Join our Fall Session today!
Discover, learn, and grow in nature with us!
¡Descubre, aprende y crece en la naturaleza con nosotros!
About us
La Simbiosis is a multilingual community nature program that provides a healthy space for children to explore social dynamics, nature, and what there body, minds, and spirits are capable of. Children will develop resilience, collaboration, creativity, and communication skills. If your child struggles with anxiety, is ready for school preparatory skills, or you are weary of your child getting sick at daycare, our nature program for ages 2-6 is a beautiful option. Children have the freedom to play in a mud kitchen, create music, and witness nature's miracles on a daily basis. Our curriculum follows nature-based themes that we will engage with through play, songs, problem-solving, and creation, while focusing on Spanish and English language development. We also offer a Caretaker-and-Kids program for parents wanting to find community in nature alongside their little ones and other families.
Philosophy
La Simbiosis takes a holistic approach to child and community development, in which children learn through nature, relationships, and intentional language development. We believe that in a context of trust, children can take healthy risks to learn about themselves, others, their environments, and good communication within them. Wonder, relaxation, and exploration occur naturally, and, as teachers, we provide purposeful structures within this environment for problem-solving, engineering, art, collaboration, and critical thinking. The teaching is created based on a combination of student interest, CA preschool standards, and problem-based learning, all at developmentally appropriate levels in play-based exploration and activities so that children are equipped with life and academic skills. Ultimately, our vision is to provide space for children of diverse backgrounds to imagine, create, problem-solve, and explore while learning skills to make them successful in communication, relationships, nature, and life endeavors.
Vision
The vision of Simbiosis is to provide space for children of diverse backgrounds to imagine, create, problem-solve, and explore while learning language and skills to make them successful in communication, relationships, nature, and life endeavors. Our mission is to cultivate symbiotic relationships with nature and our community by developing environmental stewards and increasing the value of minority languages and cultures through research-based language instruction, child-center pedagogy, and practical social emotional development skills.
We provide a healthy environment where growth and learning occur naturally at individually appropriate rates, in an open, fresh space.
TEACHERS
Kylie Takashima, Director, Teacher
Kylie’s desire to find a preschool for her own children that would be emotionally safe, relationally rich, and holistically stimulating, prompted her to start LA Simbiosis Nature School. Research overwhelmingly has shown the benefits and basic necessity for people to be out in the dirt and the sunshine, so Kylie set-out to do this alongside other families. She believes it is these rich life experiences of exploring nature within community that will ground our children in the symbiotic relationships they need to take on the next stages of life.
Besides having two of her own children, Kylie has over 20 years of experience working with children of all ages in varying capacities. She holds a degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in multilingual education and certifications in Spanish and ethnobotany, with over 10 years of multilingual teaching experience in public schools. Kylie combines the traditional play-based, student-led learning of Forest Schools with explicit language instruction through stories, music, and games, along with problem-based learning scenarios to cultivate motivation and life skills.
Claribel Perez, Co-founder
Raised in a small town in Mexico, Claribel grew up deeply connected to nature—spending weekends in the countryside climbing trees, running freely, and playing with siblings and cousins. She is a native Spanish speaker with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design and certifications in Bio-intensive gardening and Plant-Based Nutrition. With experience teaching English to first graders, working as a nanny, and raising her daughter, she brings a nurturing, holistic approach to early childhood. Passionate about outdoor learning, she co-founded La Simbiosis to create a space where children can grow through exploration, movement, and connection. She loves hiking, gardening, cooking, and sharing her love of nature with young learners.
Karla Castañeda, Teacher
Karla brings a calm, joyful presence to La Simbiosis, where she fosters connection with children to the beauty of nature and each other. By patiently observing, Karla gently enters our space with children and nature in a thoughtful and timely way. She has honed her natural gift of teaching language in the prior contexts of teaching kindergarten, ESL, and nannying. Her artistic, playful way of interacting provides space for children to explore and learn at their own pace. For Karla, teaching at La Simboisis is an adventure in which she can guide children into confidence, sensitivity, and a love for life.
