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 support children's payful 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!

What We're Learning

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

Spring

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.

Learn more
Download the Map
Summer

Communication

In our Communication series, we introduce a fun Camp Tinkergarten theme full of sweet rituals that help bolster kids' communication skills, and, each lesson is designed to support a different aspect of communication.

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

Bernadette McGee

Clinical Professional Counselor

Richmond, VA

Stefanie Ikeda

Elementary School
Teacher

San Francisco, CA

Christina Molinaro

Early Childhood & Elementary Educator

Flagstaff, AZ

Bernadette McGee

Clinical Professional Counselor

Richmond, VA

Stefanie Ikeda

Elementary School
Teacher

San Francisco, CA

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:

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:

Wellness

Wellness is the combination of physical and emotional health that kids need to thrive. Kids will move their bodies, cultivate calm and connect with nature—all tools 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

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

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

Hear from Our
TG Community

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

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

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 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 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 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

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

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 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

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

Start Learning with Tinkergarten

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