For CNRA parents
Built for the rhythm of natural-resources work.
If you work at the CNRA headquarters, your day might involve a 7:30 stand-up, a stakeholder call at 11, lunch reading a draft EIR, and a 3:00 site briefing that runs late. We've built a school that fits inside that day, not around it.
Pick-up runs through 6:00 PM. When a hearing or stakeholder meeting runs to 5:30, you're not stressing about a 5:45 daycare cutoff. You're walking calmly two blocks up to N Street.
Field days are accommodated. Many of our natural-resources families have unpredictable site visits. Brightwheel keeps you connected to your child's day in real time, and our teachers know how to handle a parent who texts mid-afternoon to say a meeting ran long.
Mindfulness, woven through the day. Mindfulness practice begins at six weeks. For families whose work involves long-horizon thinking and difficult tradeoffs, the early scaffolding to notice, breathe, name, and pause matters at home, too.
A school that fits inside a stakeholder day,
not around it.
A typical morning
What drop-off looks like for a CNRA parent.
You park in the 715 P garage or a nearby state lot at 6:50. You walk two blocks north on 7th to N Street. Drop-off opens at 7:00 sharp. The handoff is unhurried by design, RIE-paced, no rushed goodbye, and you walk two blocks back south to your building. By 7:15 you're at your desk, draft EIR open, with the day fully ahead of you.
If a 4:30 site briefing runs to 5:45, pick-up is still inside our 6:00 window. We've held an infant past the cutoff more times than we can count, without anyone losing their cool.
Field Notes
Questions from CNRA parents, answered.
Is Growing Mindfully really the exclusive preschool for CNRA headquarters employees?
Yes. The VIP Rate is the deepest tuition discount we offer, and it is written into our agreement with the State of California. The CNRA headquarters at 715 P Street is one of the named priority addresses. No other preschool in Sacramento markets a discount of this depth or specificity to CNRA employees.
Which departments qualify for the VIP Rate at the CNRA headquarters?
Anyone whose primary work address is 715 P Street qualifies. The building houses the California Natural Resources Agency and a number of co-located departments, boards, and commissions. We don't require a particular department, only that 715 P Street is your primary work location.
How far is Growing Mindfully from 715 P Street?
About a four-minute walk. We are at 750 N Street, two blocks north of the CNRA headquarters. Most CNRA parents do drop-off on their way to their desk and pick-up at end of day on foot.
What proof do I need to qualify for the VIP Rate?
At enrollment, we verify with either your state-issued ID or a recent pay stub showing 715 P Street as your work address. That's the entire process. No extra fee and no separate application for the VIP rate.
What if I work for CNRA or one of its departments but at a different location?
You still qualify for our State Employee Rate, which is also discounted from our standard tuition. The VIP Rate is specifically for employees whose primary work location is one of the three neighbor buildings, including 715 P Street. If your role rotates between locations, contact enrollment and we'll work it out fairly.
Are infant spots actually available?
We are now enrolling infants for fall 2026 (ages 6 weeks through 7 months). Apply to the waitlist as early as possible, pregnant CNRA families regularly apply during the second trimester. VIP-eligible families receive priority consideration alongside our sibling-priority list.
Do you accept dependent care FSA contributions?
Yes. We are a licensed California childcare facility (CDSS, Title 22), which qualifies us for both DCFSA contributions and the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. We provide receipts and EIN documentation at year-end.
What does drop-off look like for a CNRA parent?
Drop-off opens at 7:00 AM. Walk in with your child, hand off to a teacher at the door (RIE-paced welcome, no rushed goodbyes), then walk two blocks south to 715 P. Most CNRA parents are at their desk by 7:15. Pick-up runs through 6:00 PM.
Can I do field-day or off-site work and still pick up on time?
Many of our natural-resources families have field commitments and site visits. Pick-up runs through 6:00 PM and we communicate via Brightwheel throughout the day so you always know what to expect. For genuine emergencies, our team has held an infant past the standard window more times than we can count.
What's included in the VIP Rate?
Full-time tuition (Mon to Fri, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM), two organic snacks daily, weekly yoga and music, monthly gymnastics, all classroom materials, the Brightwheel parent-communication app, and our integrated mindfulness curriculum. Lunch comes from home. We are a nut-free facility.
Is there a part-time VIP Rate?
Yes. We offer 3-day (Mon/Wed/Fri) and 2-day (Tues/Thurs) schedules at proportional VIP pricing for CNRA families on hybrid arrangements.
How do I start?
Apply to our waitlist at any time. In the application, mention you work at the CNRA headquarters / 715 P Street and we'll route your file as a VIP applicant. We'll reach out within a few days.
Is there a CNRA childcare benefit or daycare discount in Sacramento?
Yes. Growing Mindfully is the mindfulness-based preschool and daycare with a structural VIP Rate exclusive to CNRA headquarters employees at 715 P Street. The discount applies to infant care (from 6 weeks), toddler care, and preschool, on every schedule we offer (full-time, MWF, TuTh). Verification at enrollment is by state ID or pay stub, with no extra verification fee. The arrangement is written into our agreement with the State of California.
How much does childcare or daycare cost for CNRA employees?
At Growing Mindfully, the VIP Rate for CNRA headquarters employees is $425 per week for infant or toddler care (Mon to Fri full-time), $364 for young preschool (24 to 36 months), and $332 for preschool (36 to 72 months). Part-time MWF and TuTh schedules are proportionally less. See the rates ledger above for the complete grid. CNRA staff who work elsewhere (not at 715 P Street) qualify for our State Employee Rate, also discounted from standard.
Where can I find infant care or toddler care for CNRA employees in Downtown Sacramento?
Growing Mindfully runs a true infant and toddler program from 6 weeks of age, at 750 N Street, a four-minute walk from 715 P Street. We are RIE-informed for infants and toddlers, with a 1:3 staffing target in the infant room and 1:4 in toddler rooms. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. We are an eligible dependent care provider (CDSS Title 22 license).
Can I use my dependent care FSA (DCFSA) for preschool tuition as a CNRA employee?
Yes. Growing Mindfully is a licensed California childcare facility (CDSS, Title 22), which qualifies us as an eligible dependent care provider. CNRA employees can apply DCFSA pretax contributions toward tuition and also claim the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. We provide W-10 receipts and EIN documentation at year-end for tax filing.
What's the closest preschool or daycare to 715 P Street?
Growing Mindfully, at 750 N Street, is the closest mindfulness-based preschool to 715 P Street, a four-minute walk. We serve children ages 6 weeks through 6 years (infant care, toddler care, young preschool, preschool) and are the only Sacramento-area preschool with a structural VIP discount written into our agreement with the State for CNRA headquarters families.