Welcome to Sunbeam
Earth-Based Learning for the New Generation
West Petaluma, CA
Every child deserves ample time outdoors to play, explore, and move. At Sunbeam Nature School, our mission is to affirm and celebrate each child's innate love of learning, creativity, play, and deep relationship with nature - around us and within us.
We are a working & learning farm where we practice regenerative agriculture to honor the earth and water.
We fight climate change through gardening, shepherding, and community events. We host a year-round co-operative school for children ages 2 to 6 years old and classes and camps for school-age children 4 years old and up.
Enrollment Open for Spring 2025 and Fall 2025!
Our early childhood program for 2-6-year-olds is a license-exempt parent cooperative program co-created with a commitment to child-led learning, directed by an experienced and passionate early childhood educator, Shawna Thompson.
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The Co-op is comprised of 12 children max each day. The mixed-age groups enable older children to mentor younger children; our ratio of 1:4 enables us to differentiate the learning experiences and work in small groups.
We are accepting applications for fall 2025. We have a few spots available for immediate enrollment Spring 2025. Families who enroll will pay a monthly membership to cover supplies, materials, and administrative costs, and each family will be required to work two or three half-day shifts per month with the children, 8:45am - 1:00pm, with an additional monthly or weekly volunteer work requirement.
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We offer an afternoon program that incorporates rest time. Please message us for details.
Nature Camps & Afternoon Classes for ages 4+
Now Enrolling for Spring and Summer 2025: Outdoor play, gardening and farm animals, with co-authored, child-directed creative projects and nature studies, guided by experienced educators!
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Spring camps: March 24-28 and April 7-11
Summer Camps June 9 - July 3 and Aug 4-8
How to Tour
The first step is to apply.
Our typical tour dates are the first and third Fridays of the month and the last Wednesday of the month, 10:00-11:00am.
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RSVP for an upcoming event! Our next event is Spring Play Day, Sunday March 23, 10am-12pm.​
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David Sobel
"What's important is that children have an opportunity to bond with nature, to learn to love it, before being asked to heal its wounds."
Upcoming Events
Family-Inclusive Grief Circle: Gathering against GenocideDate and time is TBDPetaluma