About Trails for Kids

Our mission is to provide children of all socioeconomic backgrounds direct nature interactions to encourage their physical and emotional social wellbeing. These experiences will promote prosilience, instill tolerance, provide social environmental justice and inspire future land stewards.

 

Bess Fergusson
Director

Bess Fergusson is an experienced Cedarsong Way® Forest School Teacher and post-graduate student in Early Childhood Education from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. She is a fluent Spanish speaker, enjoys traveling and exploring nature with her two children, her husband and dog

Bess’ teaching style emphasizes curiosity, belonging and social-emotional development through both unstructured and guided play where children develop a sense of respect and care for their environment, their peers and themselves.

 

Hollie Graze
Teacher

Hello, my name is Hollie. I am a nature lover and artist. I have a degree in fine arts and a masters in occupational therapy. I worked as an occupational therapist for 20 years in the NYC school system. I own a creative business where I make and sell mosaic art. My favorite place to be is outside! I believe nature is a powerful contributor to our health and wellbeing. Nature has profound impact on development-inspiring creativity, introspection and curiosity, and building competency and self-confidence.

 

 

Kevin Borrelli
Teacher

Kevin Borrelli brings with him 5 years’ experience in outdoor environmental education and early childhood development and a lifelong love for natural science and history. His teaching focuses on experiential and sensory learning that aims to develop curiosity, confidence, and independence in children. Currently, his curriculum includes locally collected specimens from NJ that emphasize the joy and accessibility of studying the geology, ecology, paleontology and other relevant subjects in our home state and beyond. He is trained to handle macroinvertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, and raptors. Outside of teaching you can find Kevin creating art, playing music, and exploring the great outdoors.

 

Miss Selina
Teacher

Hi, I’m Miss Selina. I’m a certified physical education teacher in New York and New Jersey. I taught PE in a K-8 private school on the UWS for several years. I left teaching to spend more time with my children and founded “Moffle Bar”, an Asian American food stand that pops up at local festivals and street fairs. I enjoy being able to share my love of movement and food with the children through hands on activities that spark fun and creativity. I am the parent of a 16, 14, and 3 year old. In my very little spare time, I enjoy gardening, baking, time in the gym, and sports with friends.

 

Natalie Ferrao
Teacher

My name is Natalie and I have been a Montessori teacher for 20 years. I am trained and qualified to teach children aged 3 to 6 years old, as well as birth to 3 years old. I was born and raised in England where I have always had a love and strong connection to the outdoors, regardless of the weather.

I am a mother of 9 year old twins and understand the importance of being within nature and using what it provides to expand their world, imagination and build important life skills while keeping that love of creative outdoor playing alive!

 

 

Naomi Brogden
Teacher

I love being outdoors and sharing my curiosity about nature and animals with kids, encouraging them to explore and learn in an inclusive way

 

Debbie Ibrahim
Founder

My name is Debbie Ibrahim or Ms. Debbie as the kids call me.

I am an informal teacher with 36 years of experience & have taught ages two-seniors. I live in Summit NJ since 2000 with my husband & have raised 3 daughters here.

Philosophy: Children need to be outdoors playing with curiosity & the freedom to imagine. Nature needs to be part of our children's lives on a daily basis for not only physical strength & motor skills, but most important for mental health.

I graduated from CUNY - Hunter with a BA in Bio-Psychology and in 2019 completed my Child Life certificate. I have training in DBT, Transformative, and Mindfulness. I recently received my certificate from ANFT as a Forest Therapist/Forest Bathing.

Other Certifications include CPR/ First Aid, Rutger's Environmental Stewardship/Tree Stewardship, NJ Audubon Naturalist Training & National Geographic Teaching Certification and NOLS Wilderness First Aid