Wander Woods

  • Girl plays atop a fallen tree trunk with a fanciful wood sculpture in the background at Wander Woods at the Academy
  • 2 masked boys carry a tree branch together to build a den in Wander Woods
  • Wide angle shot of Wander Woods with Nest structure, logs, and kids playing
  • Boy peeks into a fairy door in a log in Wander Woods
Ready, set, play! Young imaginations will blossom at the Academy’s hands-on outdoor space that activates and encourages kids’ instinctive curiosity about the natural world.

Unstructured outdoor play isn’t just kids’ stuff—it’s essential for the healthy development of young minds and bodies. As free time increasingly gets replaced by screen time, however, too many kids are missing out on the mental, physical, and emotional benefits of getting their hands dirty.

Wander Woods is a wild antidote to our digital world. Under the gnarled branches of old-growth cypress trees and amid beautiful new native plantings, kids can cavort on giant logs and boulders, meander through tree trunk mazes, navigate wheelchair-accessible paths, and survey the scene from inside a whimsical nest structure. Through outdoor play, fine motor skills, critical thinking, and creativity are strengthened, and lifelong connections to the natural world take root.

 

Array of natural materials like shells, twigs, and leaves on a tree stump

Sensory play

Birds, bugs, dirt, rocks, and trees? Yes, please! Whether it’s sorting seashells, building a den, or crawling through a log, Wander Woods offers a variety of spaces for kids to activate their senses and investigate the world around them.

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Young girl enters the Nest structure in Wander Woods

Organic architecture

Perched on the hillside is the Nest, the fantastical focal point of Wander Woods. Evoking the complex nests built by bowerbirds and weaverbirds, the structure’s interwoven branches inspire everything from “I spy” to hide-and-seek.

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California pipevine plant

Lush and local

Regenerating the natural world starts right in our backyard. The shrubs, trees, and plants selected for Wander Woods are native to the region and serve to bolster local biodiversity and attract pollinators like hummingbirds and pipevine swallowtail butterflies.

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Gigantic tree stump in Golden Gate Park with a person standing on top

Living lightly

Reducing our environmental impact is integral to all Academy projects. All the wood used for Wander Woods’ play features was salvaged from the Presidio and Golden Gate Park, and the Learning Space structure was built from sustainably sourced redwood. Additionally, the hillside path is made of permeable concrete, helping to reduce runoff and recharge groundwater.

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Wander Woods wordmark

More to explore

Discover the Academy's other kid-friendly spaces and browse resources for parents and caregivers.
The iconic climbing tree framed by an all-new colorful mural inside the new Curiosity Grove educational play space.
Curiosity Grove

Young imaginations soar in this colorful, California forest-themed playspace. Open daily, 10 am-4 pm.

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A visitor inspecting the Naturalist Center cabinets filled with specimens, books, and more.
Naturalist Center

Welcome to the Academy's hub for exploration, with books, games, specimens, and more. Open daily; hours vary.

Toddler plays at Riveropolis water activity at Spring in the Garden at the Academy
Spring in the Garden

Bring your wild things to the Academy for Riveropolis, Bugtopia, and other hands-on programs. March 9-April 28.

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A young girl interacts through the glass with an African penguin in Tusher African Hall.
Parent Tips

Explore tips and age-specific suggestions to help parents and caregivers plan a successful, stress-free visit.

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Citizen science observation
Community Science

Learn more about the Academy's community science program, and join an upcoming bioblitz or biodiversity survey.