Text reading 'Children's Community Center' on a black background.

Looking for a Forest School in Berkeley?

Come See Why Families Choose CCC.

Many families drawn to forest schools love the idea of kids learning outdoors, exploring freely, and connecting with nature. At Children’s Community Center (CCC), we share those values — even though we’re not a forest school.

CCC is Berkeley’s oldest play-based, parent co-op preschool where children spend time both outdoors and indoors, combining the freedom of exploration with the stability of community, safety, and routine.

A backyard garden with stone pathway, trees, shrubs, and a small slide for children, under a bright blue sky with sunny weather.
Child playing in sandbox area with toys, shaded by a large beige canopy, in a backyard with trees and a wooden fence.
Outdoor playground with two swings, a bench, trees and flowers under a clear blue sky.
Children gardening outdoors, planting in soil with gardening tools, surrounded by green plants and flowers.
Two children playing with a toy fishing game in a yellow plastic tub filled with water outdoors, surrounded by greenery.
Child in pink and red dress, grey pants, and purple rain boots playing with a blue shovel in wet sand with water near a construction or landscaping area.

What We Share with Forest Schools

  • Lots of outdoor time in our big play yard and garden.

  • Child-led exploration through digging, climbing, painting, building, and storytelling.

  • Hands-on learning where children discover through play, not worksheets.

  • Natural independence: Children choose their activities, explore freely, and learn by doing.

Where CCC Goes Beyond Forest Schools

  • Licensed + safety: CCC is a fully licensed preschool, ensuring safe environments with regular audits families can trust.

  • Balance of indoors + outdoors: Kids have the freedom to play outside daily, but also the warmth of classrooms for art, stories, and quieter exploration.

  • Year-round comfort: Rainy days don’t mean canceled learning — children stay engaged no matter the weather.

  • Learning to share and collaborate: With a wide variety of toys, books, and play spaces, children practice taking turns, negotiating, and caring for shared resources.

  • Community at the center: Parents are active partners in the classroom and the school.

Why Families Choose CCC

Forest schools can be magical, but they’re not for everyone. CCC blends the freedom and nature-rich play parents love about forest schools with the structure, safety, social learning, and community support families need.

At CCC, families find:

  • A formal preschool setting with trusted standards and teacher ratios.

  • Outdoor exploration every day plus warm, creative indoor spaces.

  • A chance for kids to learn sharing and collaboration through toys, books, and materials.

  • A strong parent community — families play an active role in the classroom.

  • Affordable tuition options through our sliding-scale model.

  • A legacy of nearly 100 years of play-based learning in Berkeley.

The best of both worlds

Searching for forest school in Berkeley? Come see how CCC’s play-based, co-op preschool gives kids the best of both worlds.

Visit the School