About | St. Francis Nature Academy

~ You can attend as few as 1 day per week! ~

St. Francis Nature Academy (SFNA) is a fully outdoor, all-weather, drop-off program located off Hwy 71 between Bastrop & Smithville, Texas (15 minutes from each town) for fully potty-trained children between the ages of 3 and 8.

SFNA is a nature-based preschool and educational activity program, not a religious education program; however, we are guided by Christian values (e.g., kindness, respect, integrity, and service to others).

Inspired by our namesake—St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, the environment, and peace—St. Francis Nature Academy invites young children to explore the natural world with wonder, respect, and joy. Through hands-on outdoor activities, nature walks, environmental learning, and creative play, children in our program will develop a deeper appreciation for Mother Earth, including respect for the environment and the importance of caring for all living things.

At SFNA, children learn through play, discovery, and hands-on experiences in the natural world. They build resilience, independence, and self-esteem as they balance on logs, dig in the dirt, build forts, observe wildlife, and make art from natural materials. Our program blends a play-based, child-led approach with a mentoring style that encourages exploration through thoughtful questioning rather than direct instruction. We guide by nurturing curiosity and supporting independent thinking.

Each day follows a rhythm shaped by the children’s interest and the changing seasons, encouraging physical activity, environmental stewardship, and meaningful engagement with the outdoors. SFNA supports holistic development—social, emotional, cognitive, and physical—through authentic, nature-rich experiences.

We believe that time spent outdoors helps children grow in confidence, curiosity, creativity, and care for the world around them. Our program provides a safe, nurturing environment where your child can connect deeply with nature and with others, fostering a lasting relationship with Mother Earth.

During supervised exploration of 10 acres, our activities include:

building bug hotels
caring for livestock
collecting rocks
counting natural materials (e.g., acorns and rocks)
creating nature art
gardening (planting, watering, and harvesting vegetables and flowers)
going on scavenger hunts
identifying plants, trees, and wildlife
making bird feeders
playing in mud and sand
playing in water (i.e., rain, water table, lawn sprinklers- there is no body of water on the property that poses a risk of drowning to which the kids will have access)
reading books about nature and the environment
sorting and counting natural materials
taking nature walks

Playing in nature allows children to experience a sense of freedom and calmness, which improves their mood and resilience. Research shows that being outside is good for kids’ mental health. Spending time outdoors can lower stress, anxiety and depression; increase physical activity; and improve focus and sleep quality—all contributing to better mental health as children grow and develop.

If your child has apprehensions about “getting dirty” while playing outside, please know that some kids start that way but usually grow comfortable as they see peers having fun and learn that dirt washes off but memories last.

Due to the nature of the programing we offer, including the ages served and times of operation, SFNA is not a licensed child-care facility in the State of Texas, nor are we required by the Child Care Regulation division of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to have a daycare license. We do however follow the standards and regulations that do apply to our type of programming.