarships are available for all of our programs.

Fall 2026 Semester: August 31 - December 18, 2026 (14 weeks)

• 2 days per week = $2250 per semester

• 3 days per week = $3375 per semester

• 4 days per week = $4500 per semester

Spring 2027 Semester: January 4 - May 28, 2027 (18 weeks)

• 2 days per week = $2800 per semester

• 3 days per week = $4200 per semester

• 4 days per week = $5600 per semester

Charter Funds are accepted from various affiliated charter schools. Click here for details.

Your child must be at least 3 years of age by the first day of your program. The program is best suited for 3 – 4.5 year olds, with those 4.5 year olds turning 5 during our ‘school’ year.

Ventura Wild offers homeschool and after school programs for those who have aged out of our preschool offerings. See our homeschool and after school offerings here

Your child needs to be potty trained prior to beginning program with us. Minor assistance and occasional accidents are OK. We practice environmentally conscious nature pees/poos and there is also a public restroom on location, where we provide toilet seat covers and toddler seats.