Zaca Center Preschool (LIC# 426215499) has been in operation since February 1996.  The center is part of the Rancho de Maria housing development in Buellton.  We are nestled between single-family homes, condominiums, and the Zaca Creek Golf Course and Community Park.  Zaca Center Preschool serves families throughout the Santa Ynez Valley, Lompoc, Santa Maria and the Gaviota Coast. On any given day we have the privilege of serving up to 43 preschool children and their families.  Our doors are open from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm providing full-day, half-day and three-quarter day programs. We provide nutritious snacks and lunches prepared on site using homemade recipes.  Our curriculum is a "play based" curriculum designed specifically for the developmental needs of two to five year olds. The preschool program offers a rich and challenging environment that encourages exploration, curiosity, and creativity.   ​Zaca Center Preschool recognizes that children develop at different rates and in different ways.  Our curriculum is geared towards the developmental needs of each individual child.  Our team of staff members work closely to facilitate an effective and efficient full inclusion program.  Parents, as well as staff, are continually encouraged by the goal achievements and mutual peer benefits within the inclusive setting.  Behavioral concerns and quickly moderated, and functional self-help skills are acquired by the generous exposure to peer models. Activities in our preschool include art, science, math, language development, music, movement, dramatic play, neighborhood walks, conversations, nature activities, story reading, cooking, and tending to the classroom pets and vegetable garden. Through play, the primary focus is to help children develop social and emotional skills by interacting with their peers and learning methods of conflict resolution and problem solving. Our children learn how to identify their feelings and express them in constructive ways. All of these experiences are designed to foster life-long feelings of competency and self-esteem. Zaca Center is a Demonstration Site for the Outdoor Classroom Project. The children spend a substantial portion of each day outdoors, exploring, experimenting and investigating the outdoor environment. The children collect insects, work in the garden, play in the mud kitchens, work in the outdoor writing centers, play in the water, and use real tools to experiment with. Zaca Center Preschool has been recognized by the California Department of Education Early Learning and Care Division as a Partner Site for the California Teaching Pyramid. This program supports our teachers in using strategies that focus on the Social and Emotional Development of children including, but not limited to following routines and instruction, making friends, communicating their needs, managing their feelings, and helping them solve their disagreements. All of our staff were trained in the Collaborative on Social and Emotional Learning Foundations of Early Learning--also referred to as CSEFEL. The skills learned are used in our classrooms with our children each and every day. Zaca Center has also been recognized as a "Green Care Provider" by the Green Care for Children Organization of Santa Barbara. We practice being green by using cleaning products free of harsh chemicals and irritants, we recycle, compost, garden, and practice water and energy conservation. We have also participated in the Santa Barbara County Preschool Healthy Foods Initiative sponsored by the Orfaela Foundation. We serve two healthy snacks and a healthy lunch each day. We use fresh produce and cooked from scratch recipes. Our children participate in gardening experiences by growing, tending and harvesting foods from our preschool garden. A favorite activity is making juice using fresh fruits and vegetables--many from our garden---beets, kale, spinach, apples, carrots... We are grateful for the opportunity to share our program with you and would welcome your interest and suggestions for continuing our high-quality work with children at Zaca Center Preschool. Welcome!