Benefits include better mental health and creativity.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Ten San Francisco child care centers and family child care homes have been transformed into nature-filled oases that inspire learning, movement, and imaginative play. The “green” makeovers, which will benefit over 350 children, were revealed today at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center.
The transformations were made possible by the Connecting Children with Nature program, founded by the Department of Early Childhood (DEC) and the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) in collaboration with the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department (Rec & Park) and SF Children & Nature.
The program’s success is a testament to the power of community. It has brought together unique public and private partnerships and the dedication of hundreds of volunteers through Rebuilding Together SF. Their efforts, combined with in-kind donations of natural materials, including logs and stumps from the Presidio and Golden Gate Park, have transformed these outdoor spaces into vibrant learning environments.
The transformed play areas include new plantings and gardens for experiencing nature and inviting pollinators, 40 new trees in addition to logs and tree stumps for climbing, bug hotels, sand and gravel pits, two creeks, mud kitchens, and natural loose parts for creative and imaginative play. The designs were developed with educators and administrators to support educational goals and sustain outdoor learning opportunities over time. In addition to the physical transformations, LIIF provides one year of professional development and technical assistance for all the teachers on best practices in nature-based early childhood education to prepare them for meaningful outdoor learning.
Since its launch in 2021, the program has revitalized 21 outdoor play spaces across the city into natural oases for our youngest residents.
The initiative is poised for further growth, with plans to expand into 14 more childcare centers and family child care homes in the coming year. This expansion will continue our mission of nurturing children’s connection with nature and providing safe, enriching, and stimulating settings to develop their skills and curiosity while fostering a love for the outdoors.
“San Francisco continues to invest in families and deliver support for the health and well-being of our children. We know that access to outdoor space is essential to the development and growth of all of children, and that nature promotes creativity and responsibility, and provides an opportunity for kids to play, imagine and just be themselves. I want to thank all of the organizations and volunteers who partnered with the City to connect all of our children to the outdoors,” said Mayor London Breed.
“We’re proud of our financial commitment to transformative outdoor enhancements that provide a unique natural haven for young children in child care centers and family child care homes,” said Department of Early Childhood Director Ingrid Mezquita. “We’re thrilled to have partnered with the Children & Nature Collaborative to improve outdoor play spaces and encourage nature-based learning in early education. It’s an amazing opportunity to help our children grow and learn with help from the natural world.”
“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and community engagement,” said Elizabeth Winograd, ECE Deputy Director at LIIF. “We are proud to have played a role in creating a more natural and healthy environment for young children in San Francisco.”
“We are thrilled that Golden Gate Park trees and other materials from our parks have found new life instilling a love of nature in San Francisco’s youngest residents,” said Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “Children are natural explorers and nature makes them happier and more resilient. We are proud to be part of SF Children and Nature, a collaborative that works to ensure all City kids have the same opportunity to experience nature every day.”
The Connecting Children to Nature partners celebrated with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The event featured remarks from San Francisco Board Supervisors Myrna Melgar, Rafael Mandelman, Hillary Ronen, Ahsha Safaí, and Connie Chan; it also included General Manager Phil Ginsburg, Department of Early Childhood Director Ingrid Mezquita, and additional notable guests.
Renovated Sites
Child Care Centers:
- Family Connections – Portola
- Friends of St. Francis Childcare Center
- Kai Ming – Geary
- Mission Kids
- Wu Yee Children’s Services – Bayview
Family Child Care Homes:
- Brilliant Kids FCC
- FCC Qixia Deng
- Happy Angels FCC
- Pasitos FCC
- Superkids Preschool FCC
Photos of the outdoor transformations are available here.