Our Team
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Daniel, our lead teacher at Little Finch, brings a wealth of experience, having taught at our school for the past 7 years. Following the principles of the Coyote Guide, his curriculum focuses on connecting children with nature. Daniel's favorite activities with the kids include exciting adventures like mushroom hunting, fort building, engaging in reflective practices, singing songs, and sharing stories—activities that align perfectly with Little Finch's core values as a forest school. Additionally, Daniel has completed his Level 2 training with the Forest Kindergarten Teacher Training Program at the Academy of Forest Kindergarten, further enriching his expertise in nature-based education.
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Cristina, the founder of Little Finch Forest School, has been passionately involved with the school since its establishment in July 2018. Having a background in Child and Adolescent Development, she holds a BA in Early Childhood Development and a later MA in Elementary Education from San Francisco State University. Prior to starting Little Finch, Cristina taught at Montessori and Reggio Emilia inspired private schools in San Francisco for several years.
Her journey as an educator led her to be deeply inspired by Richard Louv's book, "Last Child in the Woods," which highlighted the growing disconnect between children and nature. This realization motivated Cristina to create an all-outdoor program that nurtures a strong connection to nature, as she firmly believes that nature provides the ideal learning environment for children at any stage of their development.
Through her years of directing and teaching at Little Finch, Cristina has observed and documented the profound impact of nature on children's learning and development. She considers herself fortunate to be able to offer a program that fosters a meaningful relationship between children and the natural world.
Though Cristina has stepped out of her directorial role, she remains actively involved in the administrative aspect of Little Finch Forest School. Her dedication to nurturing a love for nature in children and providing them with a holistic learning experience continues to be the guiding force behind the school's mission.
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Madison has led as a Nature Educator with Little Finch for 5 years. She is a lifelong researcher of imaginative expression, mind-body connection, and play-based learning.
She is passionate about tending a space where children can express themselves freely, practice relating with others, and explore the natural environment. With her Masters from the University of Houston’s PATP, she offers a range of professional work in artistic development and creative collaboration. She continues ongoing study with the Academy of Forest Kindergarten Teachers and scaffolds her curriculum from The Coyotes Guide.
She wants every student to experience the many gifts of learning outdoors, from nervous-system regulation to personal resilience. Her teaching style is marked by her deep love of the woods, the wild, and the whimsical.
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Alice is a movement, music, and teaching artist based in Northeast Los Angeles. Following her deepest curiosities, she continues to train in sensory awareness and somatic experiencing, and brings these practices onto the trail with Little Finch. She’s been a mentor with our program for 5 years.
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Fia has always had a natural inclination to explore with kids, sing songs and spend time in nature. After studying Psychology with a focus on Child Development, she gained experience in various preschools, forest camps and school programs, deepening her appreciation for connection-focused childcare.
She is artistic in nature, and passionate about incorporating music and movement into the lives of little ones to inspire authentic, joyous expression for the future!
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Lauren, a Little Finch Mentor since January 2023, grew up in the hills of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, where the natural world became her first classroom. She spent countless hours hiking the surrounding hills, observing wildlife, and grounding herself in the rhythms of the land—experiences that sparked a lifelong love of nature. The nearby Pacific Ocean was another favorite teacher, offering salty air, tide pools, and the occasional reminder that nature is both powerful and humbling.
Lauren’s early adventures shaped her belief that some of the best learning happens outdoors—with curious minds, muddy hands, and plenty of time to explore. The most meaningful learning often comes through direct experience: touching, observing, experimenting, and wondering.
Before joining Little Finch, Lauren spent many years teaching middle and high school in Los Angeles and New York City. Even within traditional classrooms, she consistently encouraged learning beyond the school walls. She was often the teacher most likely to say, “Let’s take this outside for an adventure!” Again and again, she saw that experiential learning sparked deeper engagement, curiosity, and confidence. Students learned best when they could move, explore, and experience the world directly.
Working with young children in forest school feels like returning to the roots of learning—where wonder, play, and discovery naturally lead the way. Questions are big, discoveries are small but magical, and every walk can become an unexpected adventure. The natural world invites endless curiosity.
Lauren brings a strong academic and professional background to her work with children. She holds a BA in History from Reed College, an MFA in Creative Photography and Video from California State University, Fullerton, and an MA in Technology in Education from Columbia University. She has also studied at UCLA, CSUN, Harvard University, NYU, Rochester Institute of Technology, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, ArtCenter College of Design, UC Berkeley, and the University of East Anglia in England.
She is a California and New York State credentialed teacher and a National Board Certified Teacher in Visual Arts. Lauren is currently completing Forest Kindergarten Teacher Training while continuing studies in herbalism, botanical food traditions, holistic health, and Waldorf-inspired handcraft traditions. These interests inform her seasonal, sensory, and hands-on approach to nature-based learning.
In past classrooms, Lauren taught photography, film, animation, game design, and media arts, with students achieving top scores in the International Baccalaureate Film program. Her own photographic and experimental film work has been exhibited internationally in galleries, museums, and festivals.
Travel has also shaped Lauren’s perspective as an educator. She has explored forests, deserts, oceans, and mountains across six continents—sometimes trekking long distances, sometimes simply sitting quietly and observing.
These days, some of her favorite discoveries come from a preschooler proudly showing a perfectly chosen stick, stone, bug, or puddle. In forest school, these small moments often become the beginning of the biggest learning.
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Kelsey is a forest school educator with a background in childcare and a degree in songwriting, bringing a creative and intuitive approach to learning in the outdoors. Drawn to the rhythms of the natural world, she helps create a space for children to slow down, explore, and follow their curiosity - whether through storytelling, imaginative play, or quiet observation.
Kelsey encourages children to connect deeply with themselves, each other, and the land around them. She believes the forest is a place of both magic and belonging, where creativity can unfold freely and each child can discover their own voice, confidence, and way of being.
