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.

I am super excited to be back this summer leading Summer Camps with Peninsula Forest and Beach School.

LEAD NATURE MENTOR

I was born in Guatemala and I moved with my family to the United States when I was seven years old. We have been living in the Bay Area for move than 22 years now. I speak Spanish fluently. I started learning English at a private school in Guatemala City, which helped with transitioning to the United States.

I feel very fortunate to have grown up on the Peninsula, where we can easily explore the beauty of nature that surrounds us. Before we left Guatemala, I would join my family almost every weekend, visiting my grandfather’s ranch. We helped him take care of all the animals on the ranch and enjoyed exploring the nearby river. So nature was a large part of my childhood, even before coming to the States. I believe every child should have the chance to enjoy and explore nature, as I have had.

In my teen years I took care of children ranging from two years old to 11 years old. For some, I would drive them to their after school activities as well.

I always planned to work with kids when I was older. In 2017 I enrolled in the Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts to become a pediatric dental assistant. In 2022 I transitioned out of the dental field to work with kids outdoors. I’m very happy with the change.

Working with children reminds me of how amazing and exciting the world can be. I love seeing the excitement in children’s eyes when they are experiencing something new in nature. Whether we are experiencing something big or small, I am convinced that simply being in nature helps us be happier and more positive in our day-to-day lives.

LEAD NATURE MENTOR

Hi! My name is Laura and I am from Colombia. Exploring this world and learning alongside my children is my passion.

My background is in Financial engineering and even thought I had a career oriented to corporate finances, that quickly changed right after I gave birth to my first child 8 years ago.

I started a program called Play is Cool Bilingual Playschool in Florida because real, free, child-led play and Spanish were super important for our family and so I created something that I couldn’t find nearby. Later on I started teaching STEM in our Homeschool Coop since I enjoy everything science! We did hikes, messy play, "survival skills", experiments, cooking and lots of free play, it was truly amazing!

We’ve visited many countries together and we recently moved to California which has been an amazing state to discover. We homeschool/unschool/world school/wild school, and any other way you might call it. We absolutely love the outdoors.

I speak English, Spanish and basic Portuguese. I have the absolute conviction that things are to be done with desire and passion and doing what I do now is what I love.

I am excited to be part of the Nature Mentor Team in El Granada for the after school Nature Adventures class.

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 and El Granada.

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

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.

NATURE MENTOR

Hi I’m Carly Aspinwall! I am a Mom of twin 5-year-old boys living in Pacifica, Ca. I grew up in Santa Cruz, California where I was lucky enough to play in the tide pools and redwood forests. I went to school for Early Childhood Education and Development at Cabrillo College and the University of Utah. I took a pause in my education journey when I became a mom.

I have experience in teaching musical theater, summer camp, and I now homeschool my boys. I am passionate about teaching children to have compassion for themselves (and others) by building them up with kind encouraging words, and teaching them to do the same.

I am now excited to use my experience and learn alongside and support your children as we explore the beautiful world around us.

NATURE MENTOR

My name is Amy Michela. Kiddos call me Miss Amy or teacher Amy.

Our family LOVES the outdoors. We enjoy going camping, doing hiking and fishing, explore all kinds of habitats and doing a ton of swimming when we can.

The foundation and roots of my life came from being mostly raised in the BIG SKY state of Montana. I have forever been etched by seeing bald eagles daily growing up. Finding my heart coming alive in creation & swimming in lakes and rivers, catching insects, reptiles, and critters. Hunting with patriarchs in my family. I couldn't of had a more beautiful and outdoorsy childhood. I'll always be prepared for adventure and a wild YES, LET'S GO.

I am a BIG creative and encourager. I love art, building or making things and also love music and photography.

I have traveled the globe and have been so grateful to see beauty in nature both near and far away. My heart burns for the simple things in life. I love to know people and be known. I am currently raising my own crew of 3 kiddos with my awesome husband. I also take care of many children in my community/the Bay area as a nanny and have been blessed with being with them in the redwoods, beach and their homes. Witnessing them from very early ages see and explore the world around them is a highlight of my life.

LEAD NATURE MENTOR

Martin's creative expression developed from a childhood passion for inspiring his younger sister's laughter through theatrical improvisation.

Growing up immersed in boy scouts, nature camps  and regular camping trips; he came to feel most at home in nature.

He helped raise his niece for years and worked as a daycare provider at a yoga studio in Santa Cruz where he lives.

His work for years as a counselor for challenged adults shaped his skills for conflict resolution, supporting group belonging and compassionate listening.

Patience and humor are his superpowers.
He is excited about supporting ceaseless awe of appreciating nature through creating shifts in collective tempo and inspiring mindful observation.

Martin has guided summer camps and private camps for Peninsula Forest and Beach School in Moss Beach and Belmont.

LEAD NATURE MENTOR

Chelsea is nature lover, a teacher, and an eternal student.

She worked with us last summer as a Summer Camp Lead and is back to Lead more camps with us again this year.

Her deep love and connection to nature inspired her to shift her life from working as an Environmental Program Manager to inspiring deeper connections with nature amongst individuals through yoga, dance, movement, and play.

When she isn't mentoring kids in nature you can find Chelsea teaching bicycle skills classes, working on festival and wildfire environmental teams, and leading dance and yoga classes.

She's been working with kids since she was 16, mentoring students in various subjects including wellness, nutrition, sustainability, soccer, and bicycling.

She grew up in Belmont and is very familiar with Twin Pines Park.