Christina Payne, Owner/ Operator

My name is Christina Payne, with my son Emmett and husband Jason, we are Little Pines Nature Based Preschool.

At Little Pines we recognize that choosing where your child begins their educational journey is a BIG deal. We understand how important it is for parents to be intentional about who they allow to have influence in their child’s life. For this reason, I would like to share a little about me.

I am passionate about celebrating the worth of every child and partnering with parents to give children a childhood rich with outdoor experiences that spark wonder and magnify moments of connection.

Educationally, I have a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Business Entrepreneurship from San Diego State University. While in San Diego, I worked as an Infant, Toddler and Preschool Teacher. I love working with young children and adore discovering the world through their eyes. I find the work of capturing who they are and reflecting it back to them, to support their positive self-concept, to be the most important work.

After teaching, I spent 10 years working in the camp industry where I created and led summer camps for school age children. While working in the camp industry I specialized in developing programming that focused on teaching young people positive self-talk and problem-solving skills. It was a wonderful chapter; I loved being a Camp Director and an Executive Camp Director.

Now, I return to my roots in early childhood education where I can merge my passion for working with young children and my knowledge of how to effectively create learning experiences in outdoor settings.

I am so excited to lead a high-quality nature-based preschool that supports children’s physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development, while also helping children develop a lifelong connection to the natural world.

At my core, I believe that the next generation of BRAVE and CURIOUS kiddos are going to shape this world for the better. I am honored to play a small role in supporting children in developing the courage, curiosity, and self-awareness necessary to navigate life with openness and wonder.