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Rec and Park highlights expansion of ‘nature exploration’ at 34 childcare sites; managers push for more partnerships
Summary
San Francisco’s Children and Nature Collaborative reported that, since 2021, it has helped transform 34 childcare sites with nature‑based play areas, trained hundreds of educators and engaged hundreds of volunteers to expand outdoor access for young children.
San Francisco’s Children and Nature Collaborative told the Recreation and Park Commission on Sept. 18 that it has developed a citywide program to expand nature‑based play and learning for young children, with a focus on environmental justice communities.
Maria Durana, manager of the San Francisco Children and Nature Collaborative, said the program has completed improvements at 34 childcare sites since 2021 and has delivered professional development to more than 400 educators. The collaborative’s work pairs design and construction of “nature exploration areas” — using locally sourced logs, planting and loose parts — with training that helps childcare providers bring outdoor programming into daily routines.
Durana said the effort prioritizes communities with less access to natural areas and operates with a coalition of roughly 40 partner organizations. Funding and support come from multiple sources, including the Presidio Trust and the Department of Early Childhood (DEC); the YMCA serves as a fiscal sponsor for part‑time staffing to help the initiative scale, presenters said. Durana said the program has mobilized more than 500 volunteers across site projects.
Why it matters: presenters and commissioners described early childhood nature access as a public‑health and equity intervention. Durana summarized research showing that outdoor play supports physical activity, attention and social‑emotional development and said the collaborative aims to ensure every child receives at least one nature program annually.
Examples and next steps: the program showcased completed projects in the Portola and Bayview neighborhoods and the Presidio Tunnel Tops, and described a fast “pop‑up” approach used at some sites to deliver inexpensive, quick installations. The collaborative has also produced a nature‑program catalog for San Francisco Unified School District teachers to make field trips and programs easier to book.
General Manager Phil Ginsberg and multiple commissioners praised the program as a model of cross‑sector partnership. Commissioners asked for continued updates and encouraged staff to keep developing financing and volunteer support to expand the work.
Ending: presenters said the collaborative will continue to scale through partnerships, targeted funding for equity neighborhoods and additional professional development for early‑childhood educators.
