About | The Child's Element

About Us

Child's Element offers a Forest School, Summer Camp, & Caregiver/Child classes in Nature Areas in Salt Lake, Utah and Surrounding Cities.

The Child's Element programs guide children and families in developing mindfulness and emotional intelligence while having fun. From creative expression and meditation, to building, hiking, and playing outside, our programs are where imagination and confidence soar.

We believe that allowing a child to be a kid, supports their learning through free play.

We have calm, fun, and supportive Teachers, who are passionate about child development and emotional connection, peer connection, and family connection.

With only the use of nature-related tools and items, attendees join together in our outdoor community to utilize ideas and their creative uniqueness.

Experiencing our Earth's elements hands on, families and children learn with the seasons.

We find joy in every moment of every year.

Our Mission

The Child's Element provides an environment where children learn through play and community. Children are able to experience the natural wonder of being a child in our solely outdoor classes.

Sara Wild Jones
Founder, Director, Administrator, Teacher

Sara grew up in the Pacific Northwest where she was primarily homeschooled. Her love for the outdoors was established as a child as she explored the Forest behind her house. Her natural gift with children was seen at an early age and has now provided child care for hundreds of children throughout her life.
Sara's degree in Psychology & Child Development from the University of Utah fueled her passion for guiding young developing minds.
Although Sara has over 25 years experience in early childcare, and has been running Child's Element since 2017, her desire to deepen her knowledge in this field continues. In the Spring of 2025, Sara completed her Nature & Forest Therapy Guide Certificate with an emphasis on Guiding children and youth.
This education has allowed Sara to incorporate new trainings for Teachers to support Children in further connecting with nature during class time.

In Sara's twenties she led groups of young children in a Therapeutic Preschool. This experience adds a unique perspective in the training she has created for Teachers at Child's Element.
Sara strives to provide children with the most needed foundational support in their earliest years.
She is dedicated to the work of connecting teachers and children with nature, self, their families, and community. You will see her present at classes often, connecting with children, teachers, and parents, as well as offering continued training for the teachers.

Sara lives in Salt Lake with her husband, Max, and their dogs: Zeus and Dragon. Sara and Max spend time outside together on a regular basis climbing, hiking, snowboarding, riding motorcycles, gardening, dog parks, and tent or van camping to continue cultivating a strong connection with each other and nature.

Brook, Teacher of the Grown Up & Me classes

(Holladay, Bountiful, Kaysville)

As a mother of two fiercely spirited girls, Brook has witnessed firsthand how classes at Child's Element can transform not just a child’s confidence, but their entire sense of calm and connection. Watching her own daughters flourish in this environment inspired her to share that same gift with other families by accepting the teaching position of the Grown Up & Me class.

In the forest classroom, Brook's mission is simple: to create a safe haven where children can explore, play, and discover the quiet magic woven into the natural world.

With a background as a FDN-P and mind-body healing expert, Brook bring a gentle focus on nurturing the nervous system, fostering emotional resilience, and helping children feel at home in themselves.

As a Reiki Master and NLP practitioner, Brook weaves in elements of inner child healing and mindful language—allowing each child to feel seen, heard, and truly free to be themselves.

And let’s be honest—this class isn’t just for the kids! The Grown Up & Me experience gives caregivers a chance to breathe fresh air, witness their children grow within the safety of their presence, and connect with other parents in a nurturing, nature-filled space. It’s something Brook personally craved after the birth of my first child—and is honored to now create that sense of community for others.

Siena, Teacher at Mindful Forest School (Holladay)

Siena grew up in Cedar City, Utah and moved to the Salt Lake City area in 2020 to continue her college education at The University of Utah. Siena’s love for the outdoors developed early in her childhood through exploring and recreating in the vast and beautiful mountains and canyons of Southern Utah. Siena has always had a deep passion and gratitude for the outdoors and the benefits that one can receive from it.
Using this as motivation, Siena received her Bachelors of Science in Recreational Therapy in 2023 and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) as well as licensed through the state of Utah as a Recreational Therapist. With this as her educational background, she combines her skills from working with teenagers in a mental health setting and knowledge in Attention Restoration Theory to create a mindful and holistic learning environment for children, where every activity and connection is intentional and important in their development.

Siena’s love for nature soars everyday, even outside of Forest school. She enjoys rock climbing, playing and practicing mindfulness in the rain, camping, hiking, backpacking, and hammocking. If she’s not doing something outside, she is crocheting, cooking, reading, doing yoga, listening to music or enjoying quality time with the people she loves

Lea, Teacher at Mindful Forest School

(Holladay)

Lea moved from WA to UT when she was 5 years old. Her backyard in Utah ran along the fence line of an enormous apple orchard. Lea spent most of her childhood there. She'd spend her days with the horses and catch snakes in the grass. With Steve Irwin as her number one influence, she quickly became the neighborhood snake wrangler. Her neighbors would specifically request her for snake extraction. She was only 7 years old.
From 2010-2015, Lea volunteered at a program in Orem called Friday’s Kids. There, she was a caretaker for special needs children between the ages of 3-12. Soon after Lea reconnected with her passion for animals and nature. She has spent the last 8 years in multiple fields, becoming certified as an animal behavior specialist- focusing on wildlife education. In 2021 Lea started her own business called Creature Connection. As a behavior consultant, she offers Canine and Equine Training. She strives to teach people animal language, and to preserve the wild spark in future generations. She believes wild life education strengthens our relationship with the land, and brings us back to our sovereignty. Lea is passionate about discovering the natural world, especially alongside children, and is thrilled to be a part of Mindful Forest School.

Elaina, Teacher at Mindful Forest School (Bountiful)

Elaina believes that fostering emotional connection, mindfulness, and independence while using the Earth and its resources is priceless for young children. Caring for the Earth ties all humans together, and deepens our connection with ourselves and others. She feels strongly that nature provides healing and education for all people, especially children.

Elaina was raised on a cattle ranch in Wyoming, nestled in the Green River Valley where she was part of a very small, tight-knit community. Growing up with an intimate relationship with nature, she developed a deep respect and love for life in all its forms and stages - whether it was a calf born that spring, a garter snake moving through the yard, the vegetables in the garden or a spider living in the garage. As a child she explored the woods across the river and hills surrounding her small town, all while tending to dozens of siblings and cousins. Having a large family supported her passion of caregiving and teaching. She spent much of her free time outside reading encyclopedias and wilderness books to share knowledge with her cousins about the world around them. It was obvious that she was meant to teach from a young age.

At 19, she trained to become a caregiver for adults with developmental disabilities where she was commended on her incredible dedication and compassion for those she worked with. She realized that her empathy, mindfulness, and love of teaching would be valuable in every part of her life. She has been CPR & First Aid certified for 6 years and has worked as a private nanny, a daycare teacher and a Registered Behavior Technician for children with autism before discovering Child’s Element. She strives to expand her knowledge of children’s development, and is incredibly happy to be teaching at Mindful Forest School.

Elaina lives in Salt Lake where she enjoys spending her free time painting, hiking, swimming, biking, and exploring in the mountains while balancing it out with a few trips to the arcade or the movie theatre for discount Tuesday tickets with her partner Tim and step-daughter Luna.