OWNER/DIRECTOR

I am a certified Permaculture Educator for Children and a former indoor preschool teacher. I love bringing children outdoors in nature to experience and cultivate a real connection with the natural world. I studied Child Development and Early Child Education at both West Valley College and San Jose State University, and began my career in education with a three-year stint teaching in a homeschooling co-op for children ages 2-7 in Santa Cruz.

I was the Children's Program Director at the Natura Institute of Ecology and Medicine at Commonweal Garden in Bolinas and I had the opportunity to create two new initiatives: the Permaculture for Kids Program and the After-school Nature Program. I have worked with Kairos Learning Community and Visionary Villages Homeschooling Program in Santa Cruz as a Nature Mentor and spent over a thousand hours leading outdoor nature camps for kids.

I founded Peninsula Forest and Beach School in 2018 and am thrilled with the outstanding team of mentors we have on board. With varied backgrounds, we learn from each other and are constantly testing out new teaching/learning strategies.

I continue with my own professional development and have completed the training for outdoor educators offered by the Institute of Permaculture Education for Children in Portland. I took on a forest school mentorship with Forest Friends of Earthwise Education in San Rafael and completed The Nature Led Approach Certification, a comprehensive workshop and nine-month mentorship offered by Kathleen Lockyer of RxOutside. I have participated in 4 rounds of the Ecology of Leadership program and recently completed a 2-year training program with Thomas Hubl exploring my individual, ancestral and collective trauma and hope to be weaving in more trauma informed care into our nature programs.

LEAD NATURE MENTOR

I am a credentialed school guidance counselor, an ice skating instructor, and the mother of three boys and I speak Spanish.

I have been working with children of all ages since I was a teenager. Whether it was teaching them to swim or ice skate, helping them with their school work, or listening to their troubles, my priority has always been to make children feel safe and confident in themselves.

A Midwest native, I have spent most of my adult life in the Bay Area, with Belmont being my home for the past six years. My kids attend the local public schools, and after school, they can be found playing baseball or soccer.

I love this community and am looking forward to connecting with new families who support each other in raising happy, healthy children!

I have been leading the Belmont Nature Program with Peninsula Forest and Beach School since 2020 and love helping children develop self responsibility.

During the school year I work with middle school students, so I am super excited to be back this summer leading Summer Camps with Peninsula Forest and Beach School.

LEAD NATURE MENTOR

I am a resourceful homeschooling mom to a curious 3-year-old boy. We are a multicultural family who loves exploring the outdoors. We make frequent trips to the beach to explore tide pools, and we enjoy hiking and camping with our friends and our dog.

My love for nature began through my early connections with dogs and horses. We always had pets at home, and I learned to ride horses at a young age back in Colombia. From those days, I developed a deep appreciation for wildlife, their habitats, and the importance of water conservation. I believe we are called to protect our planet, and one of the best ways to understand that call is by spending time outdoors—enjoying nature, nurturing our natural curiosity, and questioning what we know. The Bay Area, with its incredibly diverse natural settings, is a wonderful place to learn and explore. I feel blessed to live here.

I’ve lived in the Bay Area for 16 years, and much of that time I’ve spent supporting families by caring for their children—something I still do occasionally. I attended Cañada College and earned Associate Degrees in Kinesiology, Allied Health, and Interdisciplinary Science and Math. I recently re-enrolled to pursue an Associate Degree in Entrepreneurship and Small Business. I’ve also been taking courses through the Charlotte Mason Institute to become a certified Charlotte Mason teacher.

This latest path has inspired me to fully embrace my dream of nurturing in my son a true love of learning, a spirit of exploration, and the freedom to discover his own passions. I hope to share that same gift with your little ones through this beautiful setting at forest school.

NATURE MENTOR

Hi! My name is Kassandra Jimenez, more commonly referred to as Moya by friends and family, a generational name passed down from my mother's paternal lineage along the Chilean coast. I am a multifaceted, Spanish and English-speaking stay at home mother to a wonderful daughter, as well as a meditation facilitator, and the founder of a hybrid community space intended for mindfulness development.

In addition to facilitating meditations, circles, and workshops, I have served alongside youth since the age of 15 through summer camps, charter education, and nannying. My approach to stewardship is creating mindful environments for children to feel safe and able to explore their surroundings with a conscious mind through music, play, and authentic communication. In 2020 I transitioned into motherhood in which I merged my approach to stewarding into my parenting, allowing me a deeper appreciation for life at every stage.

Health and wellness, community, and creative expression are of highest value to me alongside Sumak Kawsay; to live in harmony with the earth.

My convictions rely mostly on embracing duality; enhancing my patience with every ebb and flow the moment has to offer.

My intention is to aid in connecting others with one another, with themselves, or with la naturaleza.

Things I love: meditation, cacao, hiking, live music, nature, micro-exploration and being a mother.

LEAD NATURE MENTOR

I have been caring for children almost my entire life. I grew up helping my mother run her Montessori school out of our home. I attended a Montessori school in Seattle where my mother received her training.

As an adult, I studied Early Childhood Education, and worked at a Montessori school in Palo Alto. I traveled to The Netherlands to work as an au pair and have additional experience caring for autistic children.

I have 3 children all born 5 years apart from each other, which has given me a unique perspective on childcare. In between all these years, I have had several childcare jobs and two nanny jobs and have also worked with Heirs to our Oceans, an empowerment learning program with a vision of saving our oceans, waterways and humanity through educating the next generation of inspired environmental and social justice leaders. 

I have always loved nature and play. My love for children and watching them grow has been a joy in my life.  I hope to bring a local perspective to the team, having grown up near Montara.

I am excited to be back with Peninsula Forest and Beach School leading classes in Moss Beach and El Granada.

LEAD NATURE MENTOR

My name is Jessica Patton and I am a mother, farmer, homesteader and teacher.

My oldest child is 17 years old and my youngest is almost 3. Both have been involved with nature school. I homeschooled my oldest at my family farm and hosted many field trips from all over the Bay Area to share our love of nature. We taught people from all over the world to create a symbiotic relationship with nature and to be stewards of the earth. We shared our love of good food with children who had never experienced healthy alternatives to nourishment.

I have taught classes on local plant identification, growing herbs and permaculture methods.

I was raised in the high sierras on the Feather River with the Pacific Crest Trail in my backyard. My connection to nature runs deep. I truly believe that you can take the girl out of the mountains, but you can’t take the mountains out of the girl.

My unwavering focus on my family and community as well as a desire to be an active participant in my child’s early love of nature has brought me to the Peninsula Forest School. I have deep gratitude to be part of a program that fosters development through curiosity and awareness of self and others with nature as the classroom. To be present is a gift.

LEAD NATURE MENTOR

I'm Caroline Skrobak and I'm excited to be a part of a team that values outdoor education and community-based learning experiences!

I grew up in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains and have enjoyed hiking, biking, and nature journalling since I was a kid. As an aspiring scientist and activist, I am passionate about sharing my love of nature and empowering students in their unique and intuitive abilities. 

I hold a B.A. in environmental studies from the University of San Francisco where I specialized in cultural anthropology and geospatial information analysis. My professional experiences in the environmental field began with seasonal work as a ranger aide at Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. I continued to develop my facilitation skills through an internship at Hidden Villa along with a teaching role at Pathfinders Nature Mentoring.

I currently live in Redwood City with my partner and our several house plants, where I also work at an after-school enrichment program. With experiences teaching at preschool through high school levels, I source a great deal of hope from working with families within the diverse Bay Area community.

NATURE MENTOR

My name is Jessica Chapman, I am a mother of two girls, ages 5 and 2 and live in Montara.

Growing up in the mountains in Colorado, I was outside a lot and know what a gift it is for children to be outside exploring the natural world around them. My love of nature brought me to Hawaii where I lived by the ocean for 17 years.

I have worked with kids since I was young, from babysitting to assisting with school programs that focused on nature, mindfulness and movement.

Now that I have two kids of my own, I have spend the last 5 years immersed in all things kids. They are the loves of my life and it has been so special to experience life through their eyes. They teach me new things every day and I am so grateful to be apart of their world.

It is such a joy to work with kids and watch them grow into the kind, confident little humans they all can be.

I am excited to be working with Peninsula Forest and Beach School at the Moss Beach location.

NATURE MENTOR

I’m a nature-loving NYU Tisch School of the Arts graduate originally from New York City who now embraces life in Mission Bay, San Francisco. My love for nature is at the core of who I am. Some things that inspire me on a daily basis are the sounds of birds and the vast, ever-changing sky.

I find great joy in spending time outdoors. I love gardening, taking walks, capturing photos and videos, meditating, and practicing yoga. Nature grounds me, sparks my creativity, and centers me in the present moment. Every moment I spend in nature deepens my connection to the environment and fuels my passion to protect and celebrate it.

As a dedicated youth mentor and educator, I enjoy creating positive, meaningful experiences for children. My goal is to inspire them to grow and develop a deep appreciation and connection with the natural world around them. I’m passionate about nurturing children's curiosity and confidence, especially in natural settings where I can help them explore and learn.

LEAD NATURE MENTOR

Spending time in nature with children is one of my greatest joys. I love seeing how curious, creative, and confident kids become when they're free to explore the outdoors. I live on the Peninsula and am a proud mom of two energetic boys.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with children in educational environments, nurturing their growth and learning. I hold a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and currently work as a graphic designer, a field where I get to blend creativity with problem-solving.

Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, and running; I recently completed a half marathon! I believe nature offers something truly special for both kids and adults, and I’m so excited to spend the summer helping your children experience the magic of spending time in nature.

I am excited to be back with Peninsula Forest and Beach School leading classes in Belmont.

NATURE MENTOR

As a native to California (Bay Area born and raised), I have spent a countless number of days taking road trips, camping, exploring and hiking amongst various geological locations - including the desert, high sierras, pine and redwood studded forests, urban cities and coastal terrains. My home state has offered endless occasions to jump into a swimming hole or an alpine lake, climb boulders and trek up mountains, and frolic along the Pacific ocean shore.

I believe that there is no better way to celebrate nature and our place in it than to help others gain insight and experience, therefore wisdom, about the land, water, wildlife and herbs that we are one with.  Interconnectedness has certainly shaped my perception of the, and I am eager to pass along that knowledge to the human collective whilst learning along the way.

Educationally speaking, I have dedicated a lot of time and energy into studying many different and specific types of liberal arts and sociology (early childhood development, sociology of childhood, family, globalization, women’s studies, etc.). Fun fact: I have also dabbled in studying psychology and kinesiology! I am also certified as a therapeutic art life coach and in herbalism.

NATURE MENTOR

My name is Reese Moore and I’m so happy to be involved with a group that values outdoor experiences. 

I grew up in Redwood City, and always found myself at parks shrouded in nature such as Huddart County Park. I now live in Santa Cruz during the year for University studying Chemistry, and love spending time in the woods behind my building. 

I’ve always loved places with water like rivers, lakes, ponds or creeks especially and am a strong swimmer due to that. Being outside and able to admire what nature has to offer and the natural world around us all brings a sense of belonging to my soul. 

I’ve worked with children for the last 6 years from babysitting private households to swim lessons and working at a daycare. When children are outside in nature there is a true sense of wonder that is visible through their eyes and helps develop a desire for adventure. 

While also a craft lover, I deeply enjoy exploring new places, new experiences and believe the journey is often more valuable than the destination. Working with children in these types of activities helps me remember to let go of my worries and focus on living in the moment. 

I’m so grateful to be able to be apart of the Peninsula Forest & Beach School and connect with our community.

NATURE MENTOR

Hi - My name is Brigitte and I’m a new arrival to the South Bay and eager to explore California ecology alongside our students.

I’ve worked as an outdoor educator, nature specialist, and ecological gardener in New England over the past several years. I love encouraging children to explore the environment around them, and help foster connection to their world. Learning through nature helps children build a sense of self-confidence, curiosity, and responsibility, and I am lucky to help them in that process.

I have a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, with an additional concentration in Nature-Culture-Sustainability Studies. I love combining art and nature in my activities with students.

I am originally from New Orleans, LA and I am currently a student at Ohlone College studying American Sign Language.

NATURE MENTOR

Hello all! My name is Alexandra Coreas (Alex), and I am excited to begin this new chapter working in an outdoor, nature-based education environment! While this setting is new for me professionally, I’ve always admired and enjoyed the outdoors and am glad to be connecting that passion with my work in education. 

I was born and raised in San Francisco and just recently graduated from Sacramento State with my two degrees in Political Science and Sociology. Since 2022, across the Peninsula, I’ve worked with children across a range of ages and abilities, including students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I am also an after-school program teacher working in San Mateo. I support kids through their homework as well as creating enriching activities such as cooking, sewing, and art projects, etc. 

As a bilingual educator (Spanish & English), I care deeply about creating and holding an inclusive and accessible learning space. Although most of my experiences have taken place indoors, I’m looking forward to learning how to guide and support students in nature-based environments. One of my personal goals is to hike The Narrows in Utah! 

I’m excited to grow my own connection in nature while I help students build their own! 

NATURE MENTOR

Hi there! my name is Makaela, and I am a former horseback riding instructor! 

Since I was about 5 years old, I've been immersed in horses and everything about them. My passion for horses is what lead me to my passion for working with kids.

For me, my favorite thing about working with kids, especially younger kids, is helping them explore their curiosities about the world and also help them build on their confidence in the things that they love or show interest in. 

Teaching horse riding lesson allowed me the chance to do a few things that I love, one interacting with children and building confidence in themselves, two, sharing something I loved as a kid, and three, being out in nature. I am an outdoorsy girl true and true and love nothing more than to be outside.

I was born and raised in Palo Alto, but my heart has always been away from the city, and out in the woods, the mountains, and the sea. I love to explore and learn everything there is to know about the outside world around us.

Working in this position allows me that unique chance to pair my love of teaching and guiding younger children with my passion for the outdoors. I am extremely excited for the next few weeks and to share this love and happiness of the outdoors with the next generation.

NATURE MENTOR

Hi! My name is Catty Dennis. I just moved back to the Bay Area (specifically San Jose) a few days ago! I graduated from Kalamazoo College in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a concentration in Film and Media Studies. I spent the past three years working as a preschool teacher at Kazoo School (a nature-based preschool) in Kalamazoo, MI. The school is adjacent to the Kleinstruck Preserve, and every day, rain (or snow!) or shine, we explored and played in this 48-acre haven as we learned about its plants and animals and how to be stewards of the land. I believe that instilling a love for and respect for the natural world at such a young age is so crucial to helping us stay in touch with the world around us. 

I have my CDA (Child Development Associate) credential and have continued my professional development through trauma informed classroom practices as well as early educational trainings. 

I spend my free time hanging out with friends, playing frisbee, hiking, drawing birds and birding. I recently took two courses through Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology and I love sharing my knowledge and enthusiasm of birds to my students. 

I look forward to joining the team of Nature Mentors at Peninsula Forest and Beach School as a Lead Nature Mentor for the last two weeks of summer camp at the Belmont Location!