03 Nov Sunshine in the Forest: The Children’s Center and Fullerton Arboretum Collaborate
In a world dominated by screens and devices, the team at the Associated Students Inc. Children’s Center at Cal State Fullerton isn’t afraid to get a little muddy. On Oct. 15, The Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton saw the return of some of its youngest regulars from the Children’s Center sunshine classroom for a day of nature exploration and story time.
The arboretum has been providing Titans with a close connection to nature for over 46 years. CSUF acquired 26 acres of land in 1972 and officially opened it to the public in the fall of 1979. Today, the arboretum provides students with access to hands-on learning opportunities through internships and volunteer work while giving casual visitors a quick, yet educational escape into nature.
Children Center students and interns sit under the shade as they listen to a story time reading. / Credit: ASI Marketing, Communications and Design
In collaboration with the arboretum’s Early Childhood Engagement Internship program, the Children’s Center’s sunshine classroom, children ages 3 to 5, was set to experience a morning out of the classroom and in the arms of mother nature.
“We are so lucky to have [the arboretum] close to us, but this time the arboretum interns are working directly with the Children’s Center,” said Jennie Imatomi, ASI master teacher of the sunshine room. “This age group is able to do more structured activities, so it’s great to be able to get with the staff and interns that know about the arboretum and nature to teach the kids.”
Though the kids at the Children’s Center often visit the arboretum, this was the first official collaboration led by the arboretum’s Early Childhood Engagement interns.
With children spending multiple hours behind screens each day, the Childen’s Center’s visit to the Arboretum was a breath of fresh air. / ASI Marketing, Communications and Design
“One of our mentors has been dreaming about a relationship with the Children’s Center so we’ve all been excited to just build this relationship by bringing the kids over and exposing them to nature,” said Jannie Maldanado, an early childhood engagement intern. “There’s a lot of planning that goes into collaborations like this. We wanted to create a space where the children are focused, even if they want to run around.”
With the interns leading the pack, the sunshine students set out on their journey to connect more with nature.
Adventure Awaits
Arboretum Early Childhood Engagement interns read fall-themed books to the students. / ASI Marketing, Communications and Design
After a nearly half-mile trek to the arboretum, the sunshine students were greeted by the vivid green trees that stand tall at the main entrance. After another brief walk, the students found the perfect spot to read some books: the large arbor behind the historical Heritage house. The arboretum interns took turns reading “If You Give a Pig a Pancake” and the fall inspired “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves” to the attentive children. Once their guided story time ended, the students walked to the nearby pond where they spotted a few of the arboretum’s own turtles, sunbathing the pond.
A few yards from their new turtle friends was a mini bamboo forest, the final stop on the students’ field trip. The bamboo shelters a small bridge that crosses the stream connecting the arboretum pond to the South Lake. The trickling sound of the stream completed a feast for the senses, calming even the most excited children who admired the height of the bamboo surrounding them. After crossing the bridge, it was time for them to head back to the Children’s Center, leaving their nature getaway behind, awaiting their next adventure.
Building Habits, One Trip at a Time
Children Center students regularly make the long walk to the Arboretum to engage in nature and have interactive learning sessions. / ASI Marketing, Communications and Design
The arboretum’s Early Childhood Engagement interns were at the core of this partnership, providing nature-based enrichment activities for the sunshine classroom, led by Maldanado and fellow intern, Lidia Jessica Vasquez.
“We’re entering a very ‘iPad kid’ era, so we want to encourage kids to engage with nature,” said Vaquez.
According to a 2025 Data Reportal report, Americans spend an average of six hours and 40 minutes on the internet every day. Despite the growing screen time amongst the population, children are starting to step away from screens more now than in the recent past.
A 2025 Common Sense Media report found that, despite over 58 percent of children having their own tablet by the age of 4, kids are consuming more screen-free media now than they did in 2020. The students at the Children’s Center are developing these nature-based habits with the help of the Arboretum and Botanical Garden at CSUF. Whether it’s simply reading a book outside or taking a stroll through the arboretum, we could learn a thing or two from even the smallest of Titans.
Children Center students enjoyed standing by the pond and watching sunbathing turtles. / Credit: ASI Marketing, Communications and Design
“A lot of people, especially CSUF students, don’t know that we have the whole arboretum,” said Vasquez. “Hopefully when [the Children’s Center students] get older, they’ll be like, ‘Oh my gosh, I remember hearing about this when I was little!’ but having that connection with nature is big, even though they’re young,”
Learn more about the Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Cal State Fullerton and its mission to foster an appreciation for plant conservation, botanical research and horticulture by visiting its website.
Interested in learning about how you can get involved with the Children’s Center? Visit the “Children’s Center” section of the ASI website to learn how you can get involved.