MEET OUR TEAM
Pamela Martinez – Director & Forest School Practitioner
Hi, I’m Pamela. I grew up in Peru, and that is where my interest and appreciation for nature began. I have a degree in Anthropology that provided me with a set of skills in observation, analysis, and critical thinking. I have always been fascinated by people and their cultures and several years ago I moved to South Africa with my family and began to explore the link between nature, education, and children. My interest in outdoor education and learning through play approach led me to study forest school in the UK, which was such an inspiring experience. Since then I have been taking groups of children to explore and play in nature following the forest school ethos. I have taken a mindfulness course for children and I am interested in the physiological effects of Nature therapy. My biggest passion is hiking and if there are mountains involved it makes me even happier. My two boys keep me active and always looking for new outdoor adventures. I feel the need that children have to connect to nature, to play freely, and to discover their interests. Now more than ever, within our structured schooling systems, children need to have opportunities to learn from their own experiences and to develop skills like resilience, teamwork, creativity, and problem solving that will help them to thrive in life. I am looking forward to sharing the forest school way with you!
Emile Naude – Facilitator
I am Emile Naude and I live for the great outdoors. Having worked extensively in education over the last ten years, I like to combine my interests and experiences into the learning journey. My vocation has taken me across the world and has allowed me to experience non-western culture, especially in education. Music and art are very much at the core of my approach to teaching and the principles allow an organic, natural way to facilitate child-led nature based education.
Eve – Facilitator
Hi all, I’m Eve, a performing artist, permaculture designer, kids yoga teacher and a music teacher with a decade of teaching experience. As a facilitator I embody my in-depth yoga, martial arts, mindful movement practices, and I use music and play as a tool to share knowledge efficiently and joyfully. I’m also deeply passionate and inspired by nature on every level. I’m curiously cultivating an educational ecosystem using music, movement and creativity to inspire eco-consciousness to actively fuel connection, expansion and awareness in a playful way.
Isabella Hulme
– Facilitator
I have been so blessed to grow up between the mountain and the sea, always feeling at home and wildly in love with nature. The outdoors is my greatest source of joy, and it is a gift to share this love and passion of being in nature with children. Watching their love, connection and ease of being in natural spaces develop are truly special. It is also so important, as for the next generation of children to grow into conscientious and earth-caring adults they need to know and love what it is they are protecting, and why.
My educational background is in Sociology and Early Childhood Development, with an interest and focus on the Reggio Emilia approach. I am also a trained community art facilitator for children, and love to bring this aspect of creativity into learning spaces. My experience of working with children has been both abroad and in South Africa, ranging from outdoor to classroom to one-on-one spaces.
Kyla Norris
– Assistant Facilitator
Hi, I’m Kyla. My purpose and passion in life are to hold space for joy to blossom in others – as inner joy increases the likelihood that we contribute positively to society, building greater connections and strengthening our communities.
When children are allowed to discover who they are through play, exploration and connection with nature, they become invaluable members of the world, as joy naturally blossoms within them in this state of freedom, and a sense of inner knowing expands within them.
I still didn’t know how I wanted to contribute to the world by the time I was in university and ended up in Biotechnology. Because it took me so many years to even begin to know who I am, my wish for every child is to learn who they are from the beginning of their lives. Through my own joy practices, from laughter yoga facilitation to Secret Sunrise sessions and volunteering in organic community gardens when I can, I’m always connecting consciously with the world around me, increasing my capacity to be a vessel of purpose.
Andrèa Fedder– – Content Creation & Administration
I’m a multi-passionate creative, skilled in a diverse background from motion picture production to content creation and management, marketing strategy, web & graphic design, as well as painting and writing.
Throughout all my work, I derive my inspiration through an ever-deepening appreciation of nature. She’s taught me more about who I am and how I wish to navigate the world than anything I’ve ever learned in a traditional classroom.
I find immense joy in Nature’s symmetry and seasons. Little is better than time spent in the forests or mountains, where I’ve been lucky enough to grow up and where I soak up nature’s wisdom with the enthusiasm of a child – a child I wish to never outgrow.
My role with Nature Plays Forest School sees me holding a partly administrative and partly strategic role. I’ll be nurturing the content and design of Nature Plays where I hope to help tell the forest school story of the facilitators who believe in curiosity-led, nature-based learning, the parents who trust in nature as our wisest mother, but also the story of children, the trees and the rivers teaching us all about kinder, more honest ways of interacting with the world.
Christina Xafis
– Administrator
I grew up in South Africa, got my BA in motion picture medium, specialising in Makeup, Fashion and Styling. I have always been a free spirit with a longing to travel, learn, love, care, and share.
While living in the UK, I found a rewarding passion to assist, teach and care for children of disabilities and special needs. This opportunity didn’t only help those, but it helped me. I learnt so much and realised how much I took for granted. I decided to take my experience back to my home soil in Johannesburg.
At Nature Plays, I hold fort on all the administrative aspects of the business. I onboard all new Forest School submissions, making sure parents get the best experience and that their process is effortless and smooth sailing. I use my skillsets, initiative, drive, and attention to detail
to ensure that everything is organized and on time.
I look forward to responding to all your upcoming emails!
