Aimee grew up in our local homeschool/ unschooling community, is a Manhattan Beach Nursery School alum, and taught preschool there for many years (where she met the founding Frog Creek Families). Aimee is well versed in nonviolent communication (NVC), 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. With over 25 years of experience, Aimee has cared for children in many types of environments, babysitting, nannying, and teaching at preschools, daycares, summer camps, art classes, etc. 

 

Aimee is new to the director role at Frog Creek, but has been a lead mentor since 2018. While native to the south bay, Aimee was unfamiliar with the frog creek area before working here. She spent her first year or so learning everything from the kids and founding families, as they mentored their mentor and showed her all the trails, their favorite trees, how to climb down the old cliff area, 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 regularly enjoys water coloring, playing games, hiking, plant identification, and watching the hawks fly around. Aimee is especially grateful to work outside (beach days and Summer Camp are her favorite), and to be able to provide a space for kids to be themselves, to explore, create, play, and move freely, and to find connection to community.

Susana Q. is a consultant at Frog Creek Adventure School, where she brings a deep passion for child development, nature-based learning, and relationship-centered guidance. With a bachelor’s degree in Educational Psychology from the Autonomous University of Querétaro in the city of Querétaro, México, a training in Relationship based intervention for autistic kids and speech and hearing therapy, Susana has over a decade of experience supporting children with diverse developmental needs—including those receiving speech therapy for children with cochlear implants, and families navigating Autism through relationship-based therapeutic interventions.

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Susana’s work is grounded in empathy, respect, and connection. She is trained in Nonviolent Communication, a framework that shapes her approach to mentoring by fostering emotional awareness, collaboration, and trust. Before joining the mentorship team, Susana spent five years as a parent in the program, and four years as a mentor, giving her a unique understanding of the forest school model from both a family and educator perspective.

Inspired by the natural world, Susana weaves nature, science, and crafting into meaningful learning experiences that nurture curiosity and confidence in every child. Her belief in the innate connection between humans and nature guides her mentoring philosophy and her personal life—where she enjoys camping, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her family.

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Susana is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and joyful environment where children can grow, discover, and thrive through play, exploration, and authentic connection.

For as long as she can remember, Shauna has loved kids. She begged to help in church nursery, babysat 3 kids under 5 at 12, worked at camps, and nannied until she had children of her own. She studied elementary education and art at Gordon College.

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Shauna has brought  her passion for kids to Frog Creek for the past 8 years, where she meets all children where they are, and feels like the luckiest person in the world, getting to be in nature with some of  her favorite people!