Ana Antunes (they/them)

Extended Day Teacher

Ana spent much of their childhood on the sandy shores of Long Island, NY. They graduated from Binghamton University with a B.A. in English Literature and are currently pursuing their MS.Ed. in Early Childhood Education at Brooklyn College. Their love of nature, advocacy and the arts are deeply intertwined. Before joining Wonderforest, Ana worked as a teacher upstate and in Prospect Park with our sister school, Brooklyn Nature Days. Ana’s teaching philosophy emphasizes curiosity, creative expression and community care. They strive to be mindful of and sensitive to every child's unique set of needs as they grow into themselves and the world around them. Outside of teaching, Ana loves to cook, read, draw and spend time in nature with their loved ones. 

Bayla Kolbet (she/her)

Floating Teacher

Bayla was born and raised in New York City and graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Political Science. She currently works with Reading Partners at an elementary school in Bed-Stuy, providing literacy intervention for students reading below grade level. Bayla loves working with kids and finds their natural curiosity and enthusiasm endlessly inspiring.

Her passion for the outdoors runs deep, and she is so excited to spend the summer at Wonderforest sharing her love of the natural world with young campers. Connecting NYC kids with nature is something she feels strongly about — it's exactly the kind of experience she wished she'd had growing up, and she can't wait to help spark that same wonder and curiosity in others. Outside of work, Bayla enjoys knitting, reading, and doing yoga. She is thrilled to be part of the Wonderforest community this summer and can't wait for a season full of exploration, discovery, and fun!

Bec Fenn (they/them)

Park Trip Leader

Bec is originally from the Bay Area, California, where they developed an appreciation for the natural world through hiking, rock climbing, camping, and spending time outdoors. This love of nature sparked a passion for outdoor and experiential education, leading them to work as an Instructor with New York City Outward Bound Schools in 2016. Bec received their Master of Social Work from Gallaudet University in 2023 and provides Child-Centered Play Therapy and psychotherapy in New York State and California as a Licensed Master Social Worker. 

Over the past ten years, Bec has worked with youth of all ages and backgrounds in outdoor, educational, and therapeutic settings. Bec is especially passionate about early childhood development and the opportunity to teach young people through play, exploration, and meaningful experiences in nature. They value creating environments where young people feel safe, empowered, and free to be themselves.  Bec is excited to continue working with young people and families at Wonderforest this summer. 

Cindy Sanchez (she/her)

Floating Teacher

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Cindy has been working in the early childhood field for the past 11 years, serving children of various backgrounds and ages throughout the city. Cindy loves working with children and seeing their eyes light up with each new discovery. She is currently working towards her bachelor degree in the early childhood education. In her free time she loves spending time with her 2 children, exploring the city and finding new adventures.

D’Ella Brown (she/her)

Co-Lead Teacher

D’Ella was born in Alabama and moved frequently around the south. In every state she made sure to explore the great outdoors with her sisters. Her love of nature followed when she moved to New York city. When her oldest niece was born she lit up her life thus sparking her passion for educating. Passion turned into more when she got to college, realizing that she wanted to help all children. She has been working with elementary school children at an afterschool program for a little over 2 years while obtaining her bachelor’s in early childhood special education. 

Jules Becerra (she/they)

Co-Lead Teacher

Jules Becerra is a Brooklyn-based outdoor educator with several years of experience leading youth programs and facilitating outdoor experiences for various programs, including Outward Bound. As a Lead Field Instructor, Jules has facilitated hiking, camping, and team-building experiences for students across the U.S., helping them build confidence, curiosity, and a connection to nature. Jules graduated from Harvard University, and also has a Masters in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Jules feels strongly about getting youth outside, and is passionate about making learning outdoors joyful, inclusive, and meaningful. In their spare time, Jules enjoys writing and performing comedy, playing music, and playing soccer.

Julian Madera (he/they)

Extended Day Teacher

Julian hails from The Bronx, where they spent their early life thoughtfully observing & learning about the world around them, imagining a brighter one. Julian has always gravitated towards childhood education, starting their career volunteering at the Central Park Early Learning Center and leading an after-school class of 2nd graders at The Melrose School in the South Bronx. Jules also teaches in the park with our sister program, Brooklyn Nature Days. A fun-loving, compassionate, and creative spirit, Jules likes working with children because it allows him to utilize his active imagination. He loves to create dynamic scenarios where everyone is encouraged to share, grow and move with kindness. Above all, Julian rejects a one-size-fits-all approach to education and asserts the importance of treating each child as a unique and active participant in their learning journey.

Katie Garcia (she/her)

Floating Teacher

Katie is an educator, theater artist, and integration specialist in spirituality and creative arts. She holds a Master's degree in Psychology in Education with a focus on Spirituality Mind Body from Teachers College, Columbia University. Originally from Brazil, she earned a Bachelor's in Communication and Arts of the Body from PUC-SP and a Certificate in Educational Psychology from Singularidades Institute.

Katie’s work explores theater as a ritualistic and transformative practice that nurtures the mind-body-spirit connection. She brings over a decade of experience in arts education across Brazil and the U.S., with a deep commitment to child development, emotional well-being, and inclusive pedagogy. Her teaching weaves together non-violent communication, social-emotional learning (SEL), and embodied learning, always centering creativity and care.

As a SEE Learning Facilitator and active researcher, Katie seeks to create learning environments where young people and educators alike reconnect with their inner world and the natural world. 

Lev Prusak (they/them)

Extended Day Teacher

Lev is a New York native currently studying human rights at Bard College in upstate New York. As a strong youth advocate, Lev believes in honoring every child’s unique needs, experiences, and curiosities, valuing the importance of creating a safe space for children to express their feelings. Through Freedom Schools, a program with a core focus on social justice and social-emotional learning, Lev taught a 4th grade literacy class during the summer of 2025 in Jamaica, Queens. Lev has also worked at the Abigail Lundquist Botstein Nursery School for two years. They have experiences working with neurodivergent scholars and those with disabilities. Lev believes the outdoors is one of the most fruitful environments for play as well as physical and mental wellbeing. Everyone has a universal right to green spaces.

Lili Clarke (she/her)

Assistant Teacher

Lili is a Brooklyn native who recently graduated from Oberlin College
with a major in Comparative Literature and a minor in French. She has
always been interested in education and childcare, spending her
summers in college working as a camp counselor at various Brooklyn day
camps. Lili is passionate about the environment and the importance of
urban greenspace and is super thrilled to get to share her love of the
outdoors with the Wonderforest community.

Outside of the classroom, Lili loves birdwatching in Prospect Park,
reading, making jewelry, and watching stand-up comedy. She is also a
big fan of her toothless elderly cat, Flounder.

Lulu Guzman (she/her)

Assistant Teacher

Lulu Guzman is a Brooklyn-based childcare provider, theater artist, and lover of stories, mud puddles, and neighborhood walks. She currently works as an after-school instructor for pre-K students in Carroll Gardens, where she delights in making art from found materials, reading aloud, playing games, and helping young people feel curious, confident, and cared for. Having grown up in Wisconsin, she knows first hand how time outdoors can nurture curiosity, care, and a sense of responsibility for the natural world. She is excited to be spending her first summer at Wonder Forest!!

Madison Winkes-Cantrell (she/her)

Extended Day Teacher

Originally from New Orleans, Madison moved to New York nearly 10 years ago to attend NYU, graduating with an anthropology degree in 2017. Madison has worked with children in various capacities - a preschool assistant supporting early literacy in Lower Manhattan, a 4th grade teacher's assistant in the East Village, and most recently, a nanny to two lively little girls here in Brooklyn. She is so inspired by childrens' endless energy, enthusiasm, and imagination. This curiosity translates into her teaching approach, supporting each individual student's interests & needs. When not teaching, you can find her tending to her fire escape garden, fostering kittens, backpacking, and quilting. Madison is certified in Infant, Child, & Adult CPR.

Molly Mahoney (she/her)

Extended Day Teacher & Director

Molly is an upstate native where she grew up immersed in all the outdoors opportunities offered. She received a BA in history and political science and recently received a MA in museum studies from Johns Hopkins University. She hopes to return to school to study education in the near future. Molly has worked as a nanny, encouraging a love for nature in all the kids she worked with. She’s excited to continue to nurture that love in her Wonderforest students! Her favorite thing about working with young minds is following their passions and encouraging independence and learning through play. In her free time, she loves spending time with her cat and wife, hiking, and exploring unique museums. 

Niovi Rahme (she/her)

Lead Teacher

Originally from Boston but an aspiring Brooklynite, Niovi is passionate about creative and social justice-based education and surrounding kids with love, laughter, acceptance, and community. With a background in art education, Niovi mostly likes to make messes, and do lots of hands-on, sensory activities with children. A lover of worms, birds, rivers, and trees in spring for as long as she can remember, Niovi is ecstatic to get to spend a lot of time befriending nature with little friends at Wonderforest. Outside of teaching, Niovi loves dancing, biking, swimming, cooking with friends, and exploring new places!

Paul Lavallee (he/him)

Lead Teacher

Paul grew up in Maryland and developed a love for the outdoors through hiking, camping, surfing, and exploring natural spaces. He holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University. Paul is currently a 3rd and 4th Grade Science Teacher at the Cathedral School of St. John the Divine in New York City, where he teaches hands-on science through environmental investigations, engineering challenges, and outdoor exploration. Prior to teaching in New York, Paul worked as an Environmental Educator in California, leading nature-based programs for students of all ages and helping young people develop meaningful connections with the natural world. Paul believes children learn best through curiosity, play, and firsthand experiences in nature. He is passionate about fostering confidence, creativity, and a sense of wonder in every child. In his free time, Paul enjoys backpacking, basketball, scuba diving, gardening, reading, and spending time outdoors. He is certified in CPR, First Aid, and Wilderness First Aid.

Vannessa Ju (they/she)

Substitute Teacher

As a young child, Vannessa grew up underneath the wide open skies of both Houston, Texas and Tainan, Taiwan. Vannessa has always felt a kinship to nature, imagination, and art–being an intuitively creative person, they are passionate about not only continuing to discover this magic, but also teaching others to embrace the intersectionality of this wondrousness as well! Much of Vannessa’s teaching history involves English Second Language education to Mandarin-speaking students in Taiwan, and understanding how to bridge the gap between kids who feel as if they are in-between worlds due to generational immigration. When Vannessa has spare time, she often spends it nurturing her own inner child through activities like fiber arts, long walks in gardens, and cuddling with her two cats, Sugar and Cher.

Kenny Frisby (he/him)

Operations Manager

Kenny was born in Dayton, OH and transplanted to NYC in 2001. He’s a dad, yogi, cat person, plant lover, and amateur crafter. At Wonderforest Kenny works mostly behind the scenes, helping to make each day go by smoothly.

Sarah Carlson (she/her)

Founder: Brooklyn Nature Days, Wonderforest Preschool, BK Natur(Ed)

 Sarah is a Bank Street Graduate with an M.S. Ed. in Early Childhood Elementary Education, and has taught in a variety of public and private school settings in New York and New Jersey for the past 19 years. She is the 2018 recipient of the Margaret O’Neill Early Childhood Nature Educator Award for her work with Brooklyn Nature Days. Sarah is certified as a Forest School Kindergarten Teacher through Cedarsong Nature School and is currently pursuing her New York Master Naturalist Certification through Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension Program. She currently serves on the Board of the Eastern Regional Association of Forest and Nature Schools (ERAFANS). Sarah holds Permanent Teaching Certification in both New York and New Jersey. She is inspired by children's authenticity, energy, and expression and is rooted in the idea that we are always learning through experience, reflection, and finding the magic in day to day moments. Sarah believes strongly in the freedom, health, and creativity that ample time in nature can provide.