Learn more about our circles
How we learn, tend, and gather together. Circles for children, grown-ups, and the spaces in between
organized around seasons, relationship, and care.
For children and families
OUR CIRCLES
Learning happens when children are trusted to direct their own experiences.
We provide the space, the materials, and the care—they bring the questions.
Nests Little & Grown-Up Circle is a nature-based mixed-age group where children and their caregivers explore, play, and grow together outdoors. We meet from 9–11 AM in four seasonal sessions—Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer—each running for eight weeks.
In every session, we nurture a welcoming, joyful space where families can safely explore nature and practice what it means to teach, learn, and play in an anti-racist, anti-bias community. Each class follows a gentle rhythm with circle time, story, snack, and free play, balancing consistency and freedom for both children and caregivers.
Together, we sing, walk, leap, dig, run, sort, observe, smell, track, touch, listen, laugh, taste, tumble, climb, build, and deconstruct. Minds, bodies, and spirits are engaged as we deepen our connection to the land and to one another — discovering what it truly means to care for ourselves, our community, and the world we share.
Program goals
sample rhythm
Program goals
Introduce and practice age appropriate consent-based body awareness and safety skills
Share environmental knowledge amongst a multicultural group
Connect deeply with ourselves and our child(ren) through activities that focus on care, collaboration, and wonder
Build meaningful relationships with one another in a safe, anti-bias environment
About Nests
sample rhythm
9:00–9:15 - Arrival & welcome
9:15–9:45 - Morning circle & Breakfast Club
9:45–10:45 - Play Exploration
10:45–11:00 - Closing Circle
Sample Rhythm:
About Nests
Program goals
Nests
Little & Grown-up Community Circle ·
Caregiver-accompanied
Ages Birth - 9
Register for Spring nests
Designed for children ages 3–10, Sun Gardens invites children to explore who they are (hint: we are all nature!), what lifeforms are living in the park, and how we can care for one another.
Over the course of multiple themed sessions, children will engage in imaginative play, collaborative art projects, multicultural music and dance, and kinship building with nature — all guided by community care principles and an abolitionist, land-honoring approach.
Register for 1 or all 12 Full Day (9AM-3PM) sessions!
Wednesdays – July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, & August 5
Fridays – July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 & August 7
How We Gather:
- We offer plenty of open playtime with water, soil, clay, plant-based art materials, books, musical instruments, and natural, open-ended toys
- We invite children into multicultural dance circles, collaborative games, musical merry-making, and imaginative exploration
- We take treks using tools that help us listen, hear, and understand the life around us including binoculars, compasses, and field guides
- We protect space for children to make their own choices, share their voices, and build trusting relationships with themselves, each other, playworkers and the land
More information
goals & rhythm
what to expect
wHAT IS A PLAY WORKER?
Provide a safe, healthy and consistent space for children to play, learn, and grow
Model and support the practice of age-appropriate body awareness, communication, conflict transformation, and safety skills
Promote multicultural approaches of knowing and being in relationship to the land including through art, histories and cultures, literature, music, dance and more.
Build a culture of care and belonging with one another and all life forms of the park.
Program Goals:
9:00 - 9:15 - Drop-off & Free Play
9:15 - 9:30 - Morning Circle
9:30 - 10:00 - Snack & Bathroom Break
10:00 - 11:15 - Land Exploration & Thematic Invitation
11:15 - 12:00 - Lunch & Bathroom Break
12:00 - 1:00 - Quiet time
1:00 - 2:15 - Story/Dance/Music/Art Invitation
2:15 - 2:30 - Tidy Up
2:30 - 2:45 - Closing Circle
2:45 - 3:00 - Pick-up
Sample Rhythm:
wHAT IS A PLAY WORKER?
what to expect
aBOUT sUN gARDENS cAMP
Some ways you might see children playing and learning in Gardens:
- pretend play scenarios such as animal families or role play with puppets
- building tools and homes
- participating in both independent and collaborative process art projects using myriad rich materials for expression
- family and culture shares
- digging in dirt and puddles; experimenting with water
- making up games and teaching/playing them with others
- singing and dancing together
- reading and telling stories to ignite a lifelong love of literature and storytelling
- hiking; bird-watching and plant identification
- making and serving one another pretend food in the mud kitchen
- preparing, serving, and enjoying daily lunches (then tidying up)
- mark-making and reflection through journaling
- inspiring unique, emergent threads of inquiry that hold deep meaning for children
- laughter and silliness and holding space for all emotions that arise
- mindfulness, movement and breathing exercises to promote self-awareness and presence
- resourceful independent and community problem solving
The play and learning will always be indicative of and authentic to the particular children and group in a given session.
about the playworkers
goals & rhythm
wHAT IS A PLAY WORKER?
aBOUT sUN gARDENS cAMP
Playworkers are there to protect our play space, support children when needed and facilitate a culture of belonging within our community and amongst all life forms.
Playworkers follow the child, learning with and responding to each child's uniqueness in relationship to their cohort.
Some things you will see our playworkers doing are:
• Facilitating a safe and healthy space for children to fully immerse themselves in play
• Co-assessing risks with children
• Modeling listening to our bodies, healthy self-expression and listening to understand one another
• Setting up invitations to thematic exploration using natural elements, ethically sourced multicultural materials, games and resources
• Closely observing children, documenting their interests, questions, play stories, and seeking opportunities to enrich their understanding
• Verbally coaching children through the steps of conflict transformation and repair, only after patiently giving children the space to do it or if the situation has become unsafe
• Intentionally stepping back from their interactions with a child when they have begun to play independently or with other children
• Modeling a lifelong learning ethic by engaging in their own interests and welcoming the children to participate if they express interest
gardens overview
goals & rhythm
aBOUT sUN gARDENS cAMP
what to expect
Meet your dance guide!
We are honored to collaborate with Merly De La Hoz-Cookson, BA — a Colombian-born choreographer and dance instructor named La Reina del Folclor Colombiano in 2005, serving as an ambassador of Colombia’s cultural expression.
She is dedicated to promoting her cultural heritage through the art of movement. Merly integrates Spanish language, music, and heritage-rich movement into playful sessions that align beautifully with our values of relational learning, community, and embodied joy.
Meet your dance guide!
We are honored to collaborate with Merly De La Hoz-Cookson, BA—a Colombian-born choreographer and dance instructor named La Reina del Folclor Colombiano in 2005, serving as an ambassador of Colombia’s cultural expression.
She is dedicated to promoting her cultural heritage through the art of movement. Merly integrates Spanish language, music, and heritage-rich movement into playful sessions that align beautifully with our values of relational learning, community, and embodied joy.
This Community Dance in the Park Circle is designed for all ages but centers the joyful movement and freedom of childhood.
Infants and young children must be accompanied by a caregiver who is invited participate in the dance. Older children who are ready, able, and willing may participate more independently while the caregiver enjoys a nearby walk in the park.
9:00–9:15 Arrival & welcome
9:15–9:45 Morning circle & Breakfast Club
9:45–10:45 Play exploration
10:45–11:00 Closing circle
register now
Sample Rhythm:
About Nests
Program goals
For caregivers and aligned adults
OUR CIRCLES
Caregivers and community members gather to reflect, heal, study, and imagine together. These circles support the inner work required to hold space for children's autonomy and to live in kinship with the land.
COMING SOON
Professional Development Trainings
Brave Nature School offers trainings in consent-based practice upon request. As a part of our commitment to education equity and economic justice, our Equity Model ensures our trainings are accessible to all at different price points.
for nature schools, daycares, early learning programs
inquire now
How can we help you on your journey?
Not sure which program fits, whether membership makes sense, or if BNS is right for your family right now?
Schedule a free orientation call. No commitment, no pressure. Just a conversation.
book an orientation call
Let’s find our way together
🕐 30 minutes
✓ Free · No commitment
🌿 Any family, any situation
