2x per week

Wed & Fri, 10:30–11:30am PDT

Pacific Community Park, Vancouver, WA

Class Dates

Sept 21 - Nov 15

About the leader

Led by Bethany Whatley

"Hi there! I'm Bethany and I've been an outdoor enthusiast since before I learned to walk and talk...
Read more

Key Details

✓ 9 live class sessions in a local greenspace

✓ Led by an expert Tinkergarten Leader

✓ Videos, activities and resources for learning all week

✓ Proven protocols to keep learning safe

✓ Small class size (up to 15 children)

✓ A seasonal map and Fall 2022 iron-on badge

✓ Parent/guardian attends with child

✓ Mixed-age classes for kids 1.5 to 8 years

Curriculum

Everything our kids learn is filtered through their senses, and each child has a unique sensory system. This Summer, our Seven Senses curriculum is designed to help each child strengthen and balance their senses in the most stimulating and soothing classroom of all—the great outdoors.

Key Details

Season Pricing                                                                        $219.00

Reduction for joining mid-season
‍(5 sessions remain)                                                                  -$89.43

Season fees for location                                                             $9.00

Total for this season                                                               $228.00

Enroll Now

How it Works

Delightful,
Skill-Boosting Curriculum

Over the past decade, we’ve honed our unique approach to help kids become healthy, curious, capable and caring learners.

Nature is the classroom

No matter the setting, every lesson connects us to the natural world. Creatures are our teachers, and mud and sticks our tools.

Irresistible
invitations to play

Each lesson is engineered to engage kids in play that they simply can’t refuse!

Open-ended,
child-led

Kids learn best when they lead the way. We also equip grownups to support children's playful learning.

Learn a Skill,
Earn a Badge

Our curriculum is designed to help kids develop an essential life skill in each series. When kids complete a series, they receive a real, one-of-a-kind skill badge in the mail.
‍
Subscribe to get started anytime, and we’ll help you keep kids learning and earning all 8 badges!

For ParentsFor Teachers

What We're Learning

Explore what kids will learn in our current and upcoming series.

This Season
Next Season
Fall

Wellness

This Fall, we focus on Wellness—that combination of physical, mental and emotional health kids need to thrive. Our playful lessons  ​​help kids develop the language, strategies and habits they can  use to build strong bodies, minds and hearts—what they'll to be and stay well.

Learn more
Download the Map
Winter

Persistence

Persistence is being able to stick with it and push through challenges to reach a goal, learn and grow. Babies are naturally persistent, and we can help kids remain so as they grow if we let them lead and take on challenges, getting chances to learn from both success and failure. 


Learn more
Download the Map

Two Ways to Tinkergarten

You can choose to use Tinkergarten with your own kids or teach it to others. Either way, it's the same expert-designed, research-based and irresistibly fun curriculum!

$49/month

Tinkergarten for Teachers

There are no in-person classes in 97211.
‍Notify me when classes are available.

10 lesson plans + training, resources and
community each series, 4 series per year

Get Tinkergarten for Teachers
$15/month

Tinkergarten Anytime, Anywhere

10 video lesson plans and at-home
resources each series, 4 series per year

Get Tinkergarten Anywhere

Join Our Community of TG Teachers

Tinkergarten teachers share a passion for nature, play and building strong, inclusive learning communities. They bring Tinkergarten experiences to life for families and kids across all 50 states.  Learn more

Ongoing professional learning

Vibrant professional community

Mission-driven, joyful

Christina Molinaro

Early Childhood & Elementary Educator

Flagstaff, AZ

View Bio

Bernadette McGee

Clinical Professional Counselor

Richmond, VA

View Bio

Stefanie Ikeda

Elementary School
Teacher

San Francisco, CA

View Bio

Christina Molinaro

Early Childhood & Elementary Educator

Flagstaff, AZ

Bernadette McGee

Clinical Professional Counselor

Richmond, VA

Stefanie Ikeda

Elementary School
Teacher

San Francisco, CA

Get Tinkergarten for Teachers

What will your child learn at Tinkergarten? 

Tinkergarten equips kids aged 1.5 to 8 with valuable life skills that help them thrive. Kids earn badges when they complete core skills. Explore some of our skills:

Persistence

Persistence is the ability to stick with something, pushing through challenges to reach our goals, learn and grow.
In this series, kids will explore:
  • We often think of persistence and grit together—that capacity to stick with something and adjust to stay on track and see our ideas through.
  • We need to learn to be flexible in our approach in order to persist.
  • Persistence takes great effort. The more we praise effort, the more we reinforce the building blocks of persistence.
  • We often persist when we are curious and personally invested in whatever we are doing. Tapping into kids' curiosity and interests helps them persist!
  • Having a "growth mindset" helps kids take on challenges, persist and learn from however things go.
Buy Now: $49
Buy: $49
Learn more

Communication

Our fun Camp Tinkergarten theme is anchored by sweet rituals and weekly lessons designed to use purposeful, outdoor play to bolster kids' communication—that symphony of skills we use to take in, make sense of and express ideas.
In this series, kids will explore:
  • Communication is taking in, making sense of and sharing out our thoughts and feelings.
  • There are many ways to communicate.
  • The better we can listen, the better we can communicate.
  • Taking turns helps communication flow.
  • Play and conversation about play can help us become strong communicators!
Buy Now: $49
Buy: $49
Learn more

Empathy

We'll help kids build strong roots in empathy, our human superpower. Kids learn to recognize emotions in themselves and others, explore taking another's perspective and discover fun, new ways to care for each other and the planet.
In this series, kids will explore:
Buy Now: $49
Buy: $49
Learn more

Wellness

This Fall, we focus on Wellness—that combination of physical, mental and emotional health kids need to thrive. Our curriculum will provide kids with irresistible invitations to play that ​​help kids develop language, strategies and habits that they can continue to use to build strong bodies, minds and hearts—all tools kids can use to be and stay well.
In this series, kids will explore:
  • Focusing awareness on the present moment
  • Taking risks
  • Embracing change
  • Creating a sense of belonging
  • Practicing gratitude, kindness and joy
Buy Now: $49
Buy: $49
Learn more

Sensory

Everything our kids learn is filtered through their senses, and each child has a unique sensory system. Our curriculum is designed to help each child strengthen and balance their senses in the great outdoors.
In this series, kids will explore:
  • Gathering information through our senses
  • Asking essential questions
  • Focusing attention
  • Fostering each sensory input
  • Activating multiple senses at once
Buy Now: $49
Buy: $49
Learn more

Problem Solving

Playful problem solving now can help kids adjust to a changing environment, navigate key relationships, and contribute to their family, local and broader communities.
In this series, kids will explore:
  • Slowing down and observing
  • Using inquiry while playing
  • Letting explorers take the lead
  • Teaming up when struggles becomes frustrations
  • Enjoying the process of problem solving
Buy Now: $49
Buy: $49
Learn more

Hear from Our
TG Community

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.

‍

Unknown 1

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.

‍

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.

‍

Unknown 5

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

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.

‍

Unknown 2

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.

‍

Unknown 6

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.

‍

Andreina

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!

‍

Anna

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.

‍

Melissa

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.

‍

Paige

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!

‍

Tinkergarten Teacher

Start Learning with Tinkergarten

Get Tinkergarten AnywhereGet Tinkergarten for Teachers
PARENTS/CAREGIVERS
How it WorksTinkergarten AnywhereBlogDIY ActivitiesFAQsTG Gear Store
TEACHERS
How it WorksTinkergarten for TeachersBlogDIY ActivitiesFAQsTG Gear Store
about tinkergarten
About UsMission & ValuesTeamPressCareersContact Us
follow us
connect!
© Copyright 2023 Highlights for Children, Inc. All Rights Reserved  |   Terms of Service  |   Privacy Policy