Emerging Sprouts Forest School

Our Teachers

Emma Emmerich, Director and Head Teacher

Emma has been working with children for the past 11 years. Her experience varies from working inside Bay Area preschool classrooms for five years, to working outside in the forest with middle schoolers. Creating a forest preschool has been a dream for Emma since she was 18. Her vision is for all children to have access to nature and being outside. By starting small, Emma hopes to help change how our school systems treat children, education, and the exploration of nature within the curriculum.

Emma graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education and Development from San Francisco State University. She is a natural with children, as her energy rarely wanes. She can be found climbing trees and riding bikes in her free time.

Testimonials

“Emma was a senior in high school when I met her. It quickly became apparent that she possessed an understanding beyond her years. Regardless of differences, Emma values all people and continually promotes a sense of justice. This sensibility comes through in her work with children: from children with special needs to suburban children to at-risk youth, Emma works to figure out what each child needs and helps each child feel valued. Emma’s real world depth of understanding of child development has been garnered from both formal education and years of working with a wide range of children in many different contexts. She is patient, constructive and allows children to take appropriate risks. Add in her naturalist skills and understanding of how nature can benefit children and you have a recipe for a forest preschool. I have trusted Emma Emmerich with my own child and wholeheartedly support her efforts to create a forest preschool.”

– Jason Neumann, Certified Interpretive Trainer, Manager and Planner, Public Programs Manager, Cincinnati Nature Center

Philosophy

Emerging Sprouts Forest School sees children as co-creators of their own learning process in the forest environment. It is based on a curriculum that responds to the needs, wants, and interests of the children in the program.

An emergent and co-created curriculum allows for children to explore what interests them most, and creates a “mirror” from the children, environment, and adults working in the program. This “mirror” allows children to feel heard, seen, and welcomed into learning and exploring.

As adults, we listen to the children and reflect back what we hear. The program allows children the space and time to explore and play freely in the forest environment. Children climb and play outside in the elements rain or shine!

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Location

We are located on a 100-acre farm in Castro Valley. Once enrolled, families will receive our location.

We offer tours weekly. Send us a message to join one of our weekly tours! ​

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About our program

At Emerging Sprouts, we believe that children learn best when they feel valued as people. Our curriculum is based off Reggio Emilia’s Emergent Curriculum, which means we tailor our curriculum to the interests of the children in our program. We play in water, sand, soil, and mud on a daily basis. Our materials will change daily and the same activities will not be found day after day. Instead, our activities are based on the interests of the children in the group.

We document learning that is happening in real time. The teachers take notes, pictures, videos and samples of children’s work to show what they are exploring and learning in their own time with their own process. We use this documentation to track the cognitive, physical, and social/emotional development of both individual students and the group. These running documentations will be available to both families and children to see and interact with throughout their time at Emerging Sprouts. This helps parents to understand the question, “What are my children learning?” and it also builds self confidence in children to see their own ideas and work used to show other adults and children what learning is taking place at their preschool.

Admissions

Join the Emerging Sprouts Forest School community in four easy steps:

Step 1.

Thinking about enrollment in our Forest School? Come for a visit! Our tours are scheduled most Mondays/Tuesdays/Wednesdays from 10am-11am through March 2020 click on our Tour link or email at [email protected] to join a tour. If you are interested in enrollment for Fall 2026 attend a tour in order to apply.

Step 2.

Fill out and submit an application to [email protected]

Step 3.

Try it out! Schedule a visit to Emerging Sprouts with your child or attend an Open House. Open Houses are scheduled on weekends, and invitations to enroll in our forest school are sent to families who have attended a tour or Open House.

Step 4.

Acceptance emails for our Fall 2026 classes will be sent before December 2025. ​