Southern California’s First
Language Immersion Forest School
Serving Ages 3 - 6
Established 2018
Preschool Reimagined
Led by a Harvard-educated researcher and located in the magical primordial woods of local parklands, Aventuras is the first preschool in Southern California to infuse language education into a nature school model. Our play-based emergent curriculum is meant to deepen children’s empathy, natural love of learning, and engagement with the living environment. Spanish is woven seamlessly into everything we do -- from story time to discovery treks and imaginative play.
★★★★★
5-Star Average Rating
Learning Like A Human
Aventuras kids spend their entire school day outdoors in LA's most magnificent parklands. Children are curious by nature, and in this natural setting their curiosity is truly boundless. Towering redwoods and majestic palms shelter their play areas. Songbirds and an ancient spring-fed brook provide a rich sensory environment that rewards both quiet attentiveness and derring-do. This living, breathing environment is precisely what has nurtured the growth of our species for millennia.
There are no screens or plastic toys here. Instead, the children use their limitless imaginations to engage with each other and with the many natural materials available to them. Aventuras kids enjoy unparalleled inspiration for play and opportunities for scientific observation of the diverse flora and fauna that surround them, including slider turtles, butterflies, flowers, lizards, squirrels, grasses, koi, tadpoles, hummingbirds and more. In this rich environment, children learn with all of their senses engaged.
A Natural Language Laboratory
The research is conclusive: bilingualism provides powerful cognitive and experiential benefits throughout childhood and beyond. As seasoned education researchers, teachers, and parents, we have seen and experienced these benefits firsthand.
Aventuras uses a 90:10 Spanish immersion model in our outdoor learning lab. Sensory-rich environments like ours are known to increase children's capacity for imaginative play, which in turn has been shown to increase vocabulary. Our collaborative meal times and group explorations give kids the chance to use their new language skills with each other -- multiplying the benefits tenfold.
This Very Moment Is Our Greatest Teacher
Forest education sparks the innate love of learning inside all children, while simultaneously encouraging their physical and social-emotional development.
At Aventuras there is no arbitrary curriculum to "get through." Instead, our educators pay close attention to the children’s interests and curiosity, building curriculum to meet the moment. Our mixed-age classes create myriad opportunities for students to help each other, taking on leadership roles where appropriate. Aventuras learning is self-directed, engaged, and effortless. As a school founded by an immigrant, and a person of color we have a strong anti-bias emphasis. We believe children have limitless potential for caring, learning, and achieving. We strive to foster connection, courage, and curiosity with the lightest possible touch. If we do our jobs right, the children tell us, "We did it all by ourselves!"
“Enrolling into Aventuras Forest School is the best decision I’ve made for my son! The teachers are beyond amazing.”
“Both of my daughters love Pilar and this school. It’s a breath of fresh air, literally, as they explore all the fun stuff nature has to offer. BONUS: they also learn Spanish.”
“The kids don’t even realize this is school, as they are experiencing the world around them naturally.”
Caring for Ourselves
Caring for Each Other
Caring for The Earth
Our Team
Pilar Carmina Gonzalez
Pilar spent her early childhood in Argentina and grew up bilingual in Spanish and English. Her mother was a science teacher and instilled in her a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world. Pilar and her family moved to Los Angeles from Brooklyn with her husband Rob and her son Adrian in 2017 and fell in love with the natural surroundings here! Adrian’s energy and curiosity and bilingualism, and the beauty of nature in the area, are what inspired Pilar to start Aventuras Forest School in 2018.
Pilar holds a Bachelor's degree in History and Science from Harvard, a Master's degree in Sociology and Education from Columbia University Teachers' College, and a second Master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Pilar has also studied Early Childhood Education at UCLA Extension. Pilar has recently published a book chapter in Seeing Ourselves in Nature: Stories from Educators and Children of Indigenous, Black and Other People of the Global Majority and presented at the Natural Start Alliance National Conference regarding multicultural education in the outdoors. Pilar is a certified Cedarsong Way Forest Kindergarten teacher and a certified Kidding Around Yoga children's yoga teacher.
Before starting Aventuras, she spent seven years as an education researcher at EDC, a leading non-profit research and development organization, researching topics such as early childhood education and supporting dual language learning. Pilar worked with some of the nation's top experts on supporting dual language learning in early childhood to create resources for preschool teachers. Pilar previously taught English as a Second Language, reading, and writing for five years in New York City in grades K-4.
Co-Founder & Director
Juana Carbajal
Juana was born in Mexico City and immigrated to the United States at age 2, settling in the Cypress Park/Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Spanish is her first and predominant language, spoken by her family and community throughout her life.
With a deep love of science, Juana pursued rigorous pre-med coursework at the University of Southern California before earning her Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from California State University, Los Angeles. She went on to work in the Telemetry and Labor and Delivery departments at California Hospital Medical Center through the UCLA Cope Health Scholars Program, building a strong foundation in cell biology, genetics, human anatomy, and ecology.
During the pandemic, Juana made a meaningful pivot from medicine to education. She has worked as a teacher across Los Angeles and surrounding communities, stepping into classrooms from elementary through high school and developing engaging lesson plans in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and more.
Juana brings that same scientific curiosity and student-centered spirit to Aventuras every day. She is passionate about creating an environment where children feel inspired to ask questions, take risks, and love learning.
Maestra
MaestraAbigail Herrera
Abigail is an LA native, raised in Maywood and later Compton. She grew up speaking only Spanish at home and entered school as an English Language Learner — an experience that gave her a deep, firsthand understanding of what it means to learn in two languages. She graduated high school with a bilingual recognition achievement.
Abigail earned her Bachelor's degree in Education from Cal State Long Beach, alongside Early Childhood Education credits from Cerritos College and student teaching in a dual immersion kindergarten classroom. She is currently pursuing her multiple-subject teaching credential with bilingual authorization, and recently worked as a teacher at a 90-10 dual immersion bilingual charter school.
Abigail also holds a children's yoga teaching certificate from Zooga Yoga. She has a gift for making yoga magical for little ones — from silly animal breaths and playful stories to gentle, calming movements that help kids settle and find their center.
Teaching has always felt like a calling for Abigail — she knew from a young age that this was her path. She believes children learn best through experience, and that collaborative play, exploration, and time in nature are the foundations of lasting growth.
When she's not in the park with her students, you'll find her photographing nature, painting, or playing soccer.
Locations
Main Base Camp
Fern Dell, Griffith Park
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Office
1370 N St Andrews Pl
Los Angeles, CA 90028
School Hours
Monday–Friday
9am–1pm
Phone
(213) 295-3292
Email
aventuras@iks.center
“We wanted a place that would foster kindness, openness of feelings, friendship, problem solving, conflict resolution, and care and concern for others. We wanted a place that saw a child as constantly learning how to engage with the world around them and a place that gently and respectfully guided him as he learns to navigate more complex emotions and situations. So far this school has been extremely helpful in this area. I value a school that sees the many strengths in children and allows those strengths to naturally unfold, while also providing us strength-based and important feedback on the challenges and areas that we as parents can continue to help guide and build upon at home.”
— Diana G
“Our son had an incredible experience at Aventuras preschool. It was his first experience with school and he loved it. His Spanish language vocabulary skills progressed quickly as did his enjoyment and appreciation for the outdoors. In this time of uncertainty, being outdoors is no longer a nice to have, it's an essential attribute to a safer learning experience. Pilar runs a structured, respectful class with a wonderful team who have a true gift with children. We can't speak highly enough of the program.”
— Victoria G
“Aventuras helped our child become more curious, more socially engaged, and more self-reliant. It’s a program I would - and do - recommend to everyone I know with a child in LA.”
— Jessica R
“I cannot say enough good things about Aventuras. I believe it is the best choice you can make for your child.”
— Emily E
Follow our journey.
Flow of the Day
9am - Arrival & Nature Exploration/Play
9:30 - Circle Time & Morning Snack
10:15 - Nature Exploration/Play
11am - Discovery Trek
11:15 - Lunch & Story Time
11:45 - Art & Nature Exploration/Play
12:30 - Yoga & Meditation
12:45 - Return Hike
1pm - Dismissal & Pick-up
*While drop-off and pick-up times and mealtimes remain the same every day, some of the other activity times are flexible
2025- 2026 Calendar
Aug 18 - First Day of School
Sep 1 - Labor Day
Oct 13 - Indigenous People’s Day
Nov 11 - Veteran’s Day
Nov 24 - 28 - Thanksgiving Break
Dec 22, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026 - Winter Break
Jan 19 - Martin Luther King Day
Feb 16 - Presidents’ Day
Mar 30 - Apr 3 - Spring Break
Mar 31 - Farm Workers Day
May 25 - Memorial Day
Jun 11 - Last Day of School
TBD - 4 Personal Days
Please see our Summer Camp page for Summer Camp dates
2026- 2027 Calendar
Aug 17 - First Day of School
Sep 7 - Labor Day
Oct 12 - Indigenous People’s Day
Nov 11 - Veteran’s Day
Nov 23 - 27 - Thanksgiving Break
Dec 21, 2025 - Jan 1, 2026 - Winter Break
Jan 18 - Martin Luther King Day
Feb 15 - Presidents’ Day
Mar 22 - 26 - Spring Break (tentative)
Mar 31 - Farm Workers Day
May 31 - Memorial Day
Jun 9 - Last Day of School (tentative)
TBD - 4 Personal Days
“Aventuras is a bold experiment whose time has come.”
- Dr. Josue M Gonzalez, creator The Encyclopedia of Bilingual Education
Commitments Beyond Childcare
Valuing Our Educators
Early childhood education is not a lucrative field in the US, but this year Aventuras has stepped up our commitment to fair wages and benefits. We're proud to lead the field with a combination of fair pay and top-flight benefit offerings for our educators.
Respect For Place
Aventuras is situated in a fertile canyon known by its original inhabitants, the Tongva, as Mococahuenga. Originally drawn by its mild climate and freshwater springs, the Tongva people held tribal meetings in this sacred place. The Tongva were removed from this region by violence and disease imported by European conquistadores and industrialists. The last owner, industrialist Griffith J Griffith eventually gifted it to the City of Los Angeles on the condition that, “It must be made a place of recreation and rest for the masses, a resort for the rank and file, for the plain people... I consider it my obligation to make Los Angeles a happier, cleaner, and finer city. I wish to pay my debt of duty in this way to the community in which I have prospered.” We acknowldege that this gift we enjoy does not constitute reparation for the wrongs done to the Tongva people, and we support the ongoing preservation and revitalization of Tongva culture. To that end, we are proud to partner with Tongva educators like Cafe Chia Collective, who share the rich traditions of environmental stewardship with our teachers and students.
In our continuing efforts to soften our impact on the natural world, we have moved our administrative headquarters to The Preserve LA, and are proud to power our entire operation with 100% green energy.
Factsheet
2026 - 27 Tuition Schedule: $2,075 per month (5 days/week)
Payable with ACH bank transfer (no fee) or credit/debit card (2.75% fee)
$125 Application Fee
One month deposit to hold your spot
No Hidden Fees!
12-Student Limit
1:4 Teacher:Child Ratio
100% Outdoors
No Screens
No Plastic Toys
Fair Wages
Teacher Benefits
Offices Powered By 100% Green Energy
FAQ
How do I enroll?
We've made it as simple as possible — just three steps:
If invited, accept your enrollment invitation and pay your deposit
When inviting families, we consider date of application, participation in Parent & Me, and the balance of ages and language backgrounds. We also carefully review each application for the fit between our school and your family. Most invitations go out in late winter or early spring for that summer or fall, though they may go out at other times depending on availability. Enrollment for the 2026–27 school year opens in February 2026. We already have waitlists started for future school years, so apply early!
How much is tuition? Do you offer part-time enrollment?
Aventuras' 2026–27 tuition is $2,075 per month for five-day-a-week enrollment. We don't offer part-time schedules — and here's why: children thrive on predictability, and deep friendships take time to build. We've found that part-time arrangements simply don't give kids the consistency they need to truly flourish.
There's also a language reason: studies show that acquiring a target language requires at least 20 hours of weekly exposure. Our full-time schedule makes that possible — and the results speak for themselves. Many of our students have gone on to pass local Spanish fluency evaluations when applying to elementary school, even with no Spanish spoken at home!
Does Aventuras cover what’s taught in a typical preschool or kindergarten?
Absolutely — and then some. We use an emergent curriculum that follows children's interests, weaving in STEM, literacy, mathematics, art, and music through child-led activities like free play, nature discovery treks, and art explorations. We sing and read books in Spanish every day.
Unlike most forest schools, we also set aside time each month for cultural and social topics — Native American Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, Asian American-Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride Month, elections and voting, People with Disabilities, and more — drawing on our teachers' and families' own cultures and traditions whenever possible.
As passionate researchers ourselves, we encourage children to ask questions and seek answers through observation and real-world experimentation. Nature provides an endless supply of mathematical marvels — patterns, counting, fractions — and our outdoor setting brings these concepts to life every single day.
Spanish development runs through everything: songs, finger plays, books, narration, yoga and movement, and daily routines. From the branches and pine cones on the forest floor to the ripples on a pond — at Aventuras, it's all learning, all the time.
How do you look out for the children’s safety?
Safety is woven into everything we do — and so is something equally important: helping children learn to assess and manage risk for themselves. Our educators actively cultivate self-awareness, independence, and observation skills every day. Research shows that letting children take and manage reasonable risks is a genuine life skill that actually helps keep kids safer in the long run.
Aventuras kids will sometimes get scrapes or bruises — and that's part of learning about their bodies and navigating their physical world. We also explicitly plan for and teach safety procedures for any risks specific to the outdoor environment. Please see the Parent Handbook linked on this page for detailed safety plans.
Do you require immunizations?
Yes. We follow the California Department of Health immunization requirements for child care and preschool, unless your child has a documented medical exemption.
What do you do if it rains?
We almost never cancel — only in truly extreme weather like flash flooding. As they say in Scandinavia, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!" We provide families with a Gear Guide and real-time text alerts about what to wear. We also have a covered shelter for eating and rain breaks, and we plan museum trips for days when the weather is truly extreme. Playing in the rain is a wonderful sensory experience — and one of the kids' favorite days of the year.