Building a Heart-Centered Learning Community
Nature-rooted, holistic learning for nomadic and local families.
Wild Child Nosara offers a vibrant, heart-centered learning environment for families seeking an alternative to traditional schooling.
We provide the reliability of a year-round program and the stability of a gentle, predictable rhythm—the heartbeat of our space. Children are welcome any time of year and quickly feel at home in a warm, inclusive atmosphere.
Designed especially for Worldschoolers, Unschoolers, and Homeschoolers, our programs are child-centered, project-based, and deeply holistic, blending academics, creativity, sustainability, and multicultural awareness.
We serve up to 35 children daily, welcoming families year-round with flexible, made-to-measure learning experiences tailored to local children, traveling families, and Nosara’s retreat centers.
Our Educational Foundation
A living tapestry weaving established holistic approaches with ancestral wisdom
Wild Child integrates:
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Waldorf – nurturing head, heart, and hands
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Reggio Emilia – creative collaboration and open-ended exploration
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Forest School – learning from nature
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Summerhill – child voice, democracy, and co-creation
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Indigenous & Ancestral Wisdom – cultural knowledge and earth stewardship
We empower children as sovereign beings, cultivating:
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Mindfulness and empathy
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Creativity and problem-solving
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Natural leadership and environmental responsibility
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Connection to self, community, and the world
Multi-Pedagogical Integration
Waldorf: Foundation & Rhythm
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Balance of academics, arts, and practical skills
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Storytelling, music, movement, handwork, and nature-based exploration
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Lessons integrated with seasonal cycles and planetary energies
Forest School: Nature as Teacher
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Hands-on exploration of plants, insects, and ecosystems
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Jungle and ocean adventures
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Risk-supported play fostering confidence and resilience
Reggio Emilia: Creative Collaboration
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Open-ended creative stations with art, music, and building materials
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Encourages problem-solving, cooperation, and collaboration
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Projects celebrated through exhibits, performances, or films
Summerhill Democracy: Child Voice & Co-Creation
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Children co-create learning experiences
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Practice responsibility, independence, and social collaboration
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Fosters critical thinking, self-confidence, and empathy
Indigenous & Ancestral Wisdom
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Learning from Costa Rican Indigenous, Native American, African American, and other cultural traditions
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Cultivating interconnectedness, leadership, and earth stewardship
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Community-centered, diversity-embracing, and resource-sharing practices
Meet Our Educators
Our team blends local expertise with international experience
Costa Rican Lead Teachers:
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Waldorf-certified, and training in Reggio and/or Forest pedagogies
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Deep ecological knowledge of Nosara
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Rooted in authentic cultural connections spanning generations
International Supporting Educators:
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Multi-pedagogical training across age groups
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Support worldschooling families with documentation and flexible programming
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Include indigenous wisdom keepers and multimedia artists enriching cultural and creative experiences
Dunnia
My name is Dunnia, I am Tica, I was born on the Caribbean coast in 1992. I am the mother of three children. At the age of 20, I started my journey to Guanacaste, and in search of a free and respectful education for my son, I came across the Casa de las Estrellas school, which I instantly fell in love with!
I worked at this Waldorf school for 10 years with children from 2 to 7 years old, I also gave extra crochet and sewing classes to children from 9 to 12 years old.
I studied and graduated in Waldorf pedagogy in Cuernavaca (Mexico).
The Waldorf pedagogy has given meaning to my life. I love how it views children as free beings with unique gifts to bestow into the world (Educating through will or doing), respecting the individuality of each being, and accompanying them. It also taught me to open my heart wide to receive their great discoveries.
Being surrounded by children is the most magical thing that exists. I learn from each one of them and I do my best to inspire to
them to express themselves freely.
Juliana
My name is Juliana, I was born in the province of San José. I spent the first part of my childhood in the city. Over the years my parents started their way to this beautiful place called Nosara, I feel lucky to have grown up
surrounded by nature and the sea.
Two years ago, I gave birth to my first child. Almost at the same time, I discovered the Waldorf philosophy. I love being surrounded by children, learning from them, and growing as a person thanks
to my experience with them.
After a short experience at Casa das Estrelas, life brought me to the wonderful Wild Child Nosara Playgarden & Wildschooling where I am given the opportunity to fulfill my dream. Last June 2023 I began my training as a Waldorf kindergarten teacher in Colombia, it was a magnificent experience.
I want to always be surrounded by children because their joy is contagious and they bring the best of me as a teacher.
Jennifer
My name is Jennifer. I was born in Venezuela and have called Costa Rica home for the past 8 years. At Wild Child, I weave together my passion for movement, nature, and nourishment through gardening, integrative nutrition, and Capoeira — a unique Afro-Brazilian art form that blends martial arts, dance, music, and rhythm.
I am a proud student of the Muzenza Capoeira Academy Costa Rica and complement my Capoeira practice with boxing, weight lifting, high-intensity training, yoga, and dance, keeping my body and spirit energized, resilient, and expressive.
Capoeira is a dance and martial art with deep roots in African ancestry, brought to Brazil and passed down through generations. It is more than movement — it's music, history, rhythm, and storytelling. The songs, sung in Portuguese, tell stories about nature, resilience, and connection, and are played with instruments like the Berimbau, Atabaque, Pandeiro, and Agogô. For children, I describe it as a movement game inspired by animals and nature, which builds presence, flexibility, and connection with others.
Alongside teaching Capoeira and movement, I also manage the Wild Child kitchen. I studied Integrative Nutrition, and I create seasonal, organic, whole-food menus aligned with the rhythms of nature and the children's growing bodies. I’m also working in our school garden, growing as much of the food we eat as possible, with the dream of bringing our meals full circle — from soil to table.
My work is rooted in joy, rhythm, and reverence for the Earth. I believe children thrive when they are nourished, grounded, and moving with purpose — and it is my honor to help guide them on that path.
Alexandra Orchid
, our Whole Being Teacher, has had a lifelong passion for working with children. She began her journey in 8th grade as an art assistant, helping young kids explore self-expression through painting and drawing. Since then, she has tutored children in reading and math and worked as a nanny, where she emphasized creativity, play, and outdoor exploration.
Alexandra earned her degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship and is passionate about teaching kids the value of business, trading, and relationships—empowering them to see the world through curiosity, creativity, and possibility. Her professional background also includes working with holistic health centers, integrative medicine practices, and retreat centers, where she promoted the importance of preventative medicine and whole-being care.
She brings joy and authenticity into her teaching, guided by her love for children, play, dance, and time in nature. Alexandra believes learning should nurture the whole self—mind, body, and spirit—while creating space for kids to thrive.
Alexandra Orchid
, our Whole Being Teacher, has had a lifelong passion for working with children. She began her journey in 8th grade as an art assistant, helping young kids explore self-expression through painting and drawing. Since then, she has tutored children in reading and math and worked as a nanny, where she emphasized creativity, play, and outdoor exploration.
Alexandra earned her degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship and is passionate about teaching kids the value of business, trading, and relationships—empowering them to see the world through curiosity, creativity, and possibility. Her professional background also includes working with holistic health centers, integrative medicine practices, and retreat centers, where she promoted the importance of preventative medicine and whole-being care.
She brings joy and authenticity into her teaching, guided by her love for children, play, dance, and time in nature. Alexandra believes learning should nurture the whole self—mind, body, and spirit—while creating space for kids to thrive.
Our Values
Core principles guiding every moment of our shared journey
Intentional Adaptability
Education that flexes with family journeys, honoring that each family's path looks different while maintaining educational excellence.
Holistic, Child-Centered Learning
Nurturing the whole child—mind, body, and heart through inquiry-based education that honors each child’s unique journey, fosters thoughtfully curated collective experiences, and unfolds at a mindful, unhurried pace.
Mindfulness and Open Hearts
Cultivating mindful beings with empathy, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a deep sense of belonging.
Connection to Nature
Rooted in the natural world, inspiring wonder, love for nature, and environmental awareness.
Earth Stewardship
Growing responsible, caring children who respect and nurture our planet.
Cultural Co-Creation and Community
Co-creating an intentional community, a village to raise our children.
Bilingual and Multicultural Learning
Fostering language skills and global understanding for an interconnected world.
Creativity, Play, and Exploration
Encouraging imagination, artistic expression, and learning through joyful discovery.
Lili
Founder & Creative Guide
I have always dreamed of creating an alternative school—or, more precisely, an alternative to school. I was born in Brazil, a country I love for its lush nature, vibrant life, and warm, generous people. When I was seven, my family moved to Belgium to join relatives and access better educational opportunities. I missed the family we left behind, the tropical sun, the fruits, the waterfalls, and the vibrant energy of its people. Yet I embraced and grew to love European culture, connecting with my father’s roots, learning three more languages—French, English, and Dutch—and earning a Master’s degree in Social and Political Sciences with an emphasis on International Relations.
Education has always been essential to developing human capacities, and I am deeply grateful for the priority my parents placed on it. Their example sparked my early contemplation of what “true and right education” could be, and over the past two decades, philosophies from Krishnamurti to alternative pedagogies have shaped my vision.
My former career as a humanitarian photographer and documentary filmmaker for the United Nations and organizations like Doctors Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, and Oxfam in DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Latin America strengthened my belief that education is crucial for creating a better world. I also worked as a photojournalist, producing work for magazines and initiating my own projects to promote the rights of marginalized groups in Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia and Mexico. I am deeply motivated by social justice and solidarity, guided by visions and dreams for a harmonious and more peaceful world.
My lifelong quest to understand the human condition, our interconnectedness, and our relationship with nature has always been a spiritual journey. Nearly a decade of travel led me to California, where I immersed myself in practices focused on embodiment, mindfulness, meditation, voice, activism, permaculture, and radical self-expression. I studied with teachers who profoundly influenced me: Sally Kempton, Starhawk, Vicki Noble, Vajra Ma, Silvia Nakkach, and Lucia Horan. These experiences inspired me to “rewild” myself and the world around me, integrating presence, creativity, and ecological awareness into my life and work.
Since 2021, I have lived between California, Europe, and Nosara, weaving community and building bridges between my homes. Nosara is where I spend the most time, it has become a point of integration, a place that embodies the beauty, nature, and culture I love, and inspires me to share the gifts of my life journey with others.
My journey to motherhood was long and paved with grief. After more than ten years of patience, perseverance, and learning to trust the process, I gave birth to a child who reminds me daily that we are miracles. Grief has been one of my greatest teachers, showing me that loss can liberate greater love. I live each day with reverence and gratitude, and this is the spirit I hope to bring to the Wild Child community.
Wild Child Playgarden & Wildschooling is an expression of this journey—an evolving co-creation, a shared dream, rather than a conventional school. My vision is to co-create a holistic, supportive environment where children can play freely, explore nature, learn new skills, and co-create beauty, guided by caring, qualified adults trained in holistic pedagogies. This is also a space for parents and future parents to gather, learn, and grow together as they nurture the next generation.
I am committed to walking this life in beauty with an expanded heart. I want to nurture children, listen deeply, and learn from them, honoring reciprocity and mutuality. I warmly invite anyone who resonates with this vision to join us in co-creating the dream school, shaping a new culture, and building the village where we raise our children together. Wild Child is an extension of motherhood, and, in many ways, a poetic act—a living expression of love, care, and possibility.
Flaminia
"It all started with my passion for nature and thus a desire to dedicate my life to being in contact with it. After many years studying gardening, sustainability, ecology, permaculture, biodynamic agriculture, natural pools, ponds design...I realized that it was also about wanting to help others to connect and live in harmony with our environment.
Dandelion Wildschooling project inspires me with those goals. We are landscaping with harmony and we are focusing on the needs of the children. Landscaping with the environment and dancing with the little ones, playing and learning with nature, and the respect that Pachamama deserves."
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