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'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.

LEAD 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 during our nature camps.

LEAD 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

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 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.

LEAD NATURE MENTOR

Hello! My name is Cecilia and I’m so excited to join Peninsula Forest and Beach School as a Lead Nature Mentor. I grew up outside Washington, DC and have always loved spending time outdoors with friends. I was drawn to California because of its incredible biodiversity and the opportunity to live closer to family. I hold a degree in Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Biodiversity, and I am passionate about helping children build meaningful connections with the natural world.

I was drawn to environmental education because I believe that outdoor learning gives children unique tools to build independence and develop empathy for all types of critters and plants. I have previously worked in outdoor education with elementary and middle school students, and one of my favorite parts of teaching outdoors is watching children gain so much confidence in themselves through exploration.

In my free time, I love going on plant identification hikes, looking for insects at night, and swimming in creeks and ponds. I hope to encourage children to slow down, observe closely, and notice the small details in nature that are often overlooked. I can’t wait to follow the students’ lead and see where they find beauty in the world around them.

LEAD NATURE MENTOR

Hi everyone, I am honored to work with the young people and teachers of the Forest School in the Santa Cruz Mountains region that is so close to my heart. I love being outside, moving my body on walks, noticing nature, and using my mind in conversations with others of all ages. 

My journey to becoming an outdoor educator began many years ago when, as Jonathan Franzen put it in his novel Freedom, I "lived in squalor on public lands in the forest behind UC Santa Cruz." As an environmentalist working to conserve the redwoods, I saw how spending time in nature can heighten human beings' emotional, social and intellectual capacities. While there, I also adopted a life-long interest in the flora and fauna of this eco-system, dabbling in animal tracking, wilderness attunement, mycology, medicinal foraging, natural construction, wildfire management, birding, and natural history. I later combined these interests in a dissertation in the discipline of Comparative Literature and Critical Theory at the University of California, Davis, on the colonial history of California in the wider context of the independence movements in the Americas. 

Having worked with students of all ages, I enjoy the spontaneity of being an active listener and learning something in each interaction. What a precious opportunity we have in this area to connect with still extant tracts of nature that the original Californians' way of life sustained across millennia. Together with my wife Cristi and our daughter Valdivia, we are inspired to find others who share a reverence for nature and empower a new generation to preserve life on this planet before it is too late.

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

Hello! My name is Emily Krayn. I’m excited to join the team of nature mentors.

Having grown up in the Bay Area, I have a great appreciation for our local parks. I am always impressed by the wide range of beauty in California, and passionate to protect these lands.

I’ve worked at miscellaneous after-school/summer camp jobs over the years. My interest in early childhood education comes from my parents, who have also worked as educators. I loved being able to visit my mom at her preschool position when I was younger. Her support during my early childhood education courses and positions has been incredible.

My other interests include sewing, fashion, and the theater. I have volunteered with community theaters across the bay, having participated on-stage and behind-the-scenes. It is a great joy to see each piece of a show develop and finally all come together to create the production.

Just like teamwork in a theatrical production, I believe in collaboration in education to create the best experiences. I’m excited to work with the team of nature mentors at Peninsula Forest and Beach School.

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 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 to work during summer camp and to share this love and happiness of the outdoors with the next generation.