Tinkergarten
For Teachers

Teach Tinkergarten in Your Classroom or Community.

Curriculum—Get 10 teacher lesson plans with videos and printables each season.
Training—Develop professionally with on-demand courses and resources.
Community & Support—24x7 access to private Teacher forums and email support.
Marketing—Resources, programs and help to grow your program.
Promotion—Get listed in our directory so families can find your program.
Flexible Structure—Set up your program and fees to match your community needs and personal goals.
Flexible Payment—Pay with a credit card, or have your school, learning center or other entity fund your subscription.

$49/month

First Month Free!

Learn More

Curious about teaching Tinkergarten and want to learn more? Sign up to get a 6-minute video explaining how it works and an invite to join our next live webinar to get your questions answered.

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Current Series

How it works

Curriculum, training and more to teach Tinkergarten in your classroom or community

Lesson plans and printable resources to support your instruction

Tinkergarten supported outreach programs to help you expand your community

Vibrant teacher community with a shared purpose

Free Calendar for Teachers

Receive a free monthly calendar packed with notable nature happenings, holidays events, and DIY activities to inspire learning through outdoor play.

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Teachers Across the Country
Love Tinkergarten

I learned to be more patient and child led in my interactions. I have changed my perspective around how to initiate an idea and let the kids run with it.

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Tinkergarten Teacher

I learned how and when to step back and let my son be himself in certain situations. That was a lesson that I needed so much as a parent. The leader was able to communicate this in such a gentle and generalized way that I was able to step back and see myself. Not only was that a useful lesson, it was life changing.

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Unknown 2

Tinkergarten has taught me so much more about the creativity I’ve lost as I’ve gotten older. I remember when I used to play in the mud and how much fun it was when I was a kid.

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Melissa

I think the learning style fits every personality. There is guidance, but it does not feel pressured, children are able to do the activities but also explore on their own. This was great for my daughter because she is shy and also very independent.

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Andreina

Am I the only one who cried alligator tears when I read through the lesson plan? This is probably the most beautiful and absolutely brilliant way I've ever seen anyone teach kids empathy. Please hug whoever came up with this bout of genius. I can't wait to teach it!

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Tinkergarten Teacher

We learned another way to play with them, to approach nature, and to ask them things like "What do you think? What do you see?" Not so much telling them what they see and what they think.

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Unknown 5

We have enjoyed every minute. Each class I observed how engaged the girls were in the explorations and could tell that they were so immersed that they could've continued happily for much longer. I thank you for creating such a warm positive space for outdoor learning. It was a blast!

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Anna

I would have never thought to set him up with all these activities. I’m so grateful for Tinkergarten. It keeps him busy for the whole day. I leave everything out to play at his leisure.

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Paige

I’m giving my kids a group that they get to call their own. We can’t afford preschool so this is their group of peers. I value them being able to learn from the leader alongside their Tinkergarten classmates.

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Unknown 6

Absolutely LOVE Tinkergarden! I always thought I was doing enough "outdoor" activities with my daughter (2.5yo) but going to Tinkergarten has opened her (and myself) up to so much more! She's shown more respect for our earth too in such a short amount of time.

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Unknown 1

We have been with you guys for awhile and it’s honestly the best part of our daughters day. She plays for hours after watching her tinkergarten anywhere classes. Thank you so much.

Unknown 7

FAQs

What are the learning goals of the Tinkergarten program?
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Tinkergarten’s core program is designed for learners age 1.5 to 8 years old. Our child-led, play-based approach is designed to support a wide range of learners in engaging in deep, meaningful learning.

The curriculum guides learners through play experiences designed to support the development of the following 8 essential skills—all while deepening children’s connection to the natural world we all share. The 8 skills include:
• Communication
• Creativity
• Empathy
• Focus
• Persistence
• Problem Solving
• Sensory Development
• Wellness

Each series of 10 lessons supports the development of one skill and is designed to be completed within a 10-13-week period at whatever frequency works for the teacher and learners.

Every two years, we repeat our 8-skill cycle, allowing learners to revisit core concepts at a more advanced developmental stage and adding new twists to the curriculum to delight teachers and children alike. Visit our How it Works page to learn more about the current and upcoming series of curricula.

Are Teachers paid to teach Tinkergarten?

Tinkergarten teachers are able to run programs in whichever way(s) works best for them, their family and their community. Teachers set the cost of classes, collect fees directly from families and can adjust their own costs and fees to reach their own, personal goals. Tinkergarten has always been a program designed to include and support teachers who have Tinkergarten-aged children in including the children they love.

Tinkergarten for Teachers includes resources and guidance to make it easy to manage the logistics surrounding running your own Tinkergarten programs, covering topics like finding a location, setting up a registration process and policies, collecting payment from families, and more. As a member of the community, you’ll also get to see the different ways teammates bring the program to life—but in truth, the sky’s the limit!

Do Tinkergarten lessons take place outdoors?

We strongly believe that quality outdoor learning can take place in a variety of locations! We can “tinker anywhere” and classes have taken place in local parks, community green spaces, local businesses, libraries, private residences, schools and more. The curriculum is designed to take place outdoors.

To reach all kids, we also design for flexibility, so Tinkergarten lessons can be adapted to use a hybrid indoor/outdoor environment as well. Your Tinkergarten for Teachers subscription will include resources to support you in choosing a location for classes, seeking permission, setting up your teaching area and more.
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How do I sign up?

Tinkergarten for Teachers is a subscription service designed to support you in delivering the Tinkergarten curriculum on an ongoing basis. You can elect to be billed on a monthly basis or one year at a time (and save up to $89 per year!).

Our series curricula are designed to support kids in developing 8 critical skills, and each series highlights one as the “focus skill” through a 10-week learning plan.

Subscribers gain immediate access to resources for the current series including lesson plans, training, and more. Tinkergarten will deliver four, 10-week series and new accompanying resources per year. Please click here for more details about what’s included in a Tinkergarten for Teachers subscription.

Who can sign up?
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Anyone who wants to teach the Tinkergarten program and share the transformative power of outdoor play with families in their community and/or with students in a learning setting like a classroom, forest school, homeschool coop, day care, etc.

Whether or not you have experience teaching in formal learning settings, if you have a passion for nature, feel play in your bones and want to help all children and the grown ups who love them thrive…you can be a wonderful Tinkergarten teacher!

Our community values our shared commitment to serving all families so deeply that we do ask all Tinkergarten Teachers to review, accept and uphold our TG Teacher Agreements in order to participate.
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How can I get my own nature play classes and programs started?
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Tinkergarten for Teachers includes resources and guidance to help you manage the logistics surrounding setting up and running your own Tinkergarten programs. This includes topics like finding a location, setting up a registration process and policies, collecting payment from families, getting insurance and more.

Subscribers can download a Getting Started Checklist to keep track and make the process easier.As a member of the community, you’ll also get to see the different ways teammates bring the program to life—but in truth, the sky’s the limit!

Have more questions?
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Check out the full set of Tinkergarten for Teachers FAQs here.

TinkergartenFor Teachers