Forest School in San Francisco

Building Confident, Kindergarten-Ready Children Through Outdoor Play

Where Nature Nurtures Learning

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WHO WE ARE

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Greenwood Trail Forest School

We are an all-outdoor forest school for children ages 2–5 in Golden Gate Park.

Through hands-on projects, child-led learning, and daily exploration, children build confidence, independence, and a strong connection to nature.

Why Families Choose Us

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 helps 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

A green and white illustrated logo featuring a hand holding a heart with a leaf on top, a small flower with white petals, a green coin, and leaves surrounding the hand and heart.

Qualified Teachers

• Warm experienced educators who truly care

• Focus on each child’s growth and individuality

Illustration of a girl and a boy standing on the ground with plants, holding a sun over their heads, symbolizing nature and happiness.

Child-Led learning

Illustration of a pine tree, sun, and plants with a decorative border in green.

The Gift of Nature

• Learning through play, exploration, and curiosity

• Supports emotional, social, and cognitive growth

• Daily outdoor play and real-world experiences

• Builds confidence, creativity, and resilience

• Learning through play, exploration, and curiosity

• Supports emotional, social, and cognitive growth

Child-Led learning

• Daily outdoor play and real-world experiences

• Builds confidence, creativity, and resilience

The Gift of Nature

Safety First

Qualified Teachers

• Warm experienced educators who truly care

• Focus on each child’s growth and individuality

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

our philosophy

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

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

Child-led learning

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

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

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

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

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

connection to nature

Supported Risk

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

Connection to Nature

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

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

holistic growth

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

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

Confidence & Resilience

Holistic Growth

Child-led learning

supported risk

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

Our Approach to Learning

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

A thoughtful blend of play, hands-on learning, and real preparation for kindergarten.

A thoughtful blend of play, hands-on learning, and real preparation for kindergarten.

Our Approach to Learning

Explore Our Curriculum

One platform for communication, progress, and billing

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

APPLY

Meet the Team

String of green beads or necklaces arranged in a line.
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

Teacher

A woman with short brown hair, wearing sunglasses on her head, smiling outdoors in a sunny park with green trees and grass.

Jayce Ross

Teacher

Kiley Maloney

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.