About Us

Welcome to our website! We are Mihyun and Derik, parents and educators based in the beautiful city of San Francisco. We believe that one of the best ways for children to learn and thrive is through play, especially when it takes place outdoors in nature. Nature experiences have a restorative effect, and playing in green spaces can provide children with psychological benefits, such as better stress recovery and improved concentration.

Like many parents, we used to sign our son up for camps every summer to fill his days with various activities. However, we realized that at the end of the day, what we really wanted for him was to be physically active, connect with nature, use his imagination, and receive physical, social, and emotional support. With that in mind, we started Camp Skipping Stone.

We feel privileged to be able to spend summers with our son, creating adventures in nature and exploring the beauty of San Francisco. One of his favorite activities is skipping stones with his dad, which inspired the name of our camp.

Between us, Derik and I have over 20 years of experience teaching and working with children, from preschoolers to young adults, both in schools and outside of them. Although we have different teaching styles and approaches to interacting with children, we both share the same value of mindfulness and the philosophy of outdoor play.

Research has shown that children who regularly play outdoors are more curious, self-directed, and able to stay focused on tasks for longer periods. Additionally, outdoor play not only promotes physical health, but also contributes to cognitive and social/emotional development. Playing outside gives children the opportunity to explore the natural environment, test their physical limits, express themselves, and build self-confidence.