Early Explorers

Preschool at the Santa Barbara Zoo

Early Explorers Preschool

This play-based, early education preschool located in Santa Barbara, CA focuses on teaching through rich outdoor experiences and offers endless possibilities for exploration and discovery. Early Explorers is the first licensed outdoor preschool in California.

Registration

Children ages 3–5 are welcome at Early Explorers Preschool. All students must be toilet-trained.

Fill out the application form below. A non-refundable annual $200 registration fee (per student) is due when you apply. You must be a current Santa Barbara Zoo Member to attend Early Explorers Preschool.

Hours & Fees

Half Day (8:30 AM – noon)
2 days a week, $770/month
3 days a week, $935/month
5 days a week, $1,375/month

Full Day (8:30 AM – 5:00 PM)
2 days a week, $1,075/month
3 days a week, $1,375/month
5 days a week, $1,850/month

More Information

“Not all classrooms have four walls.”

Steve Whewell

Parent Testimonials

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Some things in Santa Barbara feel truly special, and Early Explorers is at the top of our list. We couldn’t imagine a more magical environment for children to learn + play freely than on a seaside bluff overlooking the ocean, with the sounds of lions roaring in the distance.

I am stunned by the physical beauty of the outdoor free play environment + our kids know more about more types of creatures than I could have hoped. We love that movement + fresh air are a natural part of every day, but it’s the pride when our kids announce to others that they go to school at the Zoo that is such an absolutely wonderful foundation for a lifetime love of learning.

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I cannot recommend Early Explorers highly enough. Obviously it’s just so cool to go to school at the Zoo! I can’t believe how much my child has learned, most importantly: to be a kind person. The stellar preschool team has been so important to our family.

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Early Explorers was such a wonderful experience for our family! Our son learned so much—from letters and numbers to exploring animals, the environment, and building social-emotional skills. He made amazing friends and still talks about how much he loved his time there. The teachers were incredible and showed every day how much they cared and were invested in the kids. We’re so grateful for this program!

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My daughter learned so much and was excited to go to school every single day. The teachers are amazing, and we always felt confident leaving our child in their care. I truly cannot recommend the Zoo Preschool enough.

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Our family had an incredible experience at the Zoo Preschool! 10/10 experience. Before this, we were enrolled in another program that had constant teacher turnover and a lot of unnecessary drama. It was such a relief to find a place that felt stable, positive, and genuinely focused on the kids.