Skip to content

5178 Japatul Spur Alpine, CA 91901 | (619) 320-4942|info@childrensnatureretreat.org

Plan your visit
Donate
Contact

Search for:

Visit
Groups
Support Us
School Programs
- Onsite Field Trips
- Virtual Tours

Homepage-slider-preciousgirlsmile-800x600

Be a Keeper for the Day

$195.00

*Admission price not included in “Be a Keeper for the Day” price.

Add a bucket of animal food for $5?

Yes (+$5.00)

Have a goat visit your table

Yes (+$75.00)

A special presentation at one of the enclosures

Yes (+$100.00)

Up close and personal experience inside an enclosure (+$35.00)

(per person)

Be a Keeper for the Day quantity

SKU: 7000 Category: tickets

Share On Facebook
Tweet This Product
Pin This Product
Email This Product

Related products

$50 Gift Certificate

$50.00

Add to cart Details
Family Day Pass – 4 Adults

From: $129.00

Add to cart Details
Single Day Pass – Senior (60+)

From: $28.00

Add to cart Details
Family Day Pass – 2 Adults + 2 Kids

From: $99.00

Add to cart Details

Location

The Children’s Nature Retreat is located on 20-acres
about a 40 minutes east of San Diego.
Hours of Operation: 10am - 5pm
We are open to the public 7 days a week.
Monday - Friday by reservation only.
Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Google Rating

4.9

Based on 180 reviews

Children's Nature Retreat Foundation

4.9

23:31 29 Apr 22

This place was amazing the owned was super nice and very personable with everybody and my son loved the up close and personal with the barnyard animals and the keeper was super nice and didn't rush us at all and answered all my questions about all the animals and the zebras were awesome to feed!! I loved how far away it is from everything and super relaxing!!

Drake's Unknown

21:09 23 Apr 22

21:00 31 Mar 22

My boys said, "This is more than amazing? What words are better than amazing?" It's a neat rescue that allows you to take the time and enjoy the animals without the crowd. The $5 feeding bucket is totally worth it!

01:46 07 Mar 22

Thank you April, Liz, Travis for an amazing experience. We all had a very relaxing, enjoyable time. It was great, being able to enjoy every animal for as long as we wanted to spend time with. Every animal seemed to have their own fun personality. A must visit, the rules are simple and you will love this place. It is well cared for! You can bring snack, and water and there is seating throughout the property for you to relax and enjoy at your pace❤️❤️❤️🙏, well done!

21:28 06 Mar 22

01:42 22 Feb 22

It was a great experience! Very caring staff and animals were very nice to look at! Feeding them was fun for the kids. Zebras are cool to look at up close!

23:04 21 Feb 22

Very fun time my kids loved it and there were a lot of animals to see.

17:15 12 Feb 22

Such an incredible place. Please visit and support Agnes! Ended up purchasing a membership on the way out. We have been back at least 5x already. Grab a bucket of hay for $5 and head towards the horses, camel and sheep to feed them. Restrooms are very clean, and they have a handful of picnic tables so bring your lunch. They have snacks for purchase in case you forget to pack extra.

15:35 06 Feb 22

Loved all of it

Kimberly VanGerpen

22:42 29 Jan 22

Had so much fun at the Children's Nature Retreat (parents, grandparent and 4 y/o). Everyone that worked there was very nice and full of knowledge. Easy drive from North County and definitely worth it to spend a half of a day. Take a picnic!

17:55 29 Jan 22

My kids age 7 and 10 took a half day "farmer for a day" tour which they spent assisting the farmer in their daily routine. They spent 4 hours there and absolutely loved it, my daughter who wants to become animal caretaker couldn't stop talking about it. They learned many new things about animal training, feeding, healthcare and such. After the tour they showed me around and told me everything. They even cleaned poop so it was very much real work. It was a great bonding experience for my kids too. The farm is huge and beautiful. It's kind of in the middle of nowhere which makes it even more magical. The farm takes care of rescued animals so I felt like my money was spent for a good cause too. Thank you so much to Agnes, Adam and the others who made it such a beautiful experience!

12:23 26 Jan 22

20:29 20 Jan 22

Exceptional place a must see

04:22 17 Jan 22

This was a great little outing my girlfriend and I had. It's just opposite the next you take to get to Julian which was a nice surprise. It's HUGE! I believe it's 20 acres and most of that space goes to the animals. They have a lot of room to roam and they are very well.The staff are delightful and always willing to answer questions or offer help with anything. They offer military discounts which was a very nice gesture on their part. For $5 a bucket you get to feed the animals and that's a MUST! I couldn't imagine visiting here and not feeding then.We spent two and half hours here and would gladly spend more. Stop on by and see all that they have to offer.

00:50 06 Jan 22

The Retreat is such a magical place. I’m so happy that we discovered it. We visit often and bring new friends and try to attend their special events. There’s something so peaceful about feeding and engaging with the animals. You can explore at your own pace, feed the animals through or above the fences, and even bring a picnic lunch. We also enjoy getting an ice cream treat from the snack bar too. I love that all snacks and toys benefit the foundation. It’s a must visit!

06:46 04 Jan 22

I just saw on the news they need helpHow can the community help you? How do we connect to help?It is wonderful the work you do and theService you provide for children to have somewhere to go learn about animals and it is wonderful how you care for your animals

00:25 03 Jan 22

A great place to enjoy with your family 🤗

21:43 31 Dec 21

17:13 27 Dec 21

Lots of outdoor space to walk and enjoy the animals. Purchasing the food bucket is worth it. Great for all ages especially young kids!

23:40 20 Dec 21

We had a great time!

16:23 14 Dec 21

Long drive to find the most beautiful place lots of animals very active.Each animal has her own story there how they rescue the animals from all over and giving them a place to live.You make a reservation and you get a bucket to feed the animals food and snacks available with extra purchase lots of bathroom it’s very kid friendly kids can roam there for free without getting hurt .Displays in a desperate need of donation so every time you go and visit they make a little bit.

01:42 04 Dec 21

03:02 27 Nov 21

Great place for children to learn about animals and have interaction feeding them

Joseph Hairfield

00:41 27 Nov 21

17:45 13 Nov 21

Wonderful experience here. Took my 2 year old and she loved the real farm experience. Highly recommended

13:24 27 Oct 21

03:54 24 Oct 21

This is one of my favorite places to go in San Diego! I highly recommend this wonderful experience for adults and kids alike. There are plenty of unique animals you can get up close to and feed. If you’re wondering if it is worth the drive, it definitely is!

23:17 16 Oct 21

Wonderful place. The owner really cares and it shows with the animals. You can have a guide bring you in to the pens and pet and play with the animals. The also have quite a verity of animals from birds that talk to huge turtles.

23:17 09 Oct 21

Definitely a must see for the kiddos. It was a lot of fun seeing the different animals and being able to pet them.

01:32 24 Sep 21

What a peaceful and beautiful place for children to experience sweet animals!!!

04:07 20 Sep 21

A beautiful place with a variety of wild and domesticated animal - cows, zebras, horses, goats, sheep, dromedaries, bison, a variety of African cattle as well as peacocks, geese, ducks and other fowl. More importantly, one of its main missions is to provide a space for children to experience nature, so schools are especially welcome

Ashleigh Mc Daniel

17:59 15 Sep 21

Eduardo Rodriguez

07:36 24 Aug 21

Nice place to get away to enjoy nature and exotic animals

brenda budinich

04:22 24 Aug 21

Catherine Ferguson

20:52 01 Aug 21

Sooo many different animals for young children to see upclose and personal. Great place to visit and to help the cause b of protecting animals...Kind and compassionate ownership and care!

Cassandra Mills

04:12 20 Jul 21

People are great! Animals are great!! We had the best time.

22:20 12 Jul 21

Had great time here. My kids love to interact with the animals. Ppl are very friendly

03:58 05 Jul 21

21:06 03 Jul 21

Little pricey but definitely worth checking out.

Nelson Berggren

07:25 27 Jun 21

Christine Clink

23:16 29 May 21

We has so much fun feeding the animals🧡

23:11 17 May 21

This is a great place to take your children for a family outing

20:27 16 May 21

Was a awesome family experience. Staff very friendly and informative.

Konstantin Shvebs

02:15 16 May 21

Kids love the possibility to feed the animals!

23:02 15 May 21

Very nice place to take your kids

17:19 26 Apr 21

03:14 19 Apr 21

Fantastic place. The staff is friendly and very helpful. Very clean and well maintained.

23:47 17 Apr 21

23:30 04 Apr 21

Loved it!!! Planning on coming back. My son is only 1 but he had a blast looking at the animals and egg hunting on Easter day. Even have a chance to feed the animals. Good covid 19 protocols and there's an area to wash your hands.

23:13 27 Mar 21

Great experience. The girls had fun esp with the up close and personal with the donkeys

03:41 21 Mar 21

Nice location and friendly staff. Kids had a great time feeding the animals. Animals were very active and many enjoyed being petted. The grounds are well kept with benches throughout the park to sit back and watch the animals or eat your lunch.

01:14 21 Mar 21

Fun place! We went in the afternoon in March, the animals were getting fed and they didn't seem to interested in eating from out hands. But it was cool to see the animals that close. The kids loved it too.

17:46 20 Mar 21

A true hidden gem! Agnes is so passionate about the cause and lovely to speak to. The staff is all very friendly and patient. And best of all, the animals are so well cared for! Support this local animal sanctuary and visit today. You will not be disappointed!

21:35 18 Mar 21

Such an awesome place. The kids love it, I love it, and the animals who get to call this amazing place home, definitely love it!! Agnes is such a great person for opening this sanctuary for animals.

Bryan Whittenberg

06:47 22 Feb 21

Very fun. Great staff. Everyone had a great time.

William odierno

22:15 21 Feb 21

Very fun and friendly place to enjoy a family day

03:27 15 Feb 21

My family and I had such an amazing time. Staff is incredibly friendly and being able to feed the animals is an experience my girls will never forget!! We will definitely be back and letting our friends know about this little hidden zoo

02:12 15 Feb 21

We went today with our children for Valentines Day and it was absolutely wonderful. The owner was sweet as can be and so welcoming. The animals would stop eating their food to come up to the fence to eat our food.

23:52 13 Feb 21

My family loved it. Not only was it super fun for my daughter, but the money goes to good cause of helping the animals

03:39 30 Jan 21

21:49 28 Jan 21

Awsome place to take the kids. Very tranquil atmosphere. I have taken my 2 year old grandson twice and we will definitely go again. Also its never very busy which is great and you could walk around the entire place in 30-45 minutes which is just enough time before the kids start getting tired.

08:23 27 Jan 21

Great experience for the little ones. Clean, animals are well cared for. You are able to get up close and personal with them and feed them.

18:54 20 Jan 21

vanessa villarreal

00:15 18 Jan 21

Make sure to get at least 2 buckets of feed. This was such a nice experience, we went at at noon which is good because any later and the animals might be full and less likely to interact with guest.

02:59 15 Jan 21

Love the nature retreat, they really encourage interaction with the animals in a safe manner. Bring a picnic and make a day of it.

22:51 10 Jan 21

This place is great! Kids will love it. All the animals were friendly and you can feed all of them.

06:56 25 Dec 20

Such an awesome place to bring kids for a day out with the family. You can take your time looking at the animals and interacting with them. We will definitely return.

00:32 06 Dec 20

23:17 05 Dec 20

Zarghona Santos

23:18 28 Nov 20

Perfect place to visit with your family. Great deal for all u can do.

23:50 24 Nov 20

20:17 09 Nov 20

Very fun place to visit the staff here is very knowledgeable. The grounds were very open spaces and beautiful and overall fun time.

Adam Roberson (#Unfiltered)

00:54 31 Oct 20

Beautiful, well kept, and the animals are super happy all surounded by a gorgeous environment.

22:06 20 Oct 20

Great way to spend the day!

00:26 12 Oct 20

Great for the kid mine had lots of fun...

00:16 11 Oct 20

Oscar Bracamonte

01:40 04 Oct 20

Pasamos un buen día familiar y diferente!

22:03 03 Oct 20

A fantastic place for people and animals. A magical place where anyone can learn to love and love to learn. Reconnect with nature or connect for the first time. Find peace and take it with you.

21:35 29 Sep 20

A great social distancing activity for kids.

15:37 26 Sep 20

A great place to visit very peaceful and I love the animals specially be able to feed them ❤

21:11 24 Sep 20

Wow 3 years looking for places to take my kids to feed animals and I've never heard of this hidden gem. SO WORTH IT. Animals are very friendly, easy to feed, amazing for kids any age, so much space makes it an amazing place during this pandemic life.My kids had a blast, I had a blast being able to feed some zebras and buffalos are you kidding?Amazing place overall. Just be safe with the heat 🔥😥 gets hot and there's little shade when walking around to get to the different animals.

17:15 30 Aug 20

Definitely worth come with your little one, enjoy a day with the farm animals

Elizabeth Torres

19:14 14 Aug 20

21:26 13 Aug 20

01:04 27 Jul 20

This place is amazing!! The animals are all well taken care of by friendly and intelligent caretakers and their enclosures are spacious and designed for their needs. All of the animals from the horses to pigs to tortoises to goats to camels to ostriches are all now acclimated to friendly human interaction and it was such a blast feeding them. Agnes has made an amazing retreat and if you are in the area this is highly worth the visit!! Double bonus: we went for a personal encounter and chose the tortoises, which just happened to be our guide Sue's favorite. It was amazing get up close with Thor and Big Daddy and help make them Sue's Secret Recipe Salad and go in and feed them!! Go support this amazing place in Alpine!! They have easy and effective social distancing measures in effect and even with other folks there it never felt even remotely busy or crowded and was so relaxing. You are missing out if you don't come check this place out!! 10/10 we will be going back!!

Marisa Madrigal

17:41 23 Jul 20

Diondra Yost (Princess)

23:32 10 Jul 20

It was refreshing.

23:56 04 Jul 20

Feeding all the animals was so cool!

00:04 30 Jun 20

I took my best friend here for her birthday. We had a great time here! We went last Friday on the hottest day of the week! They had several benches under trees! Plus they had areas that were shady under trees and some tables have umbrellas. They have a small snack shop with water and gifts too! After you park, there is a ticket hut, and the woman that greeted us was very friendly and wearing a mask. NOW, the best is yet to see! All 130 animals are great and in different paths and farms! It was an awesome day!! Not a lot of people plus you are outside and they reccomend you go in a one way direction for social distancing. They also have hand washing stations for you to use. Now, back to the animals!! They are so beautiful, big, so many of them! No problem spending the day here with nature! The staff is very nice, friendly and informative!! I even got to love on the owner's(I think) dog!! My best friend had a wonderful birthday here!! We would definitely come back here again!!!!🐴🦓🐖🦃🦚🐢

VERONICA ROMERO

02:00 22 Jun 20

00:12 26 Feb 20

02:25 16 Feb 20

Michael Susoeff

23:29 08 Feb 20

This is a great place to visit in Alpine. They have many different types of animals. Children really seem to enjoy this place.

15:44 05 Feb 20

22:22 01 Feb 20

21:42 25 Jan 20

This place is awesome and soo beautiful with lots of fun loving and kind animals who are eager for your presence and to eat : ) we took my niece and 14 year old autistic son and they both loved it! you can tell the staff take very well of the animals and have a great passion for animals and their well being, definently will be going back for some more animal love :)

01:29 21 Dec 19

Such an amazing experience for all ages!

17:05 19 Dec 19

Great place to take your kids.

06:38 01 Dec 19

This place is amazing! Staffs are very friendly here. We were each given a full bucket of food to feed the animals. Almost all of the animals will approach you when they see food (except the ones that cannot be feed). 2 puppies named Belle and Athos kept us company along the way, they are so sweet. We will definitely visit again!

04:40 25 Nov 19

04:45 18 Nov 19

Wonderful, outdoor destination for all ages! Spending a few hours breathing fresh mountain air can be downright therapeutic. Paired with an unforgettable opportunity to learn about unique and beautiful animals that you can feed by hand is priceless.How many people can say they've touched a zebra? I have. You have no idea how large an ostrich really is until you've looked one in the eye. (Caution: You might strain your neck!) You think tortoises are slow and steady? Guess again! Or better yet, come out to the farm and see for yourself.Wear closed toe shoes and expect to get a little dirty. It's worth the drive. You won't regret it!

20:58 02 Nov 19

Lovely place!

22:47 06 Oct 19

I took my son here on a whim and he had a lot of fun, the staff was nice and the grounds where as clean as good be with the animals there, my son and I also like that we could feed/pet the animals and the feed is covered in the cost of admission.. so if your looking for something to do on a Saturday or Sunday this is a fun little place.

15:28 30 Sep 19

Great place to take the kids. They give you a bucket of fresh grown barley to feed the animals. My kids just loved interacting with the animals and getting up close, especially the tortoises and pigs. Can walk thru the park in a little over an hour, and they have picnic tables by the zebras to eat lunch at. Definitely recommend going here.

20:03 20 Aug 19

Awsome place! We need to advertise better no one would know it was there

David Lizarraga

21:15 05 Aug 19

04:10 28 Jul 19

06:23 21 Jul 19

05:38 09 Jul 19

This place is amazing! Great hospitality! I learned so much! Feeding the animals was so the coolest thing! This place should have 10 stars! Thank you all for a wonderful day!

20:10 04 Jul 19

What a fun and relaxing place! They limit daily attendance so it's never crowded or noisy. The animals have unique personalities and it's so fun to watch them interact. They're all used to people and come running over for food so you actually see them up close. You can wander around at your own pace visiting mini horses, zebras, sulcata tortoises, camels, pigs, goats, and much more. I highly recommend doing one of the "up close and personal" options or the other special tours. Such a great value, and what a unique experience!

04:34 26 Jun 19

Friendly staff that cares deeply about animals. Enjoyable place to feed and visit animals.

19:12 14 Jun 19

Amber Benz Wilson

18:49 04 Jun 19

This place is amazing! The animals are fun and lively, and the staff was knowledgable and friendly. I look forward to going back!

Mari Susami (lostraveladdicts)

02:55 01 Jun 19

They are so knowledgeable and truly love the animals.

04:23 31 May 19

What an amazing place! These animals are in the best care. Great place to take your kids.

Melissa Simmons

23:51 27 May 19

GREAT GREAT PLACE! CAN PET THE ANIMALS AND FEED! UPCLOSE ENCOUNTER!

23:14 29 Apr 19

Wonderful people and animals

Dessere Ritchie

17:12 14 Apr 19

This place is amazing!! So clam, quiet, and limited to 100 persons a day so no crowds to battle with. You are able to get very close to the overly friendly animals, feeding them and interacting with them. Even the tortoises come "running"! We opted for the 2 hour guided tour, which is wonderfully informative and interesting. To know the back stories of the rescues, and who couldn't love the Geep (a very talkitive goat/sheep mix). All the staff are very kind and you can really see how much they truly love these animals. What a fantastic little place. We will be back for sure!!

15:57 09 Apr 19

It is a beautiful place to take your whole family. It isn't a crowded place. You can feed the animals. Have a picnic here. Bring your own food they don't sell food here. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Don't have to pay for parking or the food to feed the animals.

Karthika Bodduluru

00:41 20 Mar 19

02:35 07 Feb 19

Our cub scouts had a wonderful experience.

16:22 05 Feb 19

A great place for a family outing. Less expensive than the zoo, and far less crowded. Also, gives you the opportunity to interact with the animals!

Ashley Howerton

02:34 01 Feb 19

This place is great. You get a buck of feed to feed all the animals and if you run out no worries you can get more free of charge. You can easily spend a few hours here. Some pens you can going inside with the animals. I think that's an extra cost. You do get a discount if you live in alpine. Such a fun place. Great for anyone at any age.

02:12 21 Jan 19

Wonderful environment for people of all ages to enjoy. Welcoming and relaxing.

23:21 29 Dec 18

Do you like feeling or being close to nature? Cool date, or a family outting--this is your place. Affordable and up close. This place rocks.

02:13 28 Dec 18

Great place to go to see and interact with animals. The staff is really friendly and it is a great way for kids to connect with nature.

Samantha Resendiz

05:18 19 Dec 18

Came here on a fieldtrip. Staff is very lovely. The kids loved feeding the animals. It was a very nice experience.

05:36 16 Dec 18

Cheyanne is retired now and living like a king at children's nature retreat in japatul ,he loves visitors and frissbee,s!he is alpine favorite buffalo !!!!

Trevor Williams

20:59 24 Nov 18

We come here every time we visit California a rare gem

23:26 23 Nov 18

03:27 18 Nov 18

This animal sanctuary is a great place to spend all day. The animals each have a story told by the owner in a loving and respectful way. The owner and staff are dedicated, loving, caring and respectful of all. Memorable time to be had! Call first to confirm days and times. Schedule a tour, birthday party, visit. Five star experience for both children and adults.

Michelle Caravantes

17:27 05 Nov 18

20:40 05 Oct 18

Fun place and great for kid and adults alike. Feeding all the animals, watching them interact with each other and the people. Definitely recommend going!

22:38 28 Aug 18

04:20 26 Aug 18

01:51 19 Aug 18

This was a great experience for anybody not just for small children. My husband and I also loved feeding the animals. My daughter got to pet some of smaller animals and got to be very close to a lot of the smaller goats and potbelly pigs. The staff was super friendly very easy-going and it was not very busy which made it very nice. Lots of big shade trees and a cool breeze made this hot day very manageable and easy.All the animals are rescues, and the mission statement is that they found their forever home. This is a great cause, and a great way to spend your day. Bring a picnic lunch and be prepared to have a really nice time.

23:41 30 Jul 18

Looking for a place to take visiting 3 year olds, found this place. Friendly staff, and kids loved feeding the animals. Not as many animals as the zoo, but more interaction with them makes up for that. Fees go to food and care of the animals, so it's a good thing

Cheryl Lescenski

05:06 10 Jul 18

18:56 30 Jun 18

Elizabeth Gutierrez

21:51 27 Jun 18

It’s an adventure to get there in the first place , they need to put signs by the Main Street before turning to the street where is locatedThe creepy place next to it seem really weirdwith hundreds of dolls hanging (I know that’s not relevant but pay no mind to that )They have plenty of parking , bring boots 👢 or close shoes 👟 cause there’s dust and dirt in the area and you’ll be walking around.Every person there were very attentiveYou can tell they love being thereAll the animals have a very big space for them and they fed them wellThe personal knew the animals by name and they tell you facts and even about each animal🦓🐰🐔🦆🐷🐮🐴🐢🐫🐪🐄🐖🐏🐑🐓🐇We enjoyed our time there , specially when we fed the🐴 the 🐑 and 🐐 and being to be around the 🦆 and 🐖All the animals seem very relax content and well fedI’m glad that there’s a place like this , where they offer protection and shelter to this beautiful creaturesAnd kind people who love what they do.Thank you for such a pleasant experience for my daughter and I , and we told our friends and family about it and we will be visiting again 🔜

15:50 21 Jun 18

Unique. Relaxing and fun for kids and adults.

18:19 28 May 18

We loved seeing the animals! The adorable little chickens are amazingly cute, and goats are adorable.

00:10 16 May 18

I loved it! Beautiful place .. all animals have their own spacious places.. they looked happy to see us. The staff are nice and knowledgeable.. they answered all of our questions.

09:09 13 May 18

Lots of animals,oak trees,peaceful,beautiful area

03:09 07 May 18

Always a great place to go and see a wide variety of animals up close. You have the option if you like to enter the enclosures, at an additional fee, to really experience them face to face. You're provided buckets with food when you get there and you walk around at your own pace. Staff are always friendly and helpful. I purchased an annual membership because we go all the time. Plenty of parking and it's about a 10-15min drive once you get off of the 8 freeway.

00:06 30 Apr 18

This place is wonderful. Perfect Sunday afternoon

See all reviews Write a review

×

Resources

The Foundation
The Retreat
Nature
Instagram
Our Blog
West Africa

Directions from I-8 East:

-Take the Alpine/Tavern Road exit
-Turn right on Tavern Road
-After about 9 miles, turn left onto Japatul Spur
-The retreat entrance will be on the left after approximately 1/4 mile

5178 Japatul Spur Alpine, CA 91901
(619) 320-4942
[email protected]

© Copyright | CHILDREN'S NATURE RETREAT FOUNDATION | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Facebook Twitter Instagram Yelp YouTube Blogger