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

My desire to find a quality preschool for my own children that would be emotionally safe, relationally rich, and holistically stimulating, prompted me to start La Simbiosis Nature School. My children spent most of their time in our apartment with me, yet research overwhelmingly shows the benefits and basic necessity for people to be out in the dirt and the sunshine. I wanted us to experience these benefits and do so with other families. The rich life experiences that come from exploring nature within community will ground our children in the symbiotic relationships they need to take on the next stages of life.

Besides having two preschoolers myself, I have nannied, and provided nursery and elementary child care at churches. I have a degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in multilingual education and certifications in Spanish and ethnobotany. I have over 10 years of multilingual teaching experience in public schools. I believe that risks, relationships, and goals are vital to development. For this reason, I combine 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, Teacher

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.

Raul Franco, Teacher

Raul brings a calm, hands-on presence to La Simbiosis, where he supports children through curiosity, movement, and connection with the natural world. As a father, he sees children as wise and capable, and he learns daily from the way his daughter explores life. He loves working with his hands—whether it’s building, gardening, or creating—and he brings that same sense of joy and purpose to his work with the children. Raul is a native Spanish speaker and enjoys sharing the language with the children through songs, stories, and conversation. For him, teaching at La Simbiosis is more than a job—it’s a journey of shared growth and discovery in community and nature.