Forest School in San Francisco

Where Nature Nurtures Learning

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WHO WE ARE

Greenwood Trail Forest School

An all-outdoor forest school for children ages 2–5 in Golden Gate Park.
We spend our day exploring, climbing, digging, and discovering the natural world through engaging projects and child-led learning.
In small groups, each child is supported to grow at their own pace, building confidence, independence, and a strong connection to the world around them.

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Why Families Choose Us

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We focus on what matters most to families: safety, caring teachers, meaningful learning, and time in nature. Everything we do is built around helping children grow with confidence and curiosity.

Safety Preschool

• Low teacher-to-child ratios for close attention

• CPR-certified staff and daily safety checks

Safety First

• Low teacher-to-child ratios for close attention

• CPR-certified staff and daily safety checks

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CHILD-LED learning

• Learning through play, exploration, and curiosity

• Supports emotional, social, and cognitive growth

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Qualified Teachers

• Warm experienced educators who truly care

• Focus on each child’s growth and individuality

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The Gift of Nature

• Daily outdoor play and real-world experiences

• Builds confidence, creativity, and resilience

• Learning through play, exploration, and curiosity

• Supports emotional, social, and cognitive growth

• Daily outdoor play and real-world experiences

• Builds confidence, creativity, and resilience

• Warm experienced educators who truly care

• Focus on each child’s growth and individuality

CHILD-LED learning

Qualified Teachers

The Gift of Nature

Safety First

our philosophy

A close-up of a green woven pattern, possibly a fabric or textile design.

Children build a connection to the natural world through daily outdoor play, exploration, and discovery.

Group of children dressed in colorful rain jackets and boots playing in a muddy, shallow creek in a forest during autumn.

Child-led learning

Children follow their curiosity, ask questions, and take ownership of their learning through exploration and choice.

Children follow their curiosity, ask questions, and take ownership of their learning through exploration and choice.

Three children playing on a rope bridge in a forest, with two standing and one sitting.

Supported Risk

Children take on small challenges with guidance, building confidence, awareness, and trust in their own abilities

Close-up of a child's bare feet standing on a fallen tree trunk in a grassy outdoor area.

Connection to Nature

Children build a connection to the natural world through daily outdoor play, exploration, and discovery.

Children follow their curiosity, ask questions, and take ownership of their learning through exploration and choice.

Confidence & Resilience

Two children climbing on a large fallen tree in a wooded area, with tall trees and an airplane in the sky in the background.

confidence & resilience

Through new challenges and experiences, children build confidence, resilience, and the courage to keep trying

A young girl in a pink striped raincoat, pink pants, and purple rain boots jumps in a puddle on a wet road on a rainy day.

holistic growth

Through new challenges and experiences, children build confidence, resilience, and the courage to keep trying

Holistic Growth

Child-led learning

connection to nature

Children grow across social, emotional, physical, and cognitive areas through meaningful and engaging experiences

Children take on small challenges with guidance, building confidence, awareness, and trust in their own abilities

Children grow across social, emotional, physical, and cognitive areas through meaningful and engaging experiences

supported risk

Engaging Learning Experience

A rich curriculum with real preparation for kindergarten.

Explore Our Curriculum
Brightwheel logo

One platform for communication, progress, and billing

We value connection and transparency. With Brightwheel, families receive real-time updates, photos, and daily insights, including attendance and nap tracking.

APPLY
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ATTENDANCE

ATTENDANCE

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DAILY PROGRESS & PHOTOS

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COMMUNICATION

COMMUNICATION

Daily check-in/check-out is quick and secure using Brightwheel’s digital system.

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Brightwheel tracks daily attendance and arrival/pick-up times.

Teachers and staff share updates, reminders, and announcements through the app, so you’re always in the loop.

BILLING & PAYMENTS

ENROLLMENT & FORMS

Parents receive updates, notes, and photos of their child’s activities — capturing learning moments, nature play, and special memories throughout the day.

DAILY PROGRESS & PHOTOS

SIGN-IN & SIGN-OUT

Tuition and fees are billed through Brightwheel. You can set up automatic payments or pay directly in the app.

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Enrollment paperwork and required forms are completed and stored securely in Brightwheel.

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BILLING & PAYMENTS

SIGN-IN & SIGN-OUT

ENROLLMENT & FORMS

Meet the Team

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A woman standing outdoors under a large tree on a sunny day with a blue sky and some clouds in the background.

Maddy Sienicki

Lead Teacher

outdoor preschool teacher

Al Voulfson

Maddy is a Certified Lead Teacher with specialized training in Forest School education and holds a B.A. in Environmental Sustainability. With experience in both traditional classrooms and outdoor learning environments, she brings a thoughtful, grounded approach to early childhood education, supporting children through play, exploration, and meaningful outdoor experiences.

Her work is rooted in the belief that nature-based learning builds confidence, resilience, and independence. Maddy is passionate about creating nurturing environments where children feel safe to explore, take risks, and grow at their own pace.

Jayce is an educator and artist originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, now based in San Francisco. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts from Boston University, with a concentration in choreography and movement. With years of experience in education, she is passionate about guiding children with kindness, respect, and empathy while building community and meaningful connections.

Outside of work, Jayce enjoys hiking, camping, practicing yoga, and exploring her interests in botany, herbalism, and dance.

AL is a teacher at Greenwood Trail who recently relocated from Santa Cruz, CA. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and has focused her career on wildlife toxicology and avian and monarch conservation. Al also brings years of experience working with children in a variety of settings and is passionate about nurturing unique connections to land, wildlife, and self through outdoor learning.

Outside of work, Al enjoys birding, long bike adventures, various crafts, and writing.

Teacher

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Jayce Ross

Teacher

Four children standing by a pond, with some kneeling, surrounded by trees and grassy area.
Children playing outdoors on large tree logs in a park, surrounded by trees and blue sky.
A child in a teal jacket and navy pants climbing on a large pile of sticks and logs in a forested area.
Three young children playing in the sand at the beach, with one child digging and the others observing. In golden gate park
A group of young children with backpacks and rain jackets sit on a blanket outdoors, listening to a woman reading a book in a foggy, green forest setting.
Children playing on sand dunes overlooking a beach with waves, distant mountains, and a clear blue sky.
Person working on a cardboard cutout of a face, laying on a blue cutting mat on a wooden table, with children observing, outdoors with leaf-covered ground, wearing gloves and a patterned coat. In golden gate park
Group of children playing outdoors on a grassy field, bending over with their hands on the ground, with trees and a dirt path in the background. In golden gate park
A group of children and an adult are by the edge of a river, some pointing and looking at the water, surrounded by trees and greenery. In golden gate park
Firefighters kneeling and speaking to young children sitting on the grass in front of a fire truck. The fire truck has 'San Francisco Engine Co.' written on the side, and the scene is outdoors with trees and parked cars in the background.
Children sitting inside a canvas teepee tent outdoors on a sunny day.
A group of children and adults having a picnic in a wooded forest, sitting on a tarp with backpacks and lunchboxes, with a woman reading a book to the kids.