The NatureKids Model:
What guides our work?
At NatureKids our work is guided by the belief that we are all interconnected and that when we work together we are always more productive and joyous than when we try to go it alone.
In our schools we believe deeply in including parents and grandparents in the learning process of their kids. We ask families to do homework together. We encourage parent-teacher relationships. We invite parents to community meetings and we work directly with our students and their families to create a curriculum that meets the local needs of the dynamic communities we serve.
With our teachers we encourage dialogue and exchange. We sponsor the attendance of teachers at national and regional conferences. We run an innovative program of teacher-training workshops, bringing the NatureKids staff together on a regular basis.
We believe
learning extends far beyond our curriculum, and that much of what students learn is not written or taught. It is picked up on from the experience of being a student. In recognition of this, we strive to reach each child on a personal level, bearing in mind that the learning environment, classroom experience and interpersonal relationships formed at our schools are just as valuable as what is being taught during class.
The community experience is also a vital piece of our methodology. We teach English as a second language from the base of our students' actual lives. We connect lesson plans to personal, family, community and environmental issues. We take our students into nature to learn language in the place they know best-their villages.
As
we cultivate hope, we include principles of sustainability and ecological literacy so that NatureKids students can grow up to be educated citizens of the earth and can use their language skills to create positive change in their communities and beyond.
Staff 2009:
Director of Administration: Gena Terry Khajavi
Head Teacher, Drake Bay: Pamela Nave
Teacher and community director:Vanessa Schott
Teacher K-12: Yorleny Cordero Quiros
Project El Progresso 2008-2009: This year the Naturekids Foundation and the Corcovado Foundation are joining forces and funding to bring an English program to El
Progresso. The Corcovado Foundation is providing training in tourism hospitality and funding an English teacher. NatureKids will supply the teacher, materials, and school books for the program. By removing the language barrier and providing training in tourism, locals will have access to the tourist market and will have incentive to protect these ancient creatures.
Computer Donations 2008:
6 brand new computers have been donated to NatureKids through the Yakuna Foundation and it founder PC Romano. Computers have been essential part of our program and have provided our students basic computer skills and create new ways of learning through software education programs
