We ADORE Mighty Bambinis! Our son (4) currently attends and is thriving in this fun-loving, nature-centered program. We've seen his curiosity and joy come alive and every day he looks forward to going to school. Evelyn and her team are incredibly thoughtful about every aspect of the program, focusing on child-led play and social and emotional development support. The teacher to child ratio (1:5) is the best I've seen in Marin and it really shows. 10+ stars if I could! read more

Mighty Bambinis Nature Preschool - Preschools Near Me

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Mighty Bambinis is completely amazing. Such attentive, skilled, and caring teachers, great location, wonderful opportunity for kids to be outside, and perfect, ever changing curriculum responsive to interests of kids. Highly recommended for all kids but especially a great choice for parents considering a TK alternative as there is an academic component but in such a fun way. Evelyn the director is such a wealth of knowledge not just about preschoolers but families in general. Also a great choice for families looking for a bit more community rather than just drop and go. We really enjoyed the camping and family days. read more

We LOVED Mighty Bambinis. My son (age ~4 at the time) and daughter (age 2.5 when she started) both attended this lovely preschool when it was in San Francisco. Evelyn was organized, a great communicator, AND a wonderful, thoughtful, and progressive educator - which is such a fantastic combination in a preschool director! The kids did a ton of creative and age-appropriate activities and came home dirty and tired, just as they should at this age. Evelyn also made a conscious effort to establish community among the families and parents, encouraging play dates and organizing educational events for parents. Happy to answer any additional questions you may have - feel free to reach out! read more

My daughter just started with Mighty Bambinis and I am so impressed with her teachers and the overall setup of the nature preschool. We have raised our daughter almost completely outdoors and couldn't imagine her in an indoor classroom setting. We want her learning and being social in the fresh air where every day is different and full of adventure. Evelyn and her team of teachers couldn't be more wonderful. They have taken amazing care of our girl - bonding with and getting to know her so that she feels comfortable and WANTS to go to school everyday. She loves her teachers and classmate friends. I feel peace of mind knowing she is engaging her senses in a nurturing environment with people who genuinely care about her. Thank you Evelyn and co. I am so grateful for what you offer!!! Wouldn't have it any other way! read more

Mighty Bambinies is the type of preschool you want your kid to experience for the first time. Lots of art, cooking, various building projects, lots of outside time and even hikes. Evelyn is a warm and welcoming person. She genuinely loves kids. She's an educator that always shares her wisdom with parents. She showed us how to best deal with our daughter's tantrums and some other behavioral toddler things that our daughter was going through at the time. If Mighty Bambinies was open in the city, I would send my second child there in a heartbeat! Evelyn is pure gold! If you are able to send your kids to Mighty Bambinies, don't even hesitate! Your child will be so happy there! read more

Forest schools are popular in Scandinavia and quickly growing in the US, and are known for building socio-emotional skills which are the foundation to having happy children who love to learn. So I was thrilled to find this school had opened up in my backyard and quickly signed up my 3yr old son and 4yr old daughter (who is having a PK year). Reggio inspired (with some Waldorf elements), and project and inquiry based, my two kids have come home from their summer camp full of excitement for learning, new knowledge, and with a slew adventurous friends. They keep nature art journals, hike, visit and eat from a community garden, and explore their curiosities. During the year there is also a big focus on parent community (camping, parent education etc) which I'm excited about since it was lacking at our previous school. And Evelyn, the director, has an amazing energy that respects children and implements positive discipline strategies. My kids are already calmer at home. We are excited for the school year!! read more

We met Evelyn a few years ago when her school was in SF. Evelyn is warm, calm, thoughtful, focused, and knowledgeable. She's a confident leader and a true child ally. She really gets kids and enjoys working with them and, in turn, kids adore her. As parents, we wanted to be sure that our child's teachers had a thorough understanding of child development and Evelyn is a true expert in this area. She regularly applies her knowledge of what's developmentally appropriate to structuring her super engaging, inquiry-based curriculum. Her teaching draws from multiple parenting philosophies including RIE, which is a gentle, child-centered, positive parenting philosophy we, as parents, strive to embrace. Evelyn is also very generous with her knowledge and advice and always supported us when we needed guidance outside of school. I'm deeply grateful to have had a chance to meet and work with Evelyn and wish we lived in Marin so we could send our younger kiddo to Evelyn's preschool! Evelyn is a gem. read more

Our son went to Mighty Bambinis in SF starting when he was three. He always enjoyed going there and loved the other kids he met there, one of which he is still going to K with now. It was his first structured environment other than home and he has thrived ever since. Most of that is due to the care, attention and creativity of Evelyn, who builds a very inclusive and interactive environment. I can highly recommend Mighty Bambinis. read more

We had a great experience with Mighty Bambinis. Evelyn was very helpful and knowledgeable, and the registration process was seamless. Our daughter loved the program and came home each day smiling. The teachers are excellent and clearly good at what they do. Would definitely recommend! read more

Evelyn has been awesome for my two kids back when my family was in CA. The outdoor emphasis is awesome as that is what we are continuing for our kids in grade school. Highly recommend this school for any parents and anyone can reach out to me with any questions! read more

This is a dream school, truly. Led by a child whisperer who is grounded in a pedagogy that respects, trusts, listens and follows children, we couldn't imagine a better place for children. read more

I was lucky enough to get an infant spot at Mighty Bambinis when my son was 8 months old. My son has been there for a year now and I have nothing but positive things to say about Evelyn and Mighty Bambinis. All of the caregivers are trained in early childhood education, and they take such care in interacting with the kids. They really focus on emotional intelligence and building confidence. It's been really nice having experts to consult with when developing our own parenting strategies as our son moves into toddlerhood. Evelyn and her team put a lot of thought into designing the curriculum and the play space, which changes regularly. They follow the kid's lead and focus on what they express interest in (recently medieval castles, and presently hospitals/healthcare). Mighty Bambinis has a great outdoor space (tree house, sandbox, garden, climbing structures, etc.), and the kids spend a lot of time outside, which my son loves. There is great communication between Evelyn and the parents- both at drop off/pick up and through an awesome app that sends updates and pictures throughout the day. Evelyn has worked really hard to build a community. Mighty Bambini parents have organized group trips to the zoo, camping trips, and park meet ups. I highly recommend Mighty Bambinis. It is truly and unique and special school. My son has thrived under Evelyn's care. read more

My son (4yo) did 6 weeks of summer camp at Mighty Bambinis and absolutely loved it. He came out with more confidence and a love and respect for nature and the outdoors he didn't have previously. Highly recommend! read more

We feel really lucky to have found Mighty Bambinis. We were a little nervous about picking a school for our son after the pandemic when there was less socialization and group experiences for preschoolers, and Mighty Bambinis turned out to be the perfect place for him. Our son has absolutely grown during his first year at MB and I know that is in large part to the teachers at the school. They are so knowledgeable, calm, reassuring and nurturing. The school provides regular updates on what the children are doing during the school day and seeks to build a community among the families at the school. Evelyn puts a lot of thought into the locations they choose to reside, and I always feel very comfortable in the choice, that they are beautiful, safe, engaging spots. I can see that being outside at forest school really helps to teach children the power of observation and mindfulness and fuels their curiosity - it allows kids to see the beauty in nature and "simple things" which may not actually be that simple. My son regularly surprises me by knowing the name of a bird, animal or insect or sharing something interesting that he learned at school. Thank you Mighty Bambinis! read more

Mighty Bambinis is amazing! My son wants to go on the weekends - grabbing his backpack and heading for the door Saturday mornings. We got to know Evelyn in an outdoor playgroup she ran this past spring through Early Childhood Matters, and we had so much fun and enjoyed Evenyln's approach and philosophy, that we pivoted our preschool plans so my 3 year old could attend Mighty Bambinis a few days a week. All the teachers are wonderful and my son is making so many great friends. It is amazing to see what the kids are capable of when we let them explore. Thank you to Evelyn and MB! read more

Mighty Bambini has been the BEST experience for our sons. Being outside all day with the incredibly caring teaching staff is giving them a sense of adventure and love for the outdoors, along with a lot of practical learning on problem solving and social skills. We are so glad we found this unique school! read more

We are Mighty Bambinis fans for life! Two of our children attended for a year when the school was still in San Francisco (then ages 2 and 4), and we felt so lucky they got to experience the warm, creative, supportive, and stimulating environment Evelyn created. Evelyn is a great communicator and a gifted educator of both children and parents. One thing I loved about Mighty Bambinis was the way in which Evelyn observed each child in her care, documenting with photos and detailed write ups the different projects and growth that emerged in the group. I felt my children were seen and cared for, and they in turn felt safe with Evelyn and loved their time at Mighty Bambinis. read more

Mighty Bambinis is an amazing school, the Director Evelyn really knows how to foster a beautiful, safe and playful environment. Her approach to her school really parallels some of the best parenting methods out there, like stay-listening, play-based learning and laddering from the older children to the younger. In addition Evelyn is very organized and an fantastic communicator. She really understands and relates to the whole child but also can communicate clearly and directly with the parents as well. I highly recommend Might Bambini's, your child will certainly thrive there! read more

If you are a parent considering sending your child to Mighty Bambinis, I strongly encourage you to read this. My interaction with Evelyn Nichols and Mighty Bambinis began in September of 2016. At that time, we were interested in enrolling our son but the program was full day and we only needed a half day. We enrolled in a different preschool that offered a morning program which Evelyn recommended. In early March of 2017, Evelyn contacted me to inquire about our plans for Fall as Mighty Bambinis was transitioning to a half day program. She wrote offering my son a spot for the Fall. I visited Mighty Bambinis again on March 23rd for a playdate with my son and felt that it would be the right place for him. On March 25th, Evelyn wrote to officially offer us a 5-day spot at Mighty Bambinis along with the contact information of current and past families as references. In the following days, she sent a contract which we signed and a request for a deposit. On April 5th, our deposit officially cleared ensuring us a spot for Fall. Over the next couple of months, we communicated about a specific start date for our son, scheduled his transitional playdates and purchased requested supplies for his start date. We received the paperwork and instructions necessary to enroll him. On Tuesday, June 6th at 2:38pm, the day before my son's first transitional playdate at Mighty Bambinis, we received an email about an invitation to a summer welcome brunch for incoming families. That same day, just two hours later, I received this email which reads in part: "I have some bad news. One of our current families who has two kids here was planning to leave, but they have decided to stay enrolled. The school they got accepted to has just told them they will be closing this Fall. While I feel terrible about not having a spot for your son this Fall, it's hard to say no to a current family. I'm so attached to their kids. I put all the kids names in a hat and drew your son's name." It is difficult to find words to express how unprofessional and appalling this behavior is. We committed to Mighty Bambinis and stopped searching for a preschool because Evelyn actively recruited us and ensured us a spot for the Fall. We committed before she hosted an open house to fill her remaining spots and long before a current family decided they wanted to stay. The fact that she would make this decision by placing the kids' names who were enrolled in a hat speaks volumes to her level of judgement. Because of Evelyn's dishonest and unprofessional behavior, our family is now in an impossible situation; almost all schools have ended their enrollment processes for the Fall and we are left without childcare. However, I feel a sense of relief as I would have never wanted my child in the care of someone with Evelyn's lack of judgement. If she can make such an impactful decision by drawing names out of a hat, how can she be trusted with the enormous responsibility of caring for multiple children? read more

MIghty Bambinis has surpassed all of the very high expectations that we had looking for "the perfect" daycare for our 2.5 year old son. He has been enrolled there for about six months and we can see him thriving under the loving eye of Evelyn and her attentive staff. They are so knowledgeable about child development, both book-smart (they know the field of child development well and can talk with parents about it too) and experience-smart (the children can feel the love and competence and it makes them comfortable). You can see that the space they have created as a result helps kids feel safe to be curious to explore the world and interact with each other. The parents/families of MIghty Bambinis are also a tight knit community that is very supportive of one another. There is a lot of email discussion between the parents and enthusiastic attendance at a school camping trip, parties etc. When we joined MIghty Bambinis we wanted a daycare where our son would be cherished and encouraged. We found that we also we welcomed into a community of thoughtful and loving families and our son has a daily experience being cared for in a way that goes beyond our high expectations of what a daycare can do to care for our child! read more

My wife and I looked very diligently into finding a daycare/preschool to help the transition from a nanny share arrangement we had had. Words cannot really do justice to Mighty Bambinis (MB). Evelyn and her dedicated team of teachers have great attention to the smallest details, saving no effort in providing the infants and toddlers with exciting and diverse activities. Noa, our daughter loved it from day one. In addition, Evelyn helped bond the families by arranging potlucks and families get togethers. What I particularly like about MB is the low ratio of teachers to children and I got the distinct feeling that Noa was getting the best care possible. I sincerely feel we were very lucky to find MB after having looked into so many other places and I would very highly recommend it. read more

I feel very fortunate my son was at Mighty Bambinis -- he flourished in so many wonderful and important ways while there. My son started at Mighty Bambinis just after turning 2. From the start (or before, really), Evelyn listened carefully to my comments regarding transition. My son had been at home with me almost entirely until MB. Evelyn's expertise was evident from the start. She responded knowledgeably, directly, and thoughtfully to all my inquiries. She also set up play dates before we started so that my son (and I) were familiar with the environment, people (kids and staff), dog, and routine. This surely helped the smooth transition we experienced. Evelyn and the MB team provide a very nurturing place. The entire MB team is very caring, responsive, and fun too. Given the Reggio-Emilia inspired orientation, they are also flexible and follow what the individual child and group desires (vs strict pre-planned curriculum). For example, when my son was there, the children became interested in the mailman and letters. The children talked with the mailman, visited the local postbox at the end of the street, and even received letters from parents and grandparents (upon Evelyn's communication to family). And the environment really becomes one of the teachers -- I recall my son went on little explorations in the backyard, uncovering and learning about worms, climbing a tree to pick a lemon. Also in tune with the school's philosophy, there is a lot of documentation. I found this priceless. It was evident from the amount of detail that the daily updates (photos, activities, nap, food) took extra time for the staff to complete, but they were so special to receive. Not only did these daily updates provide a substantial view of my son's day, they also served as a launching point for my son to share more about his day. As was our plan from the start, my son "graduated" from Mighty Bambinis shortly after turning 3 to attend a preschool closer to home. It was sad to see my son leave such a caring place for a large and unfamiliar one. Because of the tight-knit MB community, however, we still get together with families who were at MB at the same time. It is heart-warming to think my son (and us, parents) can continue the relationships. In conclusion, I highly recommend Mighty Bambinis without hesitation. It is a place where your child's curiosity is welcomed and valued. It is a place where the staff are flexible, caring, attentive, and knowledgable. It is a special place where your child will surely grow while receiving much attention and love. read more

I'm not sure I can say enough good things about Mighty Bambinis and the experience my son had there. The staff is extremely caring and nurturing. They work closely with parents to ensure each child's needs are met and that the parents are aware of the latest developments with their child. The environment is very accessible for the kids, safe, educational (without it being shoved down the kid's throats) and fun. They constantly have activities for the kids to participate in so things aren't ever stale. Mighty Bambinis was everything we could have hoped for in a daycare and SO MUCH MORE! We were extremely sad to leave Bambinis behind when we moved to the East Bay. So much so, that I shed tears over it! Mighty Bambinis is accepting new applications for May 2016. If you're in search of daycare in SF, you should absolutely check into them further! You'll kick yourself later if you don't! read more

We have had both our boys attend Mighty Bambinis preschool. They are 5 and almost 8 now and I believe that time spent there was really important in building their sense of self in a community and in nature. Evelyn is the director and also teaches. She has an incredible depth of experience working with children. She has an incredible understanding of children and what they need. Though I am not myself in childhood education, I had my older son in multiple different preschools so I was able to see how different places worked. The other places he went were also lovely, but Evelyn's program was calming and at the same time stimulating and self esteem building. The other two teachers, Darby and Rachel, were also amazing with connecting with the children, guiding them, connecting with them, and building a sense of community amongst the children. My older son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when he was 4-years-old. Mighty Bambinis took him in and gave him the individual attention he needed to become self confident, to form friendships, and to navigate the day to day world which he found to be very challenging at the time. Later, with my other son who is not on the spectrum, they did the same thing. They gave him the tools that he needed to be His best self. To cultivate empathy, to be self-confident, and to form positive relationships with his teachers and peers. If you are able to have your child spend time at this school, you will and they will be very happy! We love Mighty Bambinis and cannot say enough about Evelyn, Rachel, and Darby. read more

Mighty Bambinis is a stellar daycare. They're extremely clean, provide organic nutritious meals (My kid eats eggplant there!), have thoughtful crafts and activities. They are also very conscientious and super aware of the childrens' development. The staff are also communicative with the parents, sending updates on a daily basis and text messages as needed. My son came in as a toddler that was not really talking, not self-feeding, needed everything done for him. He's become much more verbal, much more independent, self-feeding and toilet-trained. Evelyn and her staff got him ready for preschool. They are so caring and they made it a point to teach him these skills in a nurturing environment. My family jokes that we have been ruined by Mighty Bambinis. Other childcare providers have a lot to live up to after our experience there. read more

I can't say enough good things about Mighty Bambinis! My 22 month old has been going (on an as-needed basis as I work freelance) for about 3 months now. Since I only take him 3-4 times a month, it's been a little harder for him to adjust than if he were to go on a regular basis. But every time I bring him to Bambinis, Evelyn makes an extra effort to make him calm and comfortable when I leave. She and the rest of the staff are loving, gentle and kind. The kids participate in a number of creative and educational activities throughout the day, playing both inside and out. They are also provided with healthy snacks and meals. At the end of the day, my little guy usually doesn't want to leave because he's had so much fun! We also get a full report on how our little mans' day went, with descriptions of what he did (along with pictures!), how he ate, napped, etc. I love this because it's so hard for me to leave him all day, and knowing how he spent his day (and knowing it was a great one!) really puts my mind at ease. read more

Evelyn is fantastic! She is great with kids and clearly enjoys engaging and teaching them. The food for the kids is super healthy. If you are luckily enough to be able to send your kid here, you won't be sorry. My kid couldn't be happier. read more

My son went to Mighty Bambinis in SF, when he was 4, & we can't recommend Evelyn & Mighty Bambinis highly enough. As an early childhood educator myself, my standards were high, and Evelyn and her staff exceeded them all. Evelyn is professional, knowledgeable, communicative, caring and attentive, and creates inspiring, engaging, age appropriate play spaces and projects for the children, as well as a strong sense of community. The children spent a lot of time outside, both in her yard and on field trips to nearby parks, and hikes every Friday. We loved the focus on nature and outdoor education, in addition to regular cooking, art, building and gardening projects. My son always came home dirty, tired and happy, with lots to talk about. Three years later, he still has many fond, vivid memories of his time at Mighty Bambinis. I leaned a lot from Evelyn as well. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions! read more

I have tried a few different daycares as we've moved a bit and I have to write a review as this one stands out as the best by far. Evelyn and her team treat us like family and are so supportive. They see any issues with my son as an opportunity to learn and grow together. They are so positive and obviously love what they do. I am amazed by the care and attention they give each child. I get a summary every day with photos and they send home arts and crafts that melt my heart! I feel so confident in their care and highly recommend Mighty Bambinis! read more

We were so fortunate to find Evelyn and Mighty Bambinis. At 2 years old my daughter had outgrown our nanny share situation (and our beloved share family moved out of state), but she wasn't quite ready for a large preschool setting. Mighty Bambinis was the perfect place for us. The teacher to child ratio is quite low and my daughter had a wonderful connection to each of her teachers. Evelyn and the rest of the amazing teachers knew exactly what kind of support my daughter needed to grow and learn among her peers. My daughter was there for a year and half and I wish we could've stayed forever. They take a RIE/Reggio approach. My daughter blossomed in the time she was there, becoming more independent, autonomous, comfortable interacting with other children, making great friends and just learning about the world around her. Evelyn puts a great amount of care and attention into every detail of the school - from the daily curriculum and materials, to meals/snacks, to the physical space itself. She provides great support and guidance for various transitions like potty training and even new siblings. There's great communication between parents and the school. They have an amazing app where I'd get photos and short updates of what went on throughout the day at school. It was so much fun to be able to talk about the photos at the end of the day with my daughter. It's a really special community and we've developed wonderful friendships with the families there, as well as with Evelyn and her family. We greatly miss getting to see everyone each morning and evening. I really truly only have the most wonderful things to say about our experience at Mighty Bambinis! read more

Evelyn is wonderful with infants and toddlers!! I met her just before giving birth to my son in December of 2013. She was extremely helpful to me before and after he was born, offering support via her presence and her current experiences with her newly born daughter Noelle. She began watching Brayden for me when he was about 2 months old. Noelle quickly became his best friend and her mom, Evelyn, became his #1 caregiver! She treated him as though he was her own and always made me feel completely comfortable and confident in leaving him with her. Over this past year Brayden has grown to love going to their home to spend time exploring new things, having fun and interacting with with Noelle and their family dog Nina. I feel very lucky to have met Evelyn just before Brayden was born as she has proved to be an asset in his first year's development in addition to helping me with managing to get through my first wonderful year as a new mom! It is also comforting to me that Mighty Bambinis is a small childcare program with a 1:3 ratio. I know my son is getting the attention & supervision he needs while allowing him to socialize and learn with his peers. Lastly, Evelyn is wonderful at communicating throughout the day. Seeing photos & hearing updates about Brayden's daytime adventures makes the time that we're apart go by much faster! I highly recommend Mighty Bambini's childcare! read more

My daughter attended Mighty Bambinis for a year leading up to preschool. It was home away from home and she still talks about her time there. I'm a pediatric OT, and before that was a teacher, so I was very picky about where we chose to send her. I wanted a place that was warm, nurturing, with a good focus on all areas of development and ample outdoor access. The strong emphasis on sensory exploration and the social emotion piece were big wins. Our daughter came into toddlerhood with constant gentle reinforcement on how to interact her peers and it continues to show. Sharing and turn taking was not easy. As her language developed they gave her the words and skills she needed to be a good friend. This has made the preschool transition so much easier. We are expecting a baby and also feel like the exposure our daughter got to younger babies will be super helpful in her transition to becoming a big sister. Evelyn was always very communicative and the daily emails with photos made us feel like we were right there with our daughter as she got to explore so many new things. We will definitely be looking into sending our next child there as well. read more