Nature Based Learning | Kew Kids Forest School

Robert Frost

“When I see birches bend to left and right...I like to think some boy's been swinging them.”

Our Team: Quote

Achievements/Interests:

Proud mom to 2 boys, seven and four years old
Super Steward and Trail Maintainer, NYC Parks
Outdoor Teacher Retreat Participant, Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools
Health & Safety Training, NYS Office of Children and Family Services
Outdoor adventure seeker and traveler
Health and fitness enthusiast
Project Management Professional
MBA

JESSICA HALSRUDD

Founder and Director

As a girl growing up in suburban Taiwan, I loved to explore outdoors, often playing in the nearby trails and creeks. I wandered those woods even in my dreams. Later, some of those fields became construction sites where my sister and I would play for hours in the mud. Looking back, this all seems like another world.

Within the space of a few decades, the way children understand and experience nature has changed radically. For the new generation, nature is more abstraction than reality, something to watch, to consume, to wear—to ignore and fear. So often, I've observed kids looking at screens, oblivious to the landscape around them. I've also heard the parks nearby viewed as dirty, dangerous and something to avoid.

Now that I have children of my own, I am even more aware of the increasing divide between the young and the natural world, and the environmental, social, psychological and spiritual implications of that change. The accumulating research confirms the necessity of contact with nature for healthy child and adult development. Our community, so close to Forest Park yet, lacks a nature education option for our little ones. It is my hope that with our forest school, we’d be able to get our children in direct contact with nature and back on the trails.

Our mothers were right when they told us, day after day, ‘Go out and play.’

Our Team: TeamMember

Achievements/Interests:

Blessed with four children, twin boys and two girls
Involved in parents committee and volunteer at my children’s school
New York State Public School Teaching Assistant certified
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) trained
Certified in infant, child, and adult CPR + First Aid
Trained for students with special needs
Firm believer in continuous learning

NAZEELA HAMID

Assistant Director and Lead Teacher

Born in a country like Guyana that is mainly pristine rainforest, sugar cane plantation and rich rice fields, a child’s mind has so much to explore in the land of many waters. Playing in the big green open fields, navigating the ground for beautiful and colorful insects or simply picking delicious fruits at your fingertips, such a relaxed and harmonizing environment truly makes you appreciate nature at its finest. Guyana epitomizes the lifestyle of humbleness and oneness with nature.

Growing up in New York Queens, the feeling of nostalgia frequently seeps in because I felt restricted being indoors most of my school days and not being able to get my hands dirty with nature. Always being told to color inside the lines tends to destroy a child creativity. As a mother of four beautiful children, I have experienced different learning methods. The most effective one is learning through playing and exploring our environment. There is something truly magnificent in watching my children playing in the rain and looking forward for the rainbow at the end of the storm. I am excited about imparting my passion of learning and organizing through play with the students at Kew Kids Forest school.

KATIE GEORGE

Lead Teacher

Achievements/Interests:

Currently studying Early Childhood Education at Queens College
Certified in infant, child, and adult CPR + First Aid
Arts and crafts particularly woven art, macrame, and advanced tie dye
“Mommy” to 2 happy cats
Fun uncle to over a dozen nieces and nephews

MAHONRI KLEIN

Lead Teacher

I grew up in Hermosillo, Mexico which is located in the Sonoran Desert. I have always had an affinity for nature and the outdoors, and loved learning the names and place in the ecosystem of the trees, succulents, lizards, insects, and mammals one would see when walking the desert. Moving to NYC seven years ago, I was shocked by the change in culture, and natural surroundings. Back in my hometown, we got around 9” of rain a year, here it’s around 60”! Little did I know
NYC as a place where there was nature to appreciate, outside of perhaps pigeons, much less a place with lush “wilderness” areas here right in the middle of a city! That I get to spend
my days surrounded by such beauty and wonder outdoors with Kew Kids is a dream come true!

In Mexico, I worked in a state-licensed childcare center, caring for children ages 1 to 3, and was trained in CPR, nutrition, and child development. There I gained hands-on experience on
caring for children with diverse needs. Subsequently, I lived in Arizona caring for an autistic child.

I’m presently enrolled in CUNY’s Early Childhood Education program, and am hoping to specialize in working with special needs children. I have a genuine love of children, and a great rapport with them. I am excellent at engaging with them on their level, and love getting them creatively engaged in arts and crafts projects and interactive play, as well as getting them excited about obtaining the basic knowledge and academic skills that will put them ahead when they enter school. I love teaching children new things, particularly when it is something that is challenging for them to master. There is nothing more thrilling than that moment that they make that final connection and their eyes light up with the excitement of that success. I share in their pride of accomplishment.

Achievements/Interests:

Proud mother of two beautiful daughters
DOE Spanish teacher for 7 years
Child abuse recognition and prevention trained
Love to read the Bible and cook and spend time with family and friends
Certified in infant, child, and adult CPR + First Aid

GERMANIA ARANA

Lead Teacher

I was born in a small town in Ecuador, a spectacular setting for a beautiful childhood and growing one with nature. My grandparent's house was in front of a river where all my friends, brothers and I used to swim. We never needed swimming lessons because our river was our coach. In winter it rained a lot and the streets were not made of cement so mud-pool would form. We took advantage of that and made mud houses. My father had a large farm, full of cows, chicken and rice crops. We spent the every weekend at the farm playing and talk for hours on end.

I came to the US to study and received a degree in Spanish education. When I had my first child, my daughter Jessica, I took pains to protect her from getting dirty or going outside when it was too cold. I remember vividly when she was one year old she caught pneumonia and was very sick a long time. Scared, I took her back to Ecuador to see a family doctor who laughed and told me that my little princess needed to be more in contact with the nature to develop antibodies. All she needed was to be outside! This made so much sense then and even more now. Since then, both of my daughters have had an amazing childhood just like mine--getting dirty and messy is ok. We are now all healthy and strong thanks for nature as a physician and a healer.

There is something magical about being in nature. You feel it deep within – it touches your spirit. Just a few minutes of being in nature makes us feel healed and restored. Nature gives us strength, drains away all negative energy and fills us to the brim with positive energy. Let us spread that wealth in our community of youngest learners.

Achievements/Interests:

Proud dad to a grown son
Orton-Gillingham Associate in training.
Certified Forest Therapy Guide and experienced Outdoor Nature Teacher
Forest Therapy (Forest Bathing) Guide for adults in the New York Botanical Garden
Waldorf Elementary School teacher (Sunbridge Institute)
Masters in Library Science at St. John's University
Masters in Educational Theater at NYU

Born in Long Island I spend much of my time outdoors, mostly playing games with other kids in the neighborhood. My family also spent many summers camping. I have continued the tradition, getting my son involved with Scouting. My favorite place to be outdoors is in my vacation home in Vermont.

Last year I retired as a NYC High School Librarian with over 25 years of experience. I am a certified Forest Therapy Guide and experienced Outdoor Nature Teacher trained as a Waldorf Elementary School teacher. I was drawn to Waldorf education because it combined a lot of interests I had: drama, art, the outdoors and had elements of yoga/eastern philosophy. One of my favorite classes is Biodynamic farming. I returned to the school after graduating to take a year long Biodynamic farming class. I used some of the methods in a small garden (raised bed)I have in Queens.

I think the most valuable thing for Waldorf is the idea that the teacher should help lead the student toward their mission in life. Also, that each child has a unique temperament. I feel that the most valuable thing I can do as a teacher is to offer opportunities for imaginative play. I learned that play, music, art and mindfulness are the best ways to teach meditation to children in the busy hectic world we live in.

As an outdoor educator, I have worked in spectacular settings like Central Park as well as Battery Park near the ferry to the Statue of Liberty with ages ranging from 4 years to 10 years old. The most memorable moment for me was at a camp when volunteers who were working with the bee hive offered us a taste of honey. It was delicious!

I like to do yoga and also like to write, mostly poetry. Some of my poems have been published. I also won an award for a poem that I wrote. Here is a link to a poem that is currently published in The Field Guide magazine.

I feel drawn to Kew Kids and the Waldorf education philosophy it espouses and look forward to amazing discoveries outdoors.

Lead Teacher

MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

Achievements/Interests:

Lifelong artist
BA in Illustration, SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology
Seven years teaching experience, Pre-K to 8
Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) trained
Nature, conservation, zoology enthusiast
Bicycle commuting and recreation

ASTRA LIUCIJA

Art Teacher

A famous artist said, to paraphrase, that every child is an artist, however not every artist stays one once they grow up. I am glad to have evolved as a creative person into adulthood, and along with the unique people I have learned from, nature has been an amazing teacher!

My family moved around a bit before settling back in Queens, NYC in the late eighties, where I have lived since. As a toddler to about five years old I was taken on walks through New Hampshire’s woods, observing animals, plants, trees, fungi, and natural waters. Invertebrates like bees, ants, pill bugs, and spiders were favorite sightings--I am a fan and often advocate for them to this day! I appreciate the beauty of nature as well as its alien-like qualities. On paper I sketched what I saw in front of me, subjects I remembered, and invented new species and fantasy creatures.

While going to college and after, I freelanced and worked as a face-painter at events. My skills and abilities later helped me start as a teacher of computer art to middle-schoolers, eventually expanding to teaching art to levels from Preschool to 8th grade. For seven years I have been part of many children’s weekly lives and always encouraged them to make art that was true to themselves. My hope is that they get enrichment and enjoyment from our classes together. Even if they do not remain artists, positive memories with art can shape and heal people. I also believe that being outside as well as active is important for everyone. The time I have had around children of all ages has shown me that many of them need to move and learn by experiencing the physical world.

In art I have experimented with varied media and crafted with materials of all kinds. At times it is challenging to find a moment to sketch in this busy world, but I manage a few sketchbook entries when I can. Often I draw animals. I have loved them dearly since childhood and now take care of a cat and a rabbit. I also got my first bike at a young age and still am an avid near-daily, all-weather rider, with four bicycles in the stable! Safety is paramount to me and I will enthusiastically impart my city cycling knowledge to kids and adults alike. I aim to be a good role model both on the road and off, and encourage more people to commute by e-bike and bicycle.

I have ridden the drives and hiked the trails of Forest Park countless times. It is quite a special place to me and makes for a wondrous ever-changing classroom. I am excited to be part of Kew Kids and look forward to learning more about the students as well as helping them learn about the world.

Achievements/Interests:

Education student at Brooklyn College
Native Spanish speaker
Enjoys reading and creative writing
Loves taking long walks with family and friends
Loving sister
Proud dog mom

DANIELA LLERENA

Teacher

I was born and raised in Ecuador during the time “internet” wasn’t essential. Surrounded by beautiful nature and agriculture, I grew with love and longing towards Earth and its natural beauty. Overprotected as the first child, I was never able to stand on dirt or get my hands dirty. I watched with envy my younger sister do what I couldn’t and grow stronger everyday. The older I got, the more curious I was, ready to discover what I missed out as a child.

During the beginning of my high school years, I found fervor for the idea of teaching and working with kids. I welcomed many opportunities to grow my skills with children of different ages. I was an intern at the Hall of Science in Queens, where I worked with kids during their afterschool program. That was my confirmation that I had found my future career.

I am currently an undergraduate student at Brooklyn College pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Education.

Spending time with kids has always been a blast especially watching their faces light up as they discover something new. I am a teacher for my church service, and I have learned there that no matter how young they are, I can learn from them as much as they from me.

As technology becomes increasingly prevalent and addicting, I find it refreshing stepping into nature to remind myself where I come from. I am more than excited to be able to experience it everyday with the children of Kew Kids.

IZABELA HAJDER

Teacher

Achievements/Interests:

Education/Biology student at Queens College
Rock climber
Bassist
Proud aunt and sister

I was born in Queens and grew up in Ridgewood-Bushwick. My family comes from rural Poland where they were surrounded by forest and farmland. Moving to the city was a big change for them so they would find little escapes over the weekend. Whether it was just going to the local park or driving Upstate, or Pennsylvania for a hike, my family always encouraged me to explore the outdoors. They taught me what they knew about the flora and fauna and encouraged an interest in the arts. They would always try new activities. Thanks to their encouragement I never held back from exploring and trying new things and that is something I wish to pass on to the next generation.

My mother always said I'd be a teacher and no matter how much I wanted to disagree she was right. I enjoy spending time with kids and trying to look at the world from their point of view. Their imaginations run wild and their creativity is endless. It's refreshing. Although in reality, I’m a college student doing her best, when I’m playing with children we are dino fury power rangers or florists who only sell blue flowers. There doesn't need to be logic to their thoughts, it's all just for fun. They always brighten up my day.

I am currently an undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor's degree at CUNY Queens College in Education and Biology. My goal is to be an understanding teacher that can communicate with her students and I hope that they are excited to come to school and learn. One thing that I appreciate my school teaching me is working together and building my social skills. That is something I wish to teach to my students.

I am excited to be working with the team and students at Kew Kids Forest School.

MAHPARA ELAHI

Teacher

Born and raised in Bangladesh, Srimongol, I have developed a very deep connection with nature. Bangladesh is a land of enormous beauty and is surrounded by evergreen hills and rain forests. Being raised in this type of environment for the first few years of my life has left an indelible nature and its surroundings and be grateful for the life around me.

I have always loved children and their very energetic selves and have always wanted to go into the field of education. I believe a child’s first teachers are the people who can instill a love for lifelong learning. Being an educator allows us to make a difference in the future of children and develop such crucial skills. I am currently finishing my Bachelor in Arts in English and continuing my education to get my Dual Masters in General and Special Education.

It is more than an honor to be able to work with great young minds and make a difference in our younger generations. Kew Kids’ goals really inspire me to go beyond traditional education to understand the importance of nature in a child’s development. I am very excited to explore nature’s beauty with the children and help guide children to value kindness, respect all living things, and most importantly let their imagination run.

Achievements/Interests:

Coming soon

Teacher

JADE DEFREITAS

Achievements/Interests:

Coming soon

During my childhood I grew up in Guyana for 3 years. If you know Guyana you would know the wildlife it has to offer. Mainly rural, I had access to nature like no other. The different species of plants and other wildlife really connected me to nature. The memories I made there will always be special to me.

When I moved to New York I could not understand why kids my age made a big fuss over touching dirt. I was confused because their connection with wildlife was completely different from the one I had. In my elementary years it was difficult for me to connect. So as I grew up I would ask my parents about buying me the latest Apple product because it seemed cool. I assimilated so much to the culture here that I fell out of touch with my connection with nature.

As I realized that this part of my life was fading I attempted to rebuild my connection with nature. I went for bike rides and walks outside more often just to enjoy nature. I joined clubs at school such as the Green Team to participate in the aid of our world. Kew Kids ultimately helps me rebuild my personal connection with nature. I want to teach kids to enjoy their time with nature now.

Gardener and Teacher

My brand is "Joanna the Green Maven." To be a Maven you must really be passionate about something whether it's food, fashion, or in my case, nature and the environment. I have been writing nature articles, tips and blogs for over 30 years, volunteering and leading nature projects, and working in the community gardens. That is my happy place.

As a Woodlands Crew Leader at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, my job was to direct teams of volunteers and school groups in projects designed to help restore the park to its native, eastern woodlands state. Projects such as clean-up, planting and mulching were my specialty. As a Head Explainer at the New York Hall of Science, I worked with young children to explain and demonstrate exhibits and lead workshops that taught science concepts like mirrors, prisms, kaleidoscopes and light, shadows, and sound as themes. I remember fondly a video microscope demonstration which projected the view from the scope onto a screen. The subject of our observations was microscopic pond life.

Growing up in the era before technology took over gives me a unique insight on how to connect children with the world around them. There was no science camp or scheduled play dates for us and no internet. We were told to go out and play, and that was all year round. We played with piles of leaves, we made snowmen, we caught fireflies and we drew games like hopscotch in chalk on the sidewalk. I would love to see today’s kids do those things again.

Achievements/Interests:

Trained geologist
Avid gardener

JOANNA LACEY

Achievements/Interests:

Bachelor of Arts degree
Professional and experienced teacher for over 22 years in Bangladesh
Loving mother of two girls (16 and 19 years old)
Employee at JFK airport
Loves spending time with family and friends, gardening and sewing
Nature and bird lover

KAMRUN DAIZY

Teacher

Born and raised in a small beautiful village surrounded by nature in Bangladesh, I fell in love with nature as soon as I laid eyes on her. I spent most of my childhood swimming in the river, climbing trees, gardening, and catching fishes with my friends. Growing
up so close to nature really made me feel a part of it.

As I grew up I came to discover another love of mine, children. While I was a college student, my sister became a mother and spending time with my nephew made me feel as though I had become a mother too as I took care of him while my sister would be busy with her job. She soon had my niece whom I felt the exact way for. Later I became a mother myself to two beautiful girls. This time I was ready to be a doting mother alongside a growing extended family.

I became a school teacher in 1994 and over the years I have taught kids ranging 5-10 year olds. In 2016, I I moved out of my country to New York with my family and ever since then I have missed working with kids so much that passing by a school would make me long to return to be a teacher again. I feel so fortunate to be given another opportunity to work with such curious and imaginative children at Kew Kids. Everyday I am helping to make memories while reliving mine.

VICTORIA M. LAGARDERA

Teacher

Achievements/Interests:

Biology, psychology, and pre-vet student
A second mom to my little brother (10 years difference)
Experienced children educator at a Montessori pre-k school
Event organizer and outreach specialist for an animal advocacy non-profit organization
Translator and interpreter in Spanish and English
Completed various seminars on wildlife rehabilitation at South Florida Wildlife Center
Volunteer at Tamerlaine Farm Animal Sanctuary

As an honor student majoring in biology, psychology, and pre-vet medicine, one could make a good guess and say I enjoy science. But most people don’t ask how, or where, my passion for learning began. The answer is nature. I don’t really remember the first time that I was lost immersed in admiration by its wonders, because to me, it seems they were always there.

Having born in Uruguay, a very small country by the Atlantic Ocean, way to the south in South America, I had the opportunity to be raised exploring and experiencing nature’s marvels every day while still immersed in the capital city of the country. My childhood memories are my most precious treasures, from the long walks after a storm that my mom took us on, searching for and rescuing baby birds that had fallen from their nests; to playing in the mud with my rescued wild boar, Inos; or jumping between rocks at the beach and observing how anemones close when you touch them.

I was taught to respect all life, and even save jellyfish who were stuck in the sand at the beach. I learned to connect with animals as individuals, to understand them in their own ways, and to rescue and rehabilitate them. I learned to sail boats, climb trees, and developed a deep curiosity for the world around me and how things work. I learned how intertwined science, art, and even empathy are with the natural world, and how important it is for humans to have a deep connection with our planet. But the greatest lesson is the immense respect and compassion that I developed for our planet and its inhabitants; as well as the awareness that our actions as free willed individuals may and do affect this wonderful world and all of us living in it. I feel very deeply within me that it is imperative that in today’s world, where parents have to work long hours and may be tired and busy when they get home, kids can get their brains out of the screens and are able to experience nature in their daily lives first hand: touching, smelling, feeling, talking, painting, exploring, interacting, and laughing.

I’m convinced that spending time in nature, especially when we are young, is the way that new generations will be able to develop the love, respect and compassion that the world needs. Because otherwise, how could we love something that we don’t know? I really believe that this time has an immense impact in our respect for the planet and fellow earthlings; as well as in fostering our creativity, curiosity, and our physical and mental health.

Born in Queens, I did not explore nature as much because my immigrant parents were busy making money to provide for me and my older sister. Thus, I was attached to my iPad and would
watch Youtube videos for hours a day. However, entering high school I took a climate solutions class and discovered my passion for the environment and everything it had to offer. I would find myself joining the Green Team where I got involved in numerous presentations to educate students in my school, one of which was a student-led teach-in about the importance of taking action in order to fight against climate change.

I started to spend more time outdoors when I became a horticulture intern at Queens Botanical Garden. To smell the crisp air and see the various shades of green in the garden made me
realize how much I would’ve loved exploring nature as a young kid. This opportunity at Kew Kids allows me to help kids build a relationship with nature and enjoy the benefits of
nature that I never had as a child.

Achievements/Interests:

Coming soon

Teacher

PEGGY LEUNG

Achievements/Interests:

MBA and human resource management
Proud mother of an amazing 9-year old boy
Strong passion and interest in cooking/baking, fashion and gardening

NASRIN RUMA

Teacher

Growing up in Bangladesh, I was surrounded by the tranquility of vast trees and rivers. You would always find me exploring the fertile land by climbing high trees, swimming in the river and jump roping. I was spoiled by the beauty of the world
around me. As I grew older, I began to discover the elegance of life beyond the graceful nature of my motherland--starting with a nurturing relationship with my oldest sister and becoming a kindergarten teacher in Kushtia, a small village in Bangladesh. I taught the children to read, write, sketch the nature scenes and walked them through early milestones.

In 2018, I came to New York City with my husband and my 9-year old son and settled in a new lifestyle. The first few years of city life were incredibly difficult and I often found myself overwhelmed and hopeless. I landed a job at a restaurant and found joy in reading and spending time with my family.

Still I longed to connect with the next generation in a school setting. This dream came true and I am more grateful and more ready than ever to impart a delightful learning journey with the children at Kew Kids Forest School.