Children's Nature Circle at Blue Boat Playground Friday mornings10:00am-12:00pm
Children's Nature Circle
Children's Nature Circle provides regular time for families to gather outdoors.
We connect with the more than human world through songs, stories, and hands-on experiences.
We support one another to get comfortable with all kinds of weather and creatures (even the crawly ones!).
We have fun and make new friends and playmates!
We have fun and make new friends and playmates!
Who is Nature Circle for?
Friday sessions are recommended for young children ages 0-5 and their families or caregivers. Some families join every week. Others drop in occasionally when schedules allow.
What do I bring?
Dress for the weather, and in clothes than can get dirty. This helps us allow children the freedom to explore and have fantastic sensory experiences.
We have a large tarp we sit on together for song circle, but you are welcome to bring your own blanket or a camp chair if you like.
Do you have additional access needs? For example, do you need a chair for sitting, visual cues, or help finding the group meeting place? Please contact me so I can support you.
Where and When Do We Meet?
Friday mornings from 10:00am-12:00pm, on the west lawn of Blue Boat Playground (4414 Lincoln Way, San Francisco, CA 94122).
Additionally, we have Saturday field trips to explore Bay Area ecosystems. These are typically within a 30-40 minute drive.
What Do We Do Together?
1. Warm up with a hands-on sensory activity.
Activities can include water, paint, clay, sand, animal models, and more!
2. Gather for a song circle.
Our song circle includes simple rhymes, songs, and stories related to our local ecosystems.
3. Take an exploration hike.
We allow children to explore at their own pace on this stroller-friendly walk. We venture off the path, and zoom in on our surroundings. It is always optional to join the hike, and always magical!
Some families stay after to play at the playground together.
Who is Nature Circle for?
Sessions are recommended for young children ages 0-5 and their families or caregivers. Some families join as members and come every week. Others drop in occasionally when schedules allow.
Where and When Do We Meet?
Friday mornings from 10:00am-12:00pm, on the west lawn of Blue Boat Playground (4414 Lincoln Way, San Francisco, CA 94122).
Additionally, we have Saturday field trips to explore Bay Area ecosystems. These are typically within a 30-40 minute drive.
What do we do together?
1. Warm up with a hands-on sensory activity.
Activities can include water, paint, clay, sand, animal models, and more!
2. Gather for a song circle.
Our song circle includes simple rhymes, songs, and stories related to our local ecosystems.
3. Take an exploration hike.
We allow children to explore at their own pace on this stroller-friendly walk. We venture off the path, and zoom in on our surroundings. It is always optional to join the hike, and always magical!
How do I join?
Registration for the Fall '26 series will start in August. In addition to registering for a 12 week series, there are a limited number of drop-in sessions available each class. You can register for a drop in class through the booking calendar.
You can join our email list to be alerted when registration opens.
What should I bring?
Dress for the weather, and in clothes than can get dirty. This helps us allow children the freedom to explore and have fantastic sensory experiences.
We have a large tarp we sit on together for song circle, but you are welcome to bring your own blanket or a camp chair if you like.
Do you have additional access needs? For example, do you need a chair for sitting, visual cues, or help finding the group meeting place? Please contact me so I can support you.
Details & How to Join
Who is Nature Circle for?
Sessions are recommended for young children ages 0-5 and their families or caregivers. Some families join as members and come every week. Others drop in occasionally when schedules allow.
Where and When Do We Meet?
Weekly sessions are held Friday mornings from 10:00am-12:00pm, on the west lawn of Blue Boat Playground (4414 Lincoln Way, San Francisco, CA 94122). Additionally, I host one Saturday session per month, plus off-site field trips to explore an ecosystem we have been learning about. These are typically within a 30-40 minute drive.
What Do We Do Together?
1) We warm up with a hands-on sensory activity.
Activities have included: water, paint, clay, sand, animal models, and more!
2) We gather for a song circle with simple rhymes, songs, and stories.
These follow a topic each month related to local ecosystems. For example, birds, tide pools, bugs, chaparral.
3) We go on an exploration hike in the park, beginning at about 11 am.
We allow children to explore at their own pace, and only travel a toddler distance. We often use tools such as hand lenses or pocket guides to help us investigate our surroundings. It is always optional to join the hike, and always magical!
4) Some families stay after to play at the playground together.
How do I Join?
You can drop-in to any single session by selecting a date on our calendar page. You can also become a monthly member if you'd like to attend Nature Circle regularly at lower rates, and you can cancel anytime.
What do I bring?
Dress for the weather, and in clothes than can get dirty. You may want to pack a change of clothes.
Go to "Ready for the Rain" page for more helpful info about how to prepare for different weather.
We have a large tarp we sit on together for song circle, but you are welcome to bring your own blanket or a camp chair if you like.
Bring your usual snacks and water.
Children's Nature Circle Leader
My name is Helen Gilbert Gaus. I grew up in the woods, became an artist and a parent in the city, then followed the call back to nature. It began as just playing outside every day with my daughter. It grew into learning everything I could about forest schools, forest ecology, and CA ecosystems, and eventually turned into leading my own programs.
I live bi-coastally. In 2025 I launched a summer forest school program in Connecticut. I also began leading educator coaching sessions with Children's Council here in San Francisco. My introduction to early childhood education began with my own mother, who was a Montessori teacher. Later I worked at a Reggio preschool and became the song leader for a Waldorf play group.
I am inspired by outdoor emergent curricula and child-led learning, as well as methods of supporting neurodivergent learners. The most important lesson, that I am always relearning as a parent and a teacher, is to recognize when it's time to step back and give them room! I started Children's Nature Circle at Blue Boat playground spring of 2025.
Additionally, I am Red Cross certified in pediatric and adult first aid and CPR, as well as NOLS certified in wilderness first aid. I just earned a certificate as a CT Master Woodland Manager.
What's coming up:
September - November 2026
Regular Friday sessions begin 9/4 and end 11/20 for winter break.
September
Tide Pools & the Beach
Who lives in the pools left behind at low tide? We're so lucky to have amazing tide pools right here in the Bay Area! Let's learn about the sneaky crabs, spiky urchins, multicolored seaweed, and so many more creatures that live on our rocky shores. We will play with water, paint, and sand, sing silly songs, and take a field trip to explore tide pools in person.
October
California Chaparral
There is much more to these scrubby hills than first meets the eye. We'll look closer to find coyotes, rattlesnakes, tarantulas, and lots of other surprising—and maybe a little spooky—animals. We will make animal tracks and hide in burrows, plus take a full moon rise hike.
This month we will also have live animal guests and a Halloween party with special songs and pumpkin carving.
November
Nocturnal Animals
This time of year, when darkness falls early, let's learn about the animals that inhabit the night! This topic can bring a lot of fear fascination for children, and I love to bring out the warm and friendly side of nighttime with mysterious and cuddly critters like the Ceanothus Silk Moth or the Big Brown Bat! We will make instruments, explore dark spaces, and take a bigger field trip to see overwintering monarch butterflies!
This month we will have a Gratitude Celebration and snack potluck on our last class.
See you back in January! We'll start up again 1/8 with a season of wet weather fun! Join us for mushroom and bug hikes, rain painting and mud kitchens, and much more. You won't be stuck inside all winter.