Ruta is the Wild Ferns Founder, Director, and Lead Guide. She is an outdoor educator with over fifteen years of childcare experience. The 2020-2021 pandemic year was the starting point for Wild Ferns where Ruta was the lead teacher and curriculum developer for a group of first graders. She has previously worked for Brooklyn Nature Days. She has attended trainings in conflict mediation, connection centered discipline techniques, Forest School pedagogy, and RIE certification. Her inspiration for her work stems from a deep value of respectful communication and inquiry based learning. She grew up with a great love of climbing trees, building forts, and scampering through the forest.

Mindy is in her fourth year with Wild Ferns and is a native New Yorker with over a decade of wide ranging childcare experience in camps, daycares, and private homes. Mindy’s attentive and patient style allows her to thrive as she devotes her attention to the diverse learning and emotional needs of the children in her care. She enjoys getting to know the children she works with and teaching them through play as well as structured activities based on their personalities and interests. Mindy has increased her knowledge of the trails and wildlife of the park and looks forward to more fun adventures with Wild Ferns.

Sean Medina is a former YMCA summer camp counselor as well as an avid bird photographer. He holds a BFA from City College of Technology. He is in his first year at Wild Ferns and comes to us filled with enthusiasm for nature immersion and the adventures that being outdoors can provide to urban kids. In his spare time Sean has explored many of NYCs beaches, marshes, and hiking trails in his avian pursuits (feel free to follow along on his birding adventures through his Instagram).