Outdoor Preschool
What is Nature School?
Nature school, or Forest School, is an early childhood education completely based in the outdoors. The curriculum is emergent and inspired by the curiosity and interest of the child, while being centered in nature. Children are encouraged to explore, take risks and create a lifelong love of learning alongside the gentle and nurturing hands of the teachers.
Sweet Mountaintop Nature Preschool Program is focused on the growth and development of the child as a whole, and offers support through this journey with play and exploration. Through our program, children develop a strong sense of self, sense of community and a love for the natural world around them. With these connections, we foster the growth of independence, resilience and confidence- the pillars of a compassionate and curious lifelong learner. Our program is for kids ages 2.5 - 5 years old.
Location
Sweet Mountaintop Farm is located just outside of Carpinteria, CA on Rincon Mountain. The property is family owned and operated as a working everlasting flower/medicinal herb farm. The property is home to Mary Gonzalez, Rob Peed, and their son Orion- as well as dogs, chickens, goats and a variety of native plants and animals.
Gentle Daily Rhythm
9 AM: Morning greetings & garden exploration
9:45 AM: Morning Mindfulness and tea
9:50 AM: Circle time
10 AM: Snack time
10:15 AM: Garden exploration
11 AM: Arts & crafts
12 PM: Story time & lunch
12:15 PM: Garden exploration
12:45 PM: Goodbye circle
1 PM: Departures
(*1PM-4PM Aftercare optional)
Fall Session
August 25th 2025 - December 19th 2025 (16 week program)
(No programs September 1st, November 24th-28th)
Monday - Friday
9am-1pm
(after care option 1-4pm)
Price per session:
1 day per week (Fridays only) - $1,220
2 days per week - $2,300
3 days per week - $3,260
4 days per week - $4,080
5 days per week - $4,760
Licensing and Accreditation
This is not a licensed or accredited preschool, as existing regulations only apply to indoor childcare facilities. Our Nature Preschool is thus a “program” and not a “school”. Forest/Nature schools now have a path to accreditation in Washington State, California does not yet have institutional oversight of outdoor education programs.
Sweet Mountaintop Nature Preschool has highly experienced and qualified instructors and clearly defined best practice standards in the field of nature based early childhood education and social emotional development.
How to Register
If you are interested in enrolling for Sweet Mountaintop Nature School please fill out this questionnaire.
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out - smtnatureschool@gmail.com
Meet our Instructors
Emma Leach
Lead Instructor
"I am a Lompoc native, now residing in the mountains outside of Carpinteria. I am a passionate naturalist and educator with a long-standing background in a variety of childcare settings. I have found my calling working with the preschool age in my time as a lead teacher, specifically with ages 2-5. I firmly believe that children are strong, capable and bright members of our society and should be respectfully treated as such. My philosophy is that now more than ever, immersion in nature encourages children to connect more deeply with themselves, their communities and the way in which they move along the earth. With warm and loving guidance, this type of learning fosters incredible growth at such a crucial developmental period and can support a lifetime of learning. My philosophies align with that of the Waldorf and Forest school ways of learning- as developed in my time as a Forest School teacher. By working with each individual child to meet them where they are at and address their individual interests, needs, and goals, I am able to foster strong relationships that encourage steady growth in all developmental aspects."
Heron Collins
Assistant Teacher
"I grew up on the beaches and mountains of the California coast, residing in the small town of Carpinteria for the majority of my life. I attended the Waldorf school of Santa Barbara for grades 5th-8th, before this having homeschooled in the marshes of Carpinteria, as well as the parks and wilderness of Santa Barbara County. I then boarded for all four years of high school at Midland in Los Olivos California, where I learned how to work on the ranch’s farm, as well as training and riding with the school’s horses and backpacking in the 2,860 acres that makes up Midland’s campus. Having just finished up two associates degrees at Santa Barbara City College in both Art History and Liberal Arts, I plan to apply this knowledge in ways I can share with sweet budding minds here at Sweet Mountaintop school. I believe that nature at this age is the most profound way of creating a space for imagination to flourish as well as being a grounded environment for teaching."
Kahlil Aguilar
Assistant teacher and fill-in lead teacher
"I grew up on the coast in Carpinteria. I attended the Waldorf School of Santa Barbara for ten years and graduated high school through a homeschool program. I am a big time outdoor craftsman and most enjoy creating things like wooden tools, bows and arrows, herbal remedies, growing food, and learning other bushcraft skills. I’ve always loved teaching, and have volunteered the last two years at the Waldorf School of Santa Barbara, helping to teach games classes and woodworking to grades 1st through 8th. I have also been a head counselor at The Orca Camp, a Waldorf inspired beach camp, for the past four summers. It brings me joy to see kids grow, running and playing with smiles on their faces. I believe that nature is it’s own teacher, and we as teachers are only here to help guide and nurture children. I am really excited to be a part of Sweet Mountaintop school and I look forward to being a part of this community."
Angie Ouelette
Assistant teacher and fill-in lead teacher
"I was born and raised in Santa Barbara and wandered around the west a bit before I found myself drawn back to this enchanting coastline. I received a BA in psychology at San Diego State and worked with mothers and their children in residential treatment before I found myself falling in love with growing food and plant medicine. I studied permaculture in Sebastopol and enjoyed working the land growing organic produce and herbs. I finally landed a dream job back home in Santa Barbara teaching TK-8th students how to care for the Earth and each other. Over the last 2 years I have been enjoying sharing this passion with my toddler and watching his love for the garden and the outdoors grow. I have seen firsthand how important child-centered and play-based learning is at his age and have been exploring what that looks like with my son and his peers at our cooperative preschool. This is such a magical time in these tiny humans' lives and I find so much delight in holding space for them to learn and grow in a safe and beautiful environment."