Growing curious minds in the city
Sparrows and Sprouts works to cultivate children's love of nature and themselves as a part of it. We offer urban nature study, sensory play, art, and mindfulness classes for children, ages 2 and up and their families. Our classes aim to follow the natural curiosity and questions of the children. We also create one-of-a-kind nature, science, and creative birthday experiences, and programs for schools, scout troops, summer camps, and libraries. Sparrows and Sprouts has been recognized as a 2024 Philadelphia Family Favorite for nature education.
Little Sprouts Nature Classes
Ages 2–5 with a caregiver | 4-week outdoor series
Little Sprouts is a joyful, hands-on outdoor nature class for toddlers and preschoolers. Held at FDR Park, each session invites children (and their grown-ups) to slow down, explore, and connect with the natural world right here in our South Philly.
Each class follows a gentle, predictable rhythm:
• A simple seasonal nature theme (pond life, trees, birds, bugs, and more)
• An age-appropriate craft or art activity (more process than product oriented)
• A circle time with story, songs and fingerplays
• Games, scavenger hunt, or exploration in the park (usually about 30 minutes)
• Closing circle to reflect and connect
Little Sprouts focuses on nature we can directly experience — logs, lakes, leaves, mud, and living things we can observe together. There is no “right way” to participate. Curiosity leads the way.
Designed for ages 2–5 with a caregiver present. Expect messy hands, big smiles, and happily tired kids.
Come grow with us.
Little Sprouts Nature Classes
Where: FDR Park, South Philly
When: Tuesdays at 5pm-6pm (session 1 only) or
Thursdays at 10am-11am or
Fridays at 2pm-3pm
Dates: Fall Session 1 - September 22 - October 23
Fall Session 2 - October 27 - November 20
Cost: $72 for 4-week session, or $20 per individual class, sibling discount 20%
Fall 1
September 22/24/25 - Migration
Sept. 29/Oct. 1/2 - Under a Log
October 6/8/9 - no class
October 13/15/16 - Acorns & Seeds
October 20/22/23 - Squirrels
Fall 2
October 29/30 - Bats
November 5/6 - Leaves
November 12/13 - Mushrooms
November 19/20 - Animals Preparing for Winter
Wild Wonders Playgroup
Ages 2–5 with a caregiver | 4-week indoor series
Wild Wonders is an indoor, hands-on nature class designed for curious young children and their grown-ups. While Little Sprouts focuses on the nature we can experience right here in Philly, Wild Wonders explores the wider world — from the deep ocean to the Arctic, deserts, rainforests, and beyond.
Each week centers around a specific nature theme and follows a predictable, engaging rhythm:
• A circle time with story, songs, and fingerplays
• Group movement and themed games
• Sensory exploration and free play time
• A snack we prepare together
• A process art activity
• Closing circle to reflect and connect
Classes are designed to spark imagination while grounding children in real scientific concepts. Through play, children build social skills, confidence, and a sense of wonder about the natural world. This 2-hour class allows time to settle in, explore deeply, and connect with peers. Designed for ages 2–5 with a caregiver present.
Come discover the wider world with us.
Wild Wonders Playgroup
Where: The Dandelion Project, 9th and Reed Streets, South Philly
When: Wednesdays, 10am-12pm
Dates: Fall Session 1 - October 7-28
Fall Session 2 - November 4 - December 9
(no class 11/18 or 11/25)
Cost: $140 for 4-week session, or $40 per individual class, sibling discount 20%
Session 1 - Hidden Worlds
October 7 - Underground Animals
October 14 - Deep Ocean Creatures
October 21 - Tree Canopy Animals
October 28 - Nocturnal Animals
Session 2 - Animal Engineers
November 4 - Beavers & Dams
November 11 - Animal Homes
December 2 - Coral Reefs
December 9 - Spider Architects
NEW! Junior Naturalists
Ages 6-9 with a caregiver | 4-week outdoor series
Did your child love Little Sprouts but is ready to dig a little deeper? Junior Naturalists brings the hands-on nature exploration of Little Sprouts to older kids, with more investigation, discovery, and scientific thinking.
Each week, we’ll start with a question about the natural world and explore FDR Park to investigate. Junior Naturalists will make predictions and hypotheses, observe closely, gather evidence, record their findings, and use what they discover to draw conclusions—and come up with new questions.
Along the way, we might examine specimens, use magnifying glasses and other scientific tools, search for signs of wildlife, identify plants and animals, take measurements, conduct simple experiments, or sketch and write in nature journals.
There won’t always be one “right” answer. Kids will be encouraged to notice the unexpected, follow their curiosity, and think like scientists and naturalists.
Classes are fully outdoors and include plenty of movement and exploration throughout the park. A parent or caregiver attends and investigates alongside their child.
Junior Naturalists
Where: FDR Park, South Philly
When: Saturdays 2pm-3pm
Dates: Session 1 - September 26 - October 24
(no class October 10)
Cost: $72 for 4-week session, or $20 per individual class, sibling discount 20%
Session 1 -
September 26 - Migration
October 3 - Under a Log
October 17 - Acorns & Seeds
October 24 - Squirrels
Session 2 - TBD
Birthday Parties
A birthday party built around what your child loves.
Choose one of our ready-to-go party themes, adapt a favorite to make it your own, or let me create something completely unique around your child's interests.
Sparrows & Sprouts parties are interactive, playful, and designed to get kids exploring, creating, imagining, moving, and discovering. Depending on the theme, a party might include games, art or sensory activities, experiments, stories, scavenger hunts, nature exploration, imaginative play, or a combination created especially for your child.
Party Details
$250 for up to 10 children
90 minutes of facilitated activities
Additional children: $10 each
Your party includes an initial planning call or Zoom with you and your child, preparation, all materials for Sparrows & Sprouts activities, and 90 minutes of guided entertainment. Parties can take place outdoors at FDR Park or another suitable location, indoors at The Dandelion Project, or at your home or venue.
Choose a Theme or Dream Up Your Own
Some past and current Sparrows & Sprouts party adventures include:
Bear Hunt Adventure
Grab your binoculars and follow the clues on an interactive wildlife adventure in search of a bear.
Butterfly Ball
Transform into butterflies and get ready for the ball with colorful games, crafts, music, movement, and butterfly fun.
The Scoop on Poop
Yes, really. A poop-themed birthday party! Explore the surprisingly fascinating science of poop with games, discoveries, and plenty of gross-out fun.
Rainbow Fairy Adventure
Enter a colorful world of fairies, imagination, nature, art, and whimsy.
Junior Scientists
Put on your lab coat and experiment, investigate, make predictions, and discover what happens.
And sometimes the best theme is simply your child. Tell me about their favorite animals, stories, characters, colors, activities, strange fascinations, or current obsessions, and I'll work with you to create a celebration that feels like it could only have been made for them.
Schools, Libraries & Community Programs
Bring Sparrows & Sprouts to you!
Sparrows & Sprouts offers engaging, play-based programs for preschools, schools, libraries, camps, and community organizations. Choose from an existing program, build an ongoing series, or let me create something new around your children’s interests, curriculum, or event.
Nature & Science
Explore the natural world through observation, investigation, specimens, simple experiments, sensory experiences, art, stories, games, and movement. Past topics have included frogs, weather, pond life, birds’ nests, animal homes, trees, camouflage, animal superpowers, and animal families.
Art & Sensory Play
Open-ended experiences designed around exploration and the creative process. Programs may include process-based art, messy play, sensory materials, and opportunities to experiment, create, and discover.
Mindfulness
Age-appropriate mindfulness experiences help children practice slowing down, noticing, breathing, moving mindfully, exploring their senses, and connecting with themselves and the world around them. I am certified to teach mindfulness to children, and programs can be offered on their own or incorporated into other Sparrows & Sprouts experiences.
Custom Programs
Have something completely different in mind? I love developing new programs around a particular theme, question, curriculum topic, season, or special event. Tell me what your children are interested in, and we’ll create an experience especially for your group.
Programs can be offered as one-time workshops or ongoing classes and adapted for your children’s ages, group size, setting, and needs. Programs can take place indoors or outdoors when your location allows.
Ongoing programs start at $85 per session
One-time workshops start at $125
Discounts are available for multi-classroom and ongoing partnerships.
Interested in bringing Sparrows & Sprouts to your school or organization? Let’s connect!
What caregivers are saying
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"Bri is a wonderful teacher. I love that activities are invitations. I like the combo of structured learning and open-ended exploration."
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"Fun, casual and yet super informative. She thinks of little projects that I wouldn’t come up with on my own. Great for getting out in nature!"
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"I like the range of activities during class, walking around exploring is our favorite - very inclusive vibe and I think Bri is a great teacher!"
About Briana
I hold an MA in Museum Education and have taught in a variety of settings, including both traditional classrooms and informal environments such as museums, theaters, play spaces, and nature centers. I am a mom to an 8-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son, and a co-founder of the South Philly Cooperative Playschool (my third baby). I started attending nature classes at Tyler Arboretum with my son when he was 18 months old and was astounded by how much he learned. He could identify more birds at 2 than I could at 30! When his phenomenal teacher left Tyler, I was offered the opportunity to take her place. In the 11 years since, I have developed my own style of teaching that is respectful of children, meets them where they are, and follows their curiosity. I recently completed training to teach the MindUp program, based in neuroscience, social-emotional learning, positive psychology, and mindfulness, that blends perfectly with my approach to cultivating children’s love of nature and themselves as a part of it. It’s important to me that Philadelphia families can find joy in urban nature without spending 45 minutes in the car first to “get there.” We can be mindful and appreciate the beauty and wonder of the outdoors right here in our own city parks.