Emerald Heart
a forest school for three to five year olds
At Emerald Heart, we honor and nourish relationships to ourselves, each other and Earth. We value the unique inner landscape of each child and the dynamic landscape of our forest home.
Our place-based nature immersion program is in the Inverness / Point Reyes area of coastal Marin County, California.
We are currently enrolling for fall 2023. Questions? We are happy to speak with you! CONTACT US
Teacher Taira. My son's first preschool experience was with Taira Restar, truly an expert at supporting early childhood.
I'll never forget that my son (aged 3 at the time) would get so overstimulated during free play that he would stand in the middle of the group and scream. How did Taira deal with it? She SAW him in all his intensity and sensitivity--really saw him. She created a plan for him to "help" her prepare snack in a different area BEFORE he melted down. Suddenly school became the safest place for him to be.
I'm not sure who learned more, my son or me.
What a gift Taira is and how fortunate that children get to attend Emerald Heart Forest School with such a master.
Alane Freund, MS, MA, ICHS
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
International Consultant on High Sensitivity
Thank you for all you did for Audrey this past year. I absolutely loved your forest school and all the amazing projects you did--pine cone crafts, scavenger hunts and art work. The words and messages you gave to these children are priceless. They have been given a real gift. I will always remind Audrey to continue the Kindness Club, practice gratitude and learn to recognize and appreciate the beauty and awesomeness of the natural world. I hope our paths cross again.
Rachel Pedemonte, RN
Intentional. Patience. It takes immense patience to be a preschool teacher; your continued investment in me as an individual has given me tenacity in myself.
Ruby Clarke
university student, Taira's former preschool student
You taught me how to be creative in a meaningful way. You taught me to use creative energy to spread ideas and love. You taught me how to have intention.
Camila Killion
artist, college student
member of Girls Night Out, a group that Taira facilitated