Is it a children’s museum? A play café? A school? An art studio? A coffee shop?

Not really any of them. But a little bit of all of them.

The Nest is a caregiver-present space that brings together hands-on discovery, thoughtful learning, open-ended play, art and making, and the simple pleasure of slowing down together.

Children are invited to wonder, explore, create, build, and follow their curiosity at their own pace. Caregivers have welcoming, beautiful spaces a place designed for them, too, where they can settle in and stay awhile.

And The Nest never stays quite the same. It changes with the seasons. As new Worlds unfold, materials shift, and familiar spaces offer something new to discover.

It is inspired by nature, built for community, and thoughtfully curated for childhood—and for the grown-ups sharing it.

The Nest was created with children ages 3–8 at its heart, but there’s room here for the whole family.

Our youngest explorers can crawl, toddle, and discover under a caregiver’s close eye, with softer spaces for tummy time and early exploration. Older children might lose themselves in a story, an art invitation, imaginative play, or a building challenge. There are places to move and create, and quiet corners to settle into. Different interests, abilities, and ways of exploring are welcome here.

Families looking for a little more guidance can join a Discovery Session for stories and hands-on exploration or a Wonder Workshop for designing, building, testing, and making.

And The Nest is for caregivers, too. Come with friends, bring a group, or simply come together and see who you meet. Children and their grown-ups are welcome to find their own way of belonging here.

The Nest is tucked into the Sierra foothills in Coarsegold, California, along Highway 41 between Fresno and the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park.

You’ll find us at:
35572 Highway 41
Coarsegold, CA 93614

Whether you’re coming from within the mountain communities, heading up from the Valley, or passing through on your way to Yosemite, we’d love to welcome you in.

The Nest follows a flexible rhythm that changes and grows with the needs of our community.

You can generally find our doors open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00am–2:00pm, and most Saturdays, with a changing mix of Open Nest visits, guided experiences, workshops, and special events.

Hours and experiences may vary from week to week, so I always recommend checking the Calendar before you come. And if you’re ever unsure, call or text me! I’m happy to help you find the right time to visit.

The Nest grew from fourteen years spent learning alongside young children.

As an early childhood educator, I saw again and again what happens when children are given time. Time to stay with an idea, follow a question, make something their own, and learn without being hurried toward the next thing.

I also saw how rare that kind of time was becoming. The Nest grew from a desire to protect more of it.

I wanted to create a place that held onto the best parts of early childhood learning without becoming another school. A place where curiosity could lead, beautiful materials could invite discovery, caregivers could be part of the experience, and families could simply slow down together.

I wanted The Nest to be a reminder to notice the place we live, the rhythm of the seasons, the people around us, and the small wonders we so easily pass by. I wanted it to be a place where families could gather in community and grow a deeper appreciation for the world right outside our doors.

So I built the place I wished existed.

A place to pay attention. To be curious. To know our neighbors. To marvel at something small. To make something together. To remember that these ordinary little moments are often the ones that matter most.

The Nest is still growing, but the idea at its heart is simple:

Childhood is already full of wonder. Sometimes our job is simply to slow down enough to notice it.