Tiny Treks- A GREAT class for toddlers!

This year I found a wonderful class for my preschooler called Tiny Treks. Over the years I've signed up for all the different classes for my son, from swimming, music, co-op preschool, gym class, etc. This is by far the best class I've ever enrolled my son in! If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, or Seattle you are in luck!

Tiny Treks is an outdoor preschool for children 2-3 years old. Actually, in somes areas they have a "family class" that kids from 18 months to 6 years old can attend. It is a mommy-and-me type class that takes place at different parks. Each week you go to a different park (open space preserve, farms, hiking trail, etc.) and have tons of outdoor fun with your child. They incorporate all the elements of preschool- circle time, activities, art, games, snack, songs, but best of all you are outdoors! We have explored so many amazing parks in our area.

Being outdoors is so important for kids. Children learn best by exploring their world around them. The hands-on experiences that children have are so valuable. My son has done so many wonderful things this year with Tiny Treks- touching a banana slug, walking llamas, standing inside a giant redwood tree, wading in creeks, flying a kite, visitng farms, and collecting leaves, acorns, pinecones, just to name a few. I can truly say that he has a love for nature and the outdoors, and I attribute that to this fabulous program.

I also want to say that the teachers are absolutely outstanding. I could not have asked for better teachers for my son. And I have to say, I'm a pretty tough critic since I am an elementary school teacher myself! Our teachers, Ellen Gibson and Anne Furlong, are very patient, loving,and nurturing. They have lots of experience with young children and the outdoors. I have learned a lot from them as well! They encourage the kids learn through exploration (and getting dirty, sometimes wet too!) and teach them to respect and love nature. Also, Pam Worth, who is the director is also great. She returns emails and phone calls very promptly, she attends some of the classes, and you can tell she really values her teachers and the parents in her program.

Tiny Treks is an extremely family friendly program. I enrolled my 3 year old in the fall and was able to bring my infant along to every outing (siblings under 18 months are free). There are very few parent participation classes that allow younger siblings to attend. This allowed me to spend time with both my children. At the beginning of the year you are given an activity guide which gives directions to each site, some background on the park, and other important information (bathrooms, stroller friendly parks, parks with water, and approximate driving time). They have a very fair make-up policy as well. This year they did a "Dad's Day" on a Saturday, so that dad's can participate as well. My husband and son had such a great time together.

Someone once asked me, "Can't you just take your kids hiking to these places on your own?" Yes, you can but there is so much more to the program than just the hiking with your kids. It is a structured class (so you get that "preschool" element), your children are socializing with other kids and you also get to make friends with the other moms. A huge bonus is that the teachers take care of snacks (and it is always a healthy one), so you just have to worry about getting there! Everything is included in the registration - parking fees, entrance fees, food. Knowing everything is being taken care of for you makes the trek out of the house and into nature so much easier!!

Another reason Tiny Treks is so special to me is because my 13 month old took his first steps at our last class. During circle time we were singing and he took several steps on his own. Maybe he was motivated by Teacher Ellen's guitar playing and our singing and dancing, or maybe he was just ready to walk. Now that I think about it, it must be his love for Ellen and Anne, since he was walking towards them and away from me! Either way I am so happy that it happened with so many special friends around. Plus now I have witnesses that he finally can walk!!

I can't praise this class enough. I have worked our schedule so that my son can take the class next year and have told so many of my friends about it. I also plan to attend with my younger son through his preschool years as well!