Nature's Explorers is a Licensed family childcare program in Thousand Oaks, California. We feature an outdoor classroom with a focus on science, nature, and play!
Our Beginning
Nature's Explorers is owned and operated by Anne Hicks-Bleecker and Jenn Greenaway. We founded our program in 2017 with a vision of creating a truly unique early childhood program where we could provide high-quality care directly to children and establish a network of support and information for families and our fellow educators. As professionals, we strive to set the standard for our industry! Our goal is to share our passion for this important heart work.
“This is the real secret of life -- to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”
— Alan Watts
Our Mission
To provide high-quality relationship-based early care and education to children and families in Conejo Valley in a nurturing home setting with an emphasis on nature and play.
Only 9% of infant care programs in the United States are considered to be high quality (Helburn, 1995).
Only 23% of spots available to young children in the state of California are in family childcare homes (Child Care Aware, 2017).
Only 6% of infant spots available in the state of California are in Licensed programs (Child Care Aware, 2017).
For enrollment inquiries, please email natureplaythousandoaks@gmail.com. We spend our business hours actively engaged with the children and do not have free hands or minds to juggle phone calls. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Please note that COVID vaccination is required for enrollment in our program.
