Bay Area Bugs Forest School

Our Teachers

Hello! I am Sarah Dee, the founder of Bay Area Bugs Wonderschool. I was inspired to start my own program because it has always been my dream to design my own space where children can blossom and grow. I have over 10 years of experience working with young children. I have been a nanny for a number of years for several families and grown amazing relationships throughout my career. I have my BA in Child and Adolescent Development. I have also done preschool teaching and been in many leadership roles with groups of young children. I enjoy being outdoors as much as possible, especially with children! I believe they not only have so much fun exploring but gain independence, confidence, physical milestones, problem solving skills, social skills among other things. I am very excited to engage and explore with my future students!

Testimonials

“Sarah nannied for our daughter Esme from December 2015 through February 2019. Our daughter was four months old when she started and she immediately became a second mother to her. It was so clear to us that Sarah cared deeply for her as if she was her own. We added another family to the arrangement, who also had a four-month-old, Ori. The three of them were such an incredible match. They really had a special bond right from the start. She really impressed us when they started to transition from babies into small children. She had been so good with them as babies, but she was just as good, if not better with them as small people, learning the ropes of the world. She tackled every day with such excitement for exploring the world with Esme and Ori, it brought inspiration to our family every day. She always came up with great activities, crafts, or silly games to play with them. All while respecting their unique personalities and approach to the world. We were so sad when it was time for Esme to go to preschool and we had to let Sarah go. Even after a year of Sarah not being our nanny, Esme still refers to her as one of her best friends. They have such a strong bond and it’s no doubt due to the fact that Sarah really understands and loves her. Very best, Valerie Miller”

“Sarah was a nanny to our daughter Edie for about a year and it was the most wonderful experience for all of us. I love Sarah’s positivity and confidence. She strikes a great balance between structured order for the day and a sense of lightness and fun. She would always take the girls on long walks to the park or on the bus to a museum or play space, which I thought was wonderful for building their confidence and sense of the world. She encouraged our daughter and the other children in her care to be kind, adventurous, and thoughtful. Edie still asks about Sarah so I know she formed a lot of fond memories of their time together. I would definitely recommended Sarah as a teacher and care giver for anyone looking for a caring and kind day care environment for their child. Xo Zoe”

“Sarah is not a nanny to us, she is a part of our family. She lovingly cared for our son Ori from four months old until he was three years old. Until today, she is still our first call when we need someone to care for him! She is an incredible problem-solver and endlessly optimistic. There was no hurdle or issue that she wasn’t able to navigate with care, ease, and a smile. This included an early morning cross-neighborhood walk to accommodate the schedules of both families, helping out with taking care of a friend’s kid (or two), or thinking up fun activities no matter the weather. She took Ori and his nanny share best friend Esme exploring all over San Francisco by public transportation. To this day, Ori and Esme know how to problem solve independently when they are playing together thanks to Sarah. It gives us such a sense of peace to know that Ori is being cared for by Sarah. Any child would benefit from her love, nurturing, and wisdom!” -Shyla B.

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Philosophy

At Bay Area Bugs, we believe that children learn best when they can freely explore the world around them. East Bay Regional Parks is home to our Forest School Program and we plan to it over the course of the school year. From insect spotting to learning the hydrodynamics of dam building, we strive to help children learn skills that apply in real world situations while also encouraging the development of math, science and literacy skills. In our program, children will feel supported as they engage in problem solving and play based learning all while having fun!

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Location

Bay Area Bugs Wonderschool is located in the beautiful, picturesque Tilden Regional Park.

Once you enroll, we’ll share the exact location of drop off. It is near the nature area and little farm. Children will meet there before they begin their daily adventure!

We’ve designed our care environment with the intention to allow children to explore various developmentally-appropriate activities based on their interests. Some of our favorite activities include nature exploration (for discovering nature and science concepts), music and movement (for physical activity and cultural learning), and sensory play (for spatial awareness and learning through the five senses).

Children will spend all of the day outdoors at the park. Connecting with nature lets children gain deeper knowledge of themselves and the world.

There is ample amount of parking at the drop off location. We may occasionally be at the playground but will always be in the same spot for drop off and pick up

At Bay Area Bugs Wonderschool, we want to provide an enriching environment where children feel free to explore and play.

About our program

We are a full outdoor preschool. We believe there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes :) We think the world provides a great platform for learning and child developmental. We believe that children thrive in nature. Children show great strides in confidence, independence, problem solving and motor skills when they are able to use nature as their learning space. We are open to enrolling 2-2.5 year olds who are semi potty trained (accidents are ok!) and can carry a backpack with their own lunch, water bottle and spare clothes for a few minutes of the day

We also are open to take school aged children or siblings if there is a need due to a school closure – message us for more information.

Admissions

Join the Sarah’s Wonderschool community in four easy steps:

1. Explore our website

We’ve provided information about our philosophies and offerings to help you decide if our program may be right for your family.

2. Tour our program

Come see what makes Sarah’s Wonderschool unique. Please schedule a tour or attend an Open House event.

3. Submit an Enrollment Application

If you would like to enroll, please submit an application. Please note that we require tours for all prospective families. Please do not submit an application if you have not visited the program.

4. Enroll

After reviewing your application, we’ll send an enrollment invitation. Upon accepting your invitation you’ll pay your enrollment fee, fill out enrollment documents and review our Parent Handbook.