Is formed by a group of mothers and grandmothers passionate about children and nature; most of us refuse to continuing being part of the school system or left behind our profession to renew ourselves and become advocates of childhood, committed to recover its almost forgotten real meaning and restore it for the new generation of children.
Facilitators
Facilitators at the Parent and Child Institute, supports the community of Parents and Caregivers to set and understand their common objectives in parenting. The role of a Facilitator is to assist parents in planning how to achieve these objectives while understanding and validating the real needs and rights of the young children under their guidance.
In doing so, the Facilitator remains "neutral" meaning they does not take a particular position in the topic but advise in an objective way for the adults to made their own decisions.
Mentors
Mentoring consists of a long-term relationship focused on supporting the growth and development of the mentee.
At the Forest Kindergarten, Mentors becomes a source of indirect wisdom, co-learning, with the responsibility to become a role model and support to discover life's wonders. Mentors are observes that avoid to advise, give ideas, judgements or resolve conflicts between the children and during specific actions on their daily play.
OUR TEAM
"IF A CHILD IS TO KEEP ALIVE HIS INBORN SENSE OF WONDER, HE NEEDS THE COMPANIONSHIP OF AT LEAST ONE ADULT WHO CAN SHARE IT, REDISCOVERING WITH HIM THE JOY, EXCITEMENT, AND MYSTERY OF THE WORLD WE LIVE IN."
- RACHEL CARSON
Parent & Child Institute Team
Ursula Castaneda
Program Coordinator
Facilitator @ Earth N' Us Farm & Enchanted Forest Park
Mexican. Mom of two boys under 6. Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans. Former Accountant, self-taught Nutritionist and Childhood Advocate. Parent at our community since 2016 and Committed to restoring Childhood since 2018.
Daniela Talero
Facilitator @ Oleta State Park
Colombian. Mom of one boy under 6. Psychology with M.S. in Non-Profit Management. Founder and Director of Fundacion Junt@s in Colombia. English Tutor. Parent at our community since 2019, Committed to restoring Childhood since 2020.
Ileana Penuela
Facilitator in Training
Venezuelan. Mom of a toddler. Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans. Business Administrator and Accountant with MBA in Hospitality Management. Former preschool teacher. Owner of Ile Vitoria Zumba. Parent at our Community since 2020 and Committed to restoring Childhood since 2021.
Gloria Baena
Spanish Facilitator
Colombian. Mom of two and Grandmother of an infant. Children's book Author, Life Coach, Former preschool teacher and Childhood advocate.
Committed to restoring Childhood since 2014.
"TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD SHOULD BE SEEN AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THEIR LIFES."
- THOMAS BERRY
Adventures in the Forest Team
Gabi Armendariz
Lead Mentor @ Oleta State Park
Ecuadorian. Mom of a preteen. Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans. Former preschool coordinator, Travel lover and Childhood advocate. Committed to restoring Childhood since 2019.
Katja von Elbe
Lead Mentor @ Earth N' Us Farm
American. Mom and Grandmother. Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans. Master in Special Education and Certified Conscious Discipline consultant. Former preschool teacher. Committed to restoring Childhood since 2012.
Anita Armas
Lead Mentor @ Children's Paradise
Venezuelan. Mom of a 12 years old girl. Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans. Bachelor of Arts with
a major in Cinematography. Former tv producer. Nature walks lover. Committed to restoring Childhood since 2018.
Josefina Pratts
Mentor @ Earth N' Us Farm
Argentinian. Mom of two toddlers. Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans. Psychologist. Former preschool teacher. Committed to restoring Childhood since 2020.
Karina Simon
Mentor @ Earth N' Us Farm
Brasilian. Mom of a teenager and two school age children. Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans. Psychologist. Former preschool teacher. Committed to restoring Childhood since 2020.
Gabriela Machado
Mentor @ Earth N' Us Farm
Venezuelan. Mom of twins. Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans. Montessori Instructor, Nutrition and Culinary Health Coach for Families with children under 10 years old. Chef and Former Graphic Designer. Parent at our community since 2020 and Committed to restoring Childhood since 2021.
Lee Friedman
Mentor @ Oleta State Park
Israeli. Mom of three school age children and one teenager. Bachelor in Arts and Special Education. Hebrew Tutor. Former preschool teacher. Committed to restoring Childhood since 2016.
Karola Narvaez
Mentor @ Children's Paradise
Colombian. Mentor in Training. Associate Degree in Administration and Accounting Assistant. Former preschool teacher. Committed to restoring Childhood. since 2020.
Claudia Santos
Mentor @ Children's Paradise
American. Mom of a preschooler. Mentor in Training. Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans. Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. Committed to restoring Childhood. since 2020.
Fatima Daoudi
Mentor @ Oleta State Park
Moroccan. Mom of 2 children in school age.
Mentor in Training. French tutor and Former Accountant and preschool teacher. Committed to restoring Childhood. since 2021.
"THERE IS NO NEED FOR FORCED LESSONS, LECTURES, ASSIGMENTS, TESTS, GRADES, SEGREGATION BY AGE INTO CLASSROOMS OR ANY OF THE OTHER TRAPPINGS OF OUR STANDAR, COMPULSORY SYSTEM OF SCHOOLING. ALL OF THESE , IN FACT, INTERFERE WITH CHILDREN'S NATURAL WAY OF LEARNING." - PETER GRAY
Miami Nature School K-6
an Acton Academy Affiliated
Luis Sarmiento
Miami Nature School Guide
Peruvian. Dad of a preschooler. Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans. Degree of arts in Philosophy and specialized in Mathematics Education. Musician and Chess, English and Mathematics tutor. Parent at our Community since 2019 and Committed to restoring Childhood since 2020.
Cristina Gonzales
Miami Nature School Guide
Canadian. Mom of a young adult. Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans. Dancer, Yoga Instructor and Nature activist. Former kindergarten teacher. Committed to restoring Childhood since 2019.
"WE DISCOVERED THAT EDUATION IS NOT SOMETHING WHICH THE TEACHER DOES, BUT THAT IT IS A NATURAL PROCESS WHICH DEVELOPS SPONTANEOUSLY IN THE HUMAN BEING."
- MARIA MONTESSORI
Administrative & Support Team
Karina Simon
Program Assistant
Maria Havilland
Accountant
Luz Elena Silva
Mint & Cocoa Photo
Dania Beatrice
Social Media
Katya von Elbe
Conscious Discipline Specialist
Patricia Leon
Program Director Miami Nature PLAYschool
Executive Director & Co-Founder Miami Nature School
Founder The Childhood Nature Project
Peruvian. Mom of a preteen.
MBA and Educator Specialized in Andragogy, Leadership, Marketing and HR.
Certified Forest Kindergarten Mentor by Cedarson Nature School.
Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans.
Speaker at Forest Kindergarten Certification.
Speaker at multiple annual Nature-Based Conferences about MNP Methodology.
Montessori Instructor Newborn to 6 years.
Former Leadership Instructor at UPC Business School.
Former Independent Consultant at Cornell IRL
Committed to saving childhood since 2011.
Ana Maria Cordido
Head of School & Co- Founder
Miami Nature School
Venezuelan. Mom of three boys under 6.
Early Childhood Educator and Former Preschool Teacher.
Certified Nature-Based Educator by Erafans.
Speaker at multiple annual Nature-Based Conferences about MNP Methodology.
Parent at our Community since 2016 and Committed to saving childhood since 2017.
