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.

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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.

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"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

Program Coordinators

Ursula Castaneda
Program Coordinator
Facilitator @ Elaine Gordon

Karina Simon
Program Coordinator
Lead Mentor @ Oleta State 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.

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.

"TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD SHOULD BE SEEN AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THEIR LIFES."

                                                                                                                                                                                                             - THOMAS BERRY

Gloria Baena
Facilitator @ Oleta State Park

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.

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.

Alicia Angel
Facilitator @ Earth N Us Farm

"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

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 @ Elaine Gordon Park

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.

Gloria Baena
Mentor @ Earth N' Us Farm

Colombian. Mom of two adults and Grandmother. Children's book Author, Life Coach, Former preschool teacher and Childhood advocate. 

Committed to restoring Childhood since 2014.

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.

Claudia Santos
Mentor @ Earth N' Us Farm

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.

Karola Narvaez
Mentor @ Elaine Gordon Park 

Colombian. Mentor in Training. Associate Degree in Administration and Accounting Assistant. Former preschool teacher. Committed to restoring Childhood. since 2020.

Felipe Silva
Mentor @ Elaine Gordon Park 

Kristen Adsit
Mentor @ Oleta State Park

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.

Simonett Rosemberg
Mentor @ Oleta State Park 

"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

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.

Lee Friedman
Miami Nature School Guide

Israeli. Mom of three school age children and one teenager. Certified Reggio Emilia instructor. Bachelor in Arts and Special Education. Hebrew Tutor. Former preschool teacher. Committed to restoring Childhood since 2016.

Bianca di Paolo
Miami Nature School Guide

"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

Maria Havilland

Accountant

Luz Elena Silva

Mint & Cocoa Photo

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 Postgraduated Business School. Former Independent Consultant at Cornell IRL. Speaker at Grupo Consulta, Lima-Peru. Active volunteer with Surfrider and Pelican Seabird Hospital. 

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Committed to saving childhood since 2011.

Ana Maria Cordido
Head of School & Co- Founder
Miami Nature School

Venezuelan. Mom of four boys under 7 years old.  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.

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Committed to saving childhood since 2017.