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Hear from Our Happy Parents
Parents love the unique approach at Waves and Woodlands Forest School in San Diego. They appreciate the focus on nature-based learning and the nurturing environment that encourages children's creativity and curiosity.
Our family has been incredibly fortunate to have Miss Nikki as our son's teacher from the ages of 4-6. She has been such a positive and nurturing presence in his life, and to this day, he absolutely loves learning with her.
Miss Nikki has a special gift for connecting with children. She brings warmth, creativity and structure to everything that she does. She truly sees each child as an individual and supports them in a way that makes them feel confident, capable, and excited to learn. Her classroom has always felt like a safe, joyful, and inspiring place.
Now that Miss Nikki is starting her own school, we couldn't be more thrilled for her and for all of the families who will get to be a part of this new chapter. We know that the environment that she creates will be filled with care, intention, and genuine love for teaching the children. She is one of those rare teachers who makes a lasting difference, and we can't recommend her highly enough.
-The Hammers
Ms. Nikki has a remarkable gift for working with young children. She nurtured my daughter’s curiosity about the outdoors, encouraging her to ask questions, explore how things work, and draw her own conclusions. Through engaging activities, she weaves in reading, writing, and math in ways that feel natural and exciting. Under her guidance, my daughter blossomed—gaining confidence and learning the fundamentals of reading. What truly sets Ms. Nikki apart is her deep understanding of each child’s unique personality and what inspires them. She creates a magical, safe, and supportive classroom where children can truly thrive.
-J. Holloway
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As the lead pre-k teacher, Nikki's approach to education is one of both creativity and flexibility, making her an invaluable part of Holden's educational journey. She has an incredible ability to connect with children, fostering an environment where curiosity and exploration are not just encouraged, but celebrated. Holden thrived in her care, and we saw him develop new skills, gain confidence, and build lasting friendships. What sets Nikki apart is not only her expertise in early childhood education, but her genuine love for the children she teaches. Her passion for fostering a nurturing, nature based learning environment shines through in everything she does. She has a remarkable ability to inspire a sense of wonder and excitement in young children. Nikki is a rare and extraordinary teacher, and any child who has the opportunity to learn from her is truly fortunate.
-R. Rowley Porter
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Waves & Woodlands is truly a gem. Our children are deeply known as individuals, respected, nurtured, and inspired. The program is deeply rooted in nature-based learning, using our local natural spaces as the classroom and curriculum. Our son learns through hands-on exploration, imaginative play, and real-world experiences, developing curiosity, problem-solving skills, and a genuine connection to the environment.
Rain or shine, the kids are outside discovering the seasons, observing plants and animals, building with natural materials, and learning to take thoughtful risks. It has fostered resilience, creativity, and confidence in a way that I truly believe can’t be replicated indoors. The teachers’ balance of gentle structure and child-led exploration allows our son to learn at his own pace and challenge himself, while still feeling supported and guided.
The teachers are absolutely exceptional—patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about childhood education and nature-based learning. They skillfully scaffold learning moments that emerge organically from the children’s interests, helping them build academic curiosity, peer cooperation, and respect for one another and the natural world. Communication with families is thoughtful and consistent, and it’s clear that the teachers view parents as true partners in their child’s growth. The daily pictures and description we receive tell the story of the day through our child’s eyes, and serve as a foundation for dinnertime discussion.
Since joining Waves & Woodlands we’ve seen remarkable growth in our son’s independence, creativity, and social-emotional skills. This program has given our son a strong foundation academically, socially, and environmentally. The dirtier the clothes, the bigger the smiles at “adventure school”! We feel incredibly grateful to be part of such a special community and recommend Waves & Woodlands without hesitation.
- Briana N.