La Simbiosis Nature School

Our Teachers

Kylie Takashima, Directora, Maestra

My desire to find a quality preschool for my own children that would be emotionally safe, relationally rich, and holistically stimulating, prompted me to start La Simbiosis Nature School. My children spent most of their time in our apartment with me, yet research overwhelmingly shows the benefits and basic necessity for people to be out in the dirt and the sunshine. I wanted us to experience these benefits and do so with other families. The rich life experiences that come from exploring nature within community will ground our children in the symbiotic relationships they need to take on the next stages of life.

Besides having two preschoolers myself, I have nannied, and provided nursery and elementary child care at churches. I have a degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in multilingual education and certifications in Spanish and ethnobotany. I have over 10 years of multilingual teaching experience in public schools. I believe that risks, relationships, and goals are vital to development. For this reason, I combine the traditional play-based, student-led learning of Forest Schools with explicit language instruction through stories, music, and games, along with problem-based learning scenarios to cultivate motivation and life skills.

Claribel Pérez, Fundadora

Growing up in a small town in Mexico nature has been part of my whole life. Spending the weekend during my childhood in the countryside, running, climbing trees, playing hide and seek with my siblings and cousins is something that I cherish and would love to share with the kids.

I graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Industrial Design and have experience working with kids from ages 0 to 7 years old. After obtaining my degree I certified in Biointensive gardening and Plant-Based nutrition.

I have been a stay home mom to my 2.5 year old daughter since birth, I have been a nanny and have given English classes to first graders in Mexico for a year.

I wanted to start this program to give my daughter the opportunity to spend more time outside while she is able to learn, explore, build her confidence, work and continue to develop her motor and social skills. I love working with children because they live in the present, they are curious, pure and candid.

During my free time I love to go on hikes with my family, run, and visit parks, cooking, gardening. My passion is to share my love and knowledge of nature with the children.

Testimonials

La Symbiosis has been wonderful for my 2.5 year old son. It is a perfect blend of structured activity and free play. They’ve found treasure using a map, they’ve built a shelter with sticks, they’ve looked for beetles, they’ve identified useful plants versus plants to stay clear of, and more. The children carry their own backpack, feed themselves, and manage their own limits in terms of climbing and exploring. My son has become more independent and resourceful as a result, as well as stronger and more physically able. The teachers are good and have a lot of knowledge of child development and education. They pay close attention to the children to make sure everyone is involved and included, and learning and having a good time. My son looks forward to going to the program every day. The children participating in the program are ethnically and culturally diverse, and the outdoor settings are beautiful. One of the great benefits of living in Los Angeles is the diversity of culture and natural settings available within the city. La Symbiosis is a program that takes full advantage of all that our city has to offer us. I am so happy to have found this program, and to have my child experience an environment that is open and free, and to play with children that he really enjoys being with and connects with. Would strongly encourage any parent to try this program out with their children.

The La Simbiosis nature school has been so good for my one year old. She has been attending since they started in the summer and i can personally speak to how wonderful the teachers are - Kylie and Claribel. They share my passion for getting children outside! My daughter loves the hikes and socializing with all the other kiddos in a fun outdoor setting. With our family’s busy schedule, i’m so glad that she’s getting the enrichment that we otherwise don’t have time for during the busy work week. she always comes home with a big smile on her face and maybe some dirt on her clothes - but that’s what makes it fun! highly recommend!

Philosophy

La Simbiosis takes a holistic approach to child and community development, in which children learn through nature, relationships, and intentional language development. We believe that in a context of trust, children can take healthy risks to learn about themselves, others, their environments, and good communication within them. Wonder, relaxation, and exploration occur naturally, and, as teachers, we provide purposeful structures within this environment for problem-solving, engineering, art, collaboration, and critical thinking. The teaching is created based on a combination of student interest, CA preschool standards, and problem-based learning, all at developmentally appropriate levels in play-based exploration and activities so that children are equipped with life and academic skills. Ultimately, our vision is to provide space for children of diverse backgrounds to imagine, create, problem-solve, and explore while learning skills to make them successful in communication, relationships, nature, and life endeavors.

Location

Our primary location, Bailey Canyon, is closed due to the Eaton Fires. Our temporary locations are Monrovia Hillside Preserve and Pasadena’s Lower Arroyo. Come to our open house to visit our beautiful site!/Nuestra ubicación principal, Bailey Canyon, está cerrado por resultado de los Eaton Fires. Ahora nos juntamos en Monrovia Hillside Preserve y Lower Arroyo en Pasadena. ¡Vengan a nuestra jornada de puertas abiertas para para visitar nuestro hermoso sitio!

About our program

La Simbiosis is a multilingual community nature program that provides a healthy space for children to explore social dynamics, nature, and what there body, minds, and spirits are capable of. Children will develop resilience, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills. If your child struggles with anxiety, is ready for school preparatory skills, or you are weary of your child getting sick at daycare, our nature program for ages 3-6 is a beautiful option. Children have the freedom to play in a mud kitchen, create music, and witness nature’s miracles on a daily basis. Our curriculum follows nature-based themes that we will engage with through play, songs, problem-solving, and creation, while focusing on Spanish and English language development. Can’t afford our preschool program? Ask about work exchange! We also offer a Caretaker-and-Kids program for parents wanting to find community in nature alongside their little ones and other families.

Admissions

1. Attend a tour of the program with your child.

2. Message us to ask for an application, then complete the application via GoogleForms and pay the application fee.

3. After reviewing your application, we will send you an electronic enrollment invitation. You will then read through the handbook, complete enrollment paperwork, and pay your deposit (first month’s tuition).

4. Asistir a la jornada de puertas abiertas con su hijo.

5. Enviennos un mensaje pidiendo una aplicación y completen la aplicación por GoogleForms y pagar la cuota.

6. Después de revisar su aplicación, les invitaremos a matricularse. Entonces, leerán el manual, completarán el papeleo de matrícula, y pagarán el depósito de garantía (el pago del primer mes).