Tiny Trees: Nature Exploration

Join our tiniest of Nature Niños as we explore nature in public, open spaces in Albuquerque or Rio Rancho. 

What is Tiny Trees?

Tiny Trees is a joyful, 100% outdoor program designed for children ages 4–8 to explore, create, and connect with the natural world—and with themselves. Rooted in curiosity and community, each weekly class is centered around hands-on learning and guided play, helping young explorers build a lifelong love for nature.

🌿 Weekly themes spark curiosity with topics like:

• Plant and wildlife ID

• Fishing and archery adventures

• Nature's seasonal changes

• Animals, flowers, bugs, and birds

• Storytelling, movement, and nature-based art

But Tiny Trees is about more than just what we learn—it's about how we grow. Our programming weaves in the social-emotional magic that time in nature brings:
✨ Self-regulation and mindfulness through solo nature journaling
✨ Confidence and independence during free exploration
✨ Communication and empathy through group games and storytelling
✨ Resilience through adventurous play and problem-solving outdoors

Whether your child is climbing a tree, digging in the dirt, or pausing to watch a beetle crawl by, they're learning to trust themselves, build friendships, and feel at home outside.

Classes are led by our Nature Niños team alongside inspiring local partners, creating a safe, vibrant space where every child can grow wild—mind, body, and spirit.

About the Class

Fall 2025 UPDATE: 

We're excited to announce that our Fall 2025 classes will kick off the week of September 1st and run for 15 weeks, with a break during Thanksgiving week (November 24–29) ending December 18th. This semester includes 14 engaging outdoor classes that blend exploration, learning, and connection with the land.

📅 Class schedules and locations will be posted by August 25th, so stay tuned!
We can't wait to grow wild with you this fall!

Important Update on Tuition for the Spring Semester

As we begin the Fall 2025 semester, we want to share that tuition remains a flat rate of $275 per student. We understand that flexibility is important for many families, so we're offering a payment plan option this semester. Families may choose to pay half at registration and the remaining half at the midpoint of the semester.

We are so grateful for the continued support of our Nature Niños community. Your involvement makes it possible for us to offer meaningful, nature-based experiences that connect youth to land, community, and themselves. Thank you for helping us grow this mission together!

If you have any questions about tuition or the payment plan, please feel free to reach out to Sarah Candelaria at sarah@natureninos.org.

A Typical Class Schedule:

• Welcome
• Activity & Story Time
• Nature Exploration Topic
• Art Exploration
• Group Game/Free Exploration
• Depart Location

Notes for Parents:

• The first-class meeting will be a short class introduction. This includes a MANDATORY 30-min introductory session for parents/guardians to meet the instructors and discuss details for the semester.
• Classes will be held in public, open spaces in Albuquerque or Rio Rancho.
• Family Hike Days REQUIRE a parent/guardian to attend the whole class - other siblings may attend as well.
• One volunteer-in-class date is required per registration. A sign-up form will be sent to families two weeks prior to classes starting. 
• Parents/Guardians may stay on-site or drop-off and return for the class duration. If you stay on-site, we provide a designated space where you can encourage your student's autonomous growth while observing the class, meeting other parents, and be present to support your child if needed.

Nature Niños classes are held in various public, open spaces in and around Albuquerque.

Parents are responsible for transportation to and from all events.

Restrooms in Outdoor Spaces

Many outdoor spaces include restroom facilities, but when you get off the beaten path, that situation changes a bit.

Most of our places include access to either a building facility or a port-a-potty with hand sanitizer or handwashing stations. 

In locations that do not have restroom access, Nature Niños provides a sanitary and private portable toilet with a privacy tent, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer. 

For all locations, Nature Niños staff are not allowed to assist your child with restroom duties such as wiping bottoms or buttoning pants. Please dress your child in clothing that they can easily navigate. 

If your child does need this assistance, a parent/guardian MUST be on-site.

Cancellation and Inclement Weather Policy:

Nature Niños is a small, dedicated team. As we work to provide and engage youth in the outdoors, unforeseen circumstances such as illness, emergencies, or other circumstances may affect our team. If our team is unable to coverage in these circumstances to meet our standard teacher-student ratio, a class may need to be cancelled.

Because we are a 100% outdoor program, we plan to have class in all kinds of weather. However, when conditions become hazardous like lightning storms, icy roads, and extremely high winds, this can create undo dangers in our outdoor spaces.

Nature Niños does our best within these factors to host every scheduled class. Refunds will not be distributed for these circumstances affecting class. Should a class need to be cancelled, an instructor will post the notification on the Band app, through email, and our social media pages. Thank you for your understanding.