Hello community!

As the founder and director of Northeast LA Forest School, a fully outdoor, child-led preschool, I’ve seen firsthand the profound impact that nature-based education has on young learners. Since our founding in 2017, we've grown from 2 to 36 daily spots and added a long day program to better support working families. We are also home to a thriving parent and me educational class for our community’s youngest members. We have gone from having two employees to 16 and serve over 75 families a year. We have become leaders in the advocacy for accessible, nature-centered education in Los Angeles. We are creating the next generation of planet protectors.

However, our community faces challenges. With childcare costs rising by 32% since 2019, many families are struggling to afford quality preschool. To address this, I’m excited to announce our Capital Campaign: Wild Beginnings Fund- a focus on building communications, safety and equity. We are aiming to enhancing the accessibility of our programing and supporting the safe growth of our community .

Communications and safety:

Teacher Professional Development: Expanding training including Wilderness First Aid certification and further nature-based curriculum enhancements like edible plant identification training and fire building safety with kids.
Upgrading Communication Electronics: Improving our technology by acquiring new computers for administrators and up graded walkie-talkies to ensure effective communication and coordination during outdoor activities.

Equity focuses on:

Tuition Support Fund: bolster our fund to provide financial assistance for families in need, ensuring that all children can benefit from our nature-based learning, regardless of their financial circumstances. Grass roots fundraising is on going with events all throughout the year but this campaign will get us well on the road to next years goal of doubling the families we can support, which is a not only our goal but a requirement of our contract with Recreations and Parks of Los Angeles. Additional funds will enable us able to invest and build a more sustainable financial future for the fund.

Your contribution will help us provide transformative, educational nature learning for our students and families, fostering a lifelong connection to Mother Nature.

Finally, as renowned author and educator David Sobel says ““If we want children to love nature, we need to give them a chance to be in nature, to experience it firsthand. When they feel a connection to the earth, they will be more likely to protect it.”

Thank you for considering this opportunity to invest in our children’s future and the future of our beautiful world.

Capital Campaign 2024: Wild Beginnings Fund

By Northeast LA Forest School

Capital Campaign 2024: Wild Beginnings Fund