Early Years Nature-Based Discovery Program

PROGRAM DESIGN

This Early Years Discovery Program is a journey of self-discovery, playful exploration of the natural world, and building peer and community connections.

There are two separate Pods, each running for 6 hours, 2 days a week. It is divided into 3 separate Journeys throughout the year; a fall, winter and spring Journey. Families can choose to enrol their child in one, two or all three Journeys. Families can choose to enrol their child in either Pod 1: Golden Acorns or Pod 2: Golden Sprouts (see details below). Children must be fully potty trained prior to starting this program.

Music and movement with Leah Gardner is offered once a week for each pod, in addition to field trips, special guests and much more!

JOURNEYS

2026 FALL JOURNEY

$1710

15 Weeks

September 8 - December 17

2027 WINTER JOURNEY

$1140

10 Weeks

January 4 - March 11

2027 SPRING JOURNEY

$1482

13 Weeks

March 29 - June 24

Pod 1. Golden Acorns

Mondays and Wednesdays
9am- 3pm
Children ages 3-5*
*Child must turn 3 prior to the journey’s start date, and not turn 6 until after the journey’s end date

Pod 2. Golden Sprouts

Tuesdays and Thursdays
9am-3pm
Children ages 3-5*
*Child must turn 3 prior to the journey’s start date, and not turn 6 until after the journey’s end date

Apply Now

“IT TAKES TIME—loose, unstructured dreamtime—to experience nature in a meaningful way.”

— Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods

Location, Location, Location!

All children will be dropped off and picked up at the Town of Golden’s Keith King Memorial Park. There is a large parking lot and a small concession building where the Budding Minds Adventure Leads will be each morning, with big smiles, to greet you and your children. There is so much to discover in this natural and community-built landscape and opportunities for your children to become knowledge keepers and stewards of this place are endless. Alongside their Adventure Lead, the children will explore the forests, trail networks, water channels, marshes and mountains that surround them.

Playful Exploration

The children will participate in diverse, multisensory experiences, where they will be provided opportunities for problem solving, social and emotional development while participating in nature based discovery play.

Our pods will engage in playful exploration demonstrated by investigating the properties of objects, experimenting with action and reaction, cause and effect, while connecting to a deep sense of curiosity.