Our Teachers
Ana Morice
Director and Teacher
Hi! I am a mother of two, nature lover and a passionate teacher. I started my journey back in Costa Rica as a SpEd teacher. On the side I co-directed Nature Camps and provided outdoor experiences for my elementary students.
I moved to Minnesota 6 years ago and I have found an incredible community of Nature learning who has encouraged me to follow my passion for nature and children.
I am honored to go into this adventurous journey with your little learners.
Sarah Schwarze
Amiguitos Teacher
Hola! I am a mother of one nature loving toddler, a Spanish immersion elementary teacher/tutor, and an outdoor play enthusiast. Children and nature just make sense to me. In our fast paced world we often lose sight of the importance of exploration and guided free play. When I am not teaching you will find me with my family, playing with our kitties, cooking a new or favorite recipe, or dreaming of our next travel adventure. I am so excited to be a part of this amazing familia with all of you!
Maria Montero
Preschool Teacher
HOLA! My name is Maria and I am originally from Argentina and a Spanish Native Speaker. Since I was a little girl I had a lot of curiosity about Nature and the little things it has to offer, thus I have always been very passionate about environmental work and teaching others about the natural world. In Fall 2020, I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. My favorite hobbies are camping and hiking around Minnesota, traveling the world, and creating all sorts of arts and crafts!
I am very excited and looking forward to enriching young minds in the natural world and learning from them too!
Betsy Hedberg
Preschool Teacher/Administrator
I am a mother of 3, a former Spanish immersion Kindergarten teacher, and passionate about getting kids outside to experience all that nature provides. I believe that children have an innate curiosity about the world around them and given the freedom, time and space to explore and play in their own ways they can learn and grow the most. You can find me exploring the woods with my kids, gardening in my yard, reading books or baking!
Katrina By
Amiguitos Teacher
¡Hola! My name is Katrina and I am so excited to be working with Amigos del Bosque. As a former Spanish Immersion teacher, I see so many benefits in providing opportunities for children to learn another language in an immersion setting. I also had two of my classes participate in "Wilderness Wednesday" and loved what it did for my students. As a mother looking to raise a happy, healthy child, I have become even more passionate about nature play, fostering a love of the outdoors and respect for our natural world. I was so lucky to be able to participate in the first year of the Amiguitos program with our child and am so happy to be able to guide more groups. I love the people at Amigos del Bosque and I love what they stand for. I cannot wait to meet you and your child. ¡Vamos al bosque!
Sharon Hylton
Preschool Teacher
Hola! I'm so excited to be part of Amigos del Bosque! One of my earliest realizations as a child was that life seemed better outdoors, and that my family seemed happier when we went hiking. As a mother of 2 nature lovers, now in high school and college, many of our best times have been outdoors connecting with nature. I've worked as a nature educator for many years, beginning with a stint in the Peace Corps in Paraguay just out of college, and more recently shifting to work as a nature preschool teacher. It has been incredibly rewarding to see young children grow in so many ways as they interact and connect with the natural world. In addition to spending time outdoors, I love reading, making music, and exploring arts and crafts.
