*Enrollment Opening Mid-January 2026*

The Fledglings program is a half-day drop-off, play-based nature education program for potty-trained children ages 3-6 years old. Enrollment is flexible; families can enroll for classes as late as 1 hour before that day’s class.

2026 Season: January–May and September–December (summer break June–August; Fledglings resumes the week after Labor Day).

When: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays from 9:15-12:45pm (3.5hrs)

Location: Bay Vista Park, St. Petersburg, FL - 7000 4th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 (this is a fully outdoor program)

Bay Vista Park is a scenic gem in St. Pete, offering shaded, green spaces covered in oak trees, waterfront views, bay and shoreline access for shallow water play, and abundant trees that create opportunities for sensory exploration and nature observation. There is also a playground (and bathrooms) on-site, making it perfect for a mix of nature immersion and playground fun!

About the Fledglings Program

The Fledglings program follows forest school principles of emergent, child-led learning. Ms. Lauren and parent volunteers carefully observe children’s interests, allowing nature itself to guide the curriculum through place-based, hands-on experiences.

Thoughtful invitations—such as the mud kitchen, sensory-rich open-ended activities, process art, and practical life invitations—draw from Lauren’s Montessori background and align with common play schemas and developmental milestones of 3–6-year-olds.

Social-emotional learning is woven throughout the daily rhythm and explored intentionally through weekly themes.

OWL believes hands-on nature play naturally exposes children to all domains of learning—physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and creative—supporting holistic development in every child and naturally preparing them for academics later on. 

Forest school research and practice show that regular, unstructured outdoor exploration nurtures physical health and motor skills, deepens curiosity and early scientific thinking, strengthens social and communication abilities, enhances emotional resilience and self‑regulation, and fosters creativity, problem‑solving, and a lifelong love of learning and nature.

In a fast-paced world filled with screens and schedules, OWL’s mission is to guide children back to the magic of unhurried, unstructured play, curiosity, wonder, and connection with nature.

Sample Daily Rhythm: while the day flexes with the group’s interests, it follows a consistent routine to provide children with structure and predictability. 

• 9:15–9:30am: Drop-off & free explore invitations under the oaks

• 9:30–9:40am: Gathering circle – good morning song, story time & snack

• 9:40am–11:45am: Free explore, whether at the shoreline or other parts of the park

• 11:45am-12pm: Lunch & story time

• 12pm-12:30pm: Playground time (the playground offers extra opportunities for physical development, social-emotional learning, and regulation, such as swinging, the monkey bars, etc.) 

• 12:30pm-12:45pm: Wrap-up & goodbye song; invitations under the oaks (pick up location)