SoulLight Saplings
Creating a culture of belonging
through nature-based mentorship
for middle school girl-identified and non-binary youth.
Supporting kids and teens to feel belonging, in nature & community, since 2020.
Program Overview
Groups meet once per week after school from Sept - May, for 2.5 hr sessions in East Bay parks & gardens to connect, reflect, and practice ecosystem awareness & SEL tools.
Weekend camping trips happen 2x, in fall & spring to deepen bonds in the group, and build literacy in wilderness skills like pitching a tent and tending fire.
Parents gather to connect and share 4x/program year, building vital community and strengthening the web of support in these years of change, struggle, and evolution!
Now enrolling for the 2026-2027 school year!
SoulLight Saplings combines social emotional learning (SEL) with ecosystem science and learning to support adolescent girl and nonbinary youth here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Participants meet once a week afterschool, in beautiful outdoor settings to connect with nature, self, and community in support of their mental, emotional, and physical well being!
Give your adolescent the gift of friendship and belonging in a close-knit group of mentors and peers, where they can be seen, supported, and celebrated for exactly who they are!
Watch the video below about our flagship middle school program, and why it has been a consistent favorite afterschool activity for even the most commitment-resistant kids!
“I’ve been taking my 12-year-olds on Wednesdays to their middle school nature group for two years, now. It’s the only after school activity they are willing to commit to. They started with a summer camp and it turned into a weekly outdoor circle as our girls transitioned to a new phase in middle school and new school.
Sammy, who runs the program, is exceptional. She provides a safe space and serves as a trusted adult resource for our twins as they grow and change. Most importantly, she deeply understands the way anxiety, peer pressure, academics/perfectionism, and social dynamics impact girls, and non-binary youth, at different stages. I’ve watched her approach help our kids be able to express their feelings, set boundaries, and have difficult conversations. The connection to nature has also been huge: they come home feeling calm, in better moods, and fulfilled in a way that only playing in the trees and nature can provide. I can’t speak highly enough of Sammy’s approach, and how much this camp & afterschool program have supported our family!”
“Participation in Soul Light has been such a gift for my child and for me as her parent! My child has the opportunity to explore, play, learn, and grow alongside a group of peers, while experiencing steady guidance and full acceptance from her teen and adult mentors. Meanwhile, I have had the opportunity to connect with other parents who are navigating the middle school years to share noticings and provide mutual support to one another. ”
Now Enrolling!
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Now Enrolling! 〰️
Watch past & present SoulLight students, staff, and parents talk about what the middle school nature group has meant to them.
Who is this program for?
SoulLight is a great fit for kids who:
Have a sensitive nervous system, or struggle with anxiety, self-doubt, screen addiction, or depression.
Want to form connections with peers who support their interests and can relate to their struggles.
Enjoy socializing and spending time in nature, but struggle to initiate doing so on their own.
Refuse to go to therapy but need support, OR are in therapy and want to apply learnings in a group setting.
SoulLight is NOT a good fit for kids who:
Strongly dislike (or don’t have the regulation) to participate in conversations with emotional content.
Adamantly refuse to spend time in nature, or participate in group activities.
Have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness or disorder that prevents them from expressing empathy.
Are too busy with other extracurriculars to make the commitment show up consistently to the group.
Program Benefits
Parents of youth enrolled in SoulLight nature-based mentorship programs consistently report their kids returning home from sessions more grounded, less anxious, and in better moods. Over the course of the school year, participation in a Soul|Light program helps kids feel more at ease and socially confident, and less anxious, depressed, or isolated on their screens.
Some parents have described their kid’s group as “life saving.”
After spending time in their Soul|Light group, you may notice that your adolescent kid or teen:
Returns home from sessions happier and more socially engaged.
Displays a sense of calm, groundedness, and relaxation.
Utilizes new communication skills to express feelings and needs!
And you may also find joy when your kid or teen…
Can name local plants, animals, & fungi in their backyard & on the trail.
Asks to go hiking or to spend more time in nature.
Seems confident, comfortable in their skin, and excited about the day!
Societal/Community Benefits:
Besides helping kids feel better, there are many societal benefits to raising young people who care about nature. While many kids experience anxiety and pressure related to climate change and ecological collapse, Soul|Light offers them concrete skills & inspiration to take action for ecosystem healing and to protect our watershed & interspecies community.
Program Details
Group Dates & Times
Groups meet 1x/week after-school, for 2 ½ hours in a local park or garden.
September, 2026 - May, 2027
No sessions during winter, spring break, or holidays.
*For most groups, there are 2 weekend camping trips.
Group Location
Each group has several consistent program locations in local parks and gardens, with occasional field trips to new places of interest. Locations are selected to be easily accessible from participant home schools and neighborhoods in the East Bay.
Group Size & Mentors
Groups are small, consisting of 4-7 kids of similar age plus an adult and an older teen mentor, allowing for more focused and individualized attention and care.
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Sample Schedule
3:30pm Drop-Off and Get Settled
3:45pm Guided Nature Walk and Observation
4:00pm Group Check-Ins over Herbal Tea
4:30pm SEL Curriculum or Nature Activity
5:30pm Solo-Sit Spot in Nature
5:45pm Closing Circle & Gratitude Share
6:00pm Depart*
*Carpooling available
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SoulLight groups provide a safe and supportive container for young people to socialize, express themselves, and have fun learning & connecting in nature.
Program Highlights
Guest educators visit 1x/ month to share skills such as herbal medicine, mycology, performing arts, embodied movement, sexuality & gender identity, and other topics of interest.
SoulLight offers a laid-back, socially rewarding, and consent-based setting for youth to practice social emotional learning (SEL), nervous system regulation, and community service.
The curriculum is holistic, participatory, and versatile to meet the unique learning style and interests of each participant. Camping trips offer a chance to practice and apply new skills!
Parents & Caregivers
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to connect for carpooling, get-togethers, and shared child-care.
Parent support circles meet bi-montly (4 x total) to build community and engage with themes arising in the Saplings group.
Parents are allocated several 20-min check-ins with Sammy throughout the program year, with further coaching and support available at Sammy’s sliding scale rate of $175 - $250/hr.
Core Values & Competencies
SoulLight’s curriculum blends social emotional learning (SEL) with place-based learning (ecology, biology, & wild skills) to meet kids where they’re at.
SoulLight Core Values & Competencies
Care & Belonging
Confidence & Self-Worth
Liberatory & Life-Affirming Learning
Self-Knowledge & Self-Expression
Empathy & Social Sensitivity
Kindness & Healthy Boundaries
Creativity & Vision
Purpose & Ecosystem Care
Gratitude & Celebration
Intimacy & Kinship (Animal, Fungi, & Plants)
Tending the Inner & Outer Fire
SoulLight’s Commitment to Youth:
You will be seen, heard, & included. ✓
You will be supported to share your feelings & needs. ✓
You will experience a sense of freedom & choice. ✓
You will learn to trust your instincts & intuition. ✓
You will be supported to explore your passions. ✓
You will learn to set boundaries that support your own well-being. and to respect others’ boundaries. ✓
You will be celebrated for what sets you apart. ✓
You will know that you belong in community. ✓
About your Mentor: Meet Sammy!
Sammy Kanofsky is a Bay-Area born nature lover and guide, with a passion for ecological care and youth empowerment that has been alive in her for over three decades.
Sammy is known for her warm and inclusive facilitation style and for her love of mentoring young people to feel proud of who they are, meltdowns and all!
She holds a BA in Environmental Analysis from Pomona College and a Certificate in Conflict Resolution from AIES (Arava Instite for Environmental Studies), as well a Certificate in Ecopsychology from the Holos Institute. Sammy brings over 20 years of experience working in experiential education, community building, leadership development, and communication coaching with training in conflict mediation, mindfulness meditation, yoga, reiki, and motivational interviewing.
As a young person, Sammy struggled with anxiety and panic until she found her way to the forest, where her nervous system was able to truly relax. She takes pride in having learned how to truly love and listen to her self, the land, and other living beings. She created Soul|Light to draw from her overflowing cup and invite others to find joy, peace, and belonging in nature.
As a mentor, Sammy is committed to supporting each kid’s unique gifts and sensitivities, and helping kids to feel seen, cared for, and appreciated exactly as they are. By facilitating groups in a playful and caring way, kids build confidence expressing their feelings and needs, while learning to listen with care and empathy to their peers. As this small-group intimacy and trust emerges, SoulLight kids find themselves experiencing a profound sense of belonging and acceptance, thus creating the emotional safety they need to thrive.
What Parents & Participants are Saying…
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“I can’t begin to express how happy I am my daughter was a part of this program! I was brought to tears hearing her say things like, ‘I'm so happy,' and 'I look forward to my days!’ I see her light shining in a way I hadn't for a long time."
- Amber, SoulLight Parent
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"Sammy shares challenges from her own life that she's overcome, and has an amazing network of peers to teach things young people are excited to learn, like how to find food and medicine that are right under your feet..."
- Taj, SoulLight Parent
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“I love the way you hold space with confidence and compassion. I am SO happy our girls get to work with you ... you are the biggest silver lining of COVID in our lives!”
- Jackie, SoulLight Parent
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"If every teenager could talk to Sammy for an hour, the world would be a better place."
- Charla, SoulLight participant
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"I love Sammy. Whenever I'm with her, I feel safe."
- Rickie, SoulLight student
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"Sammy is a great listener and a great help. She's helped us create a community where we can truly be open about anything."
- Sophie, SoulLight participant
Program Fees
Soul|Light youth programs are offered on an sliding scale basis, with no kid turned away for lack of funds. Here are the payment tiers that include two camping trips, with payment plans available upon request.
Full Program Fee: $5,950
Medium Program Fee: $5,750
Low Program Fee: $5,250
Scholarships Available Upon Request, No Kid Turned Away for Lack of Funds.