Nature, all day. We're a play-based screen-free forest school blended with the Reggio Emilia approach — gardens, nature walks, art from found materials, climbing, water play, music, and unhurried time under the big tree, on five acres. Rain is a curriculum, not a cancellation.

Ages 2–5. Our Young Preschool room includes ages 2–3.  Children move up to the Preschool room (ages 3–5) when they're ready.

Monthly tuition ranges from $795 (3 partial days) to $1,630 (5 full days), with 3, 4, or 5-day schedules, full or partial day. We accept military fee assistance (MCCYN, Child Care Aware, YMCA) and subsidy programs.

7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, year-round. Children attend 5, 4, or 3 days per week, full day or partial day.

Yes — we are a fully licensed California child care center (capacity 34) and insured, serving Vista for over 15 years.

For many families TK is a great choice — but it doesn't serve everyone. TK doesn't take 2- and 3-year-olds, its day is short for working parents, and its classes can be much larger than ours.  At Big Tree our focus is on a nature-oriented, play based, and screen-free experience - an experience that can be hard to find indoors.

Book a tour — time on our campus explains Big Tree better than any website. Call (760) 685-5780 or use the contact form, and we'll find a time that works.