Samm is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a major in Outdoor Education and a minor in Ecology, Conservation, and Sustainability. He has been leading and designing education programs for 12 years. This includes educational programming for all ages, using outdoor experience to teach participants about the complex, interwoven systems that make up our natural world. He has also led outdoor activities with students with developmental differences, helping participants grow their sensory awareness and realize their own capability and ability. Samm believes that nature is important for the realization of one’s own efficacy and belongingness in the world. He has a passion for playfulness as a conduit for growth and self-realization. During his tenure at FCAS, Samm has developed the program’s curriculum. He has also formed lasting bonds with all our regular enrollees. This Fall, Samm is stepping into his role as Executive Director at Frog Creek, where he will be able to continue to share his passions and facilitate the program’s growth.

Aimee grew up in our local homeschool/ unschooling community, is a Manhattan Beach

Nursery School alum and taught preschool there for many years. Aimee is well versed in nonviolent communication, and is passionate about the importance of play, child-led learning, and nature based education.

Aimee studied child development and alternative education philosophies at Santa Monica Community College and The Evergreen State College. Throughout her life, Aimee has cared for children in many types of environments, working in the homes of families and at preschools, daycares, summer camps, etc.

Aimee began mentoring with Frog Creek four years ago. As a newer mentor at Frog Creek, Aimee spent her first year there learning about the space from the kids, as they mentored their mentor and showed her all the trails, their favorite trees, how to climb down the cliff!, and all the best hidden nooks and hideouts. Aimee loves art and music, and her favorite place in nature is the ocean and our local tide pools. At Frog Creek Aimee enjoys water coloring, playing animal tag, hiking, and watching the hawks fly around.

Caterina has been a parent at Frog Creek Adventure School since its very first semester.  She graduated from Wellesley College as a Peace & Justice Studies major, with a minor in Education. A former Frog Creek Adventure School Board member, Caterina believes wholeheartedly in the mission "Bringing childhood back to Nature". When they can, her family has spent at least a week out of every month somewhere in the beautiful. diverse wilderness of California. During her time on the Board, Caterina helped with administrative duties to keep the Board organized. As the organization grew, she was brought on as a part time employee, first as the Program Administrator, assisting the Director with keeping the organization running, both as a nonprofit and in its programming capacity. This year she was promoted to Director of Operations, which is a fancy way of saying Jane of All Trades for the organization. Caterina bring to the position 16+ years of event coordination & logistical management experience, primarily in the nonprofit sector. She has worked with charities both big and small, in a million different ways; budgets, event coordination, fundraising, administrative tasks. She is excited to see the program continue to grow and honored to be a part of that growth process.