Homepage
Homepage
Embedded Files
WILD CHILD PLAYGARDEN & WILDSCHOOLING
Dandelion Wildschooling
A Long-Term Program by Wild Child Playgarden & Wildschooling
Nosara, Costa Rica
Welcome to Dandelion Wildschooling, our immersive, long-term nature-based education program for children ages 2 to 7, hosted at our beautiful rural campus in Nosara, Costa Rica.
Dandelion Wildschooling is a branch of Wild Child Nosara, designed for families seeking rhythm, continuity, cultural immersion, and deep connection throughout the school year.
It is a loving, creative, and grounded space where children grow slowly and soulfully, immersed in the natural world and Costa Rican culture — while also honoring and celebrating the many cultures and stories that each family brings. Here, families live between worlds, weaving their unique backgrounds into a rich, shared learning journey.
About Us
About Us
Wild Child Playgarden & Wildschooling has been welcoming children to play, explore, and learn in harmony with nature for years. Since our beginning, we've had the joy of welcoming nearly 400 families from around the world into our programs.
We originally launched with short-term offerings under the name Dandelion Wildschooling, created for nomadic families seeking enriching, nature-based experiences during their stay in Costa Rica. As the community grew, we began using the name Wild Child Playgarden & Wildschooling to describe our learning environment and short-term programs, including seasonal camps and flexible weekly attendance.
In response to a growing desire for long-term, Spanish-immersion education rooted in ecological awareness and cultural richness, we created a dedicated year-round program:
Dandelion Wildschooling — designed especially for expat families seeking meaningful, consistent, and soulful learning for their children.
While children are immersed in Spanish and Costa Rican culture, they also bring with them stories, languages, and traditions from across the globe. Dandelion Wildschooling is a living, breathing meeting ground where international families connect through rhythm, reverence for nature, and shared values, co-creating a vibrant, intentional learning community.
Our philosophy and our values
Our philosophy and our values
We deeply long to share life's beautiful, meaningful and essential things. We love life; we love the earth and all its earthlings. We love being alive in this precious moment.
We are committed to having a flexible and symbiotic relationship with the planet, its changing needs, and its dynamic -continually evolving- biological and cultural diversity that we both want to honor and preserve.
We love humanity, and we love its interconnectedness with all living things. We believe in the power of human connection and the fundamental need to cultivate a deep bond with the natural world.
We know that a safe, nonjudgemental, nurturing learning environment with caring adults -guides and mentors- nourishes the senses and is vital for blossoming joyful, creative play and imagination.
Our children's sense of safety, freedom, and full self-expression is essential.
We respect each child's learning pace, interests, and curiosity. We take into consideration that each child, in their different stages, has distinct needs and strengths they use to relate to the world.
We choose education as a powerful tool for connecting the colorful souls of the world and nurturing their creative potential.
We take a holistic approach to education and believe that the right education is free of ideology and conditioning.
We gift our loving presence and communicate with compassion.
We discipline with loving awareness.
We teach skills and avoid interfering in the child's learning process. We trust the intelligence of the child. We learn from and with the child.
We believe that when we are embodied and deeply rooted in nature, we are more receptive to the fascinating secrets that Pachamama offers.
Reviews & Testimonies
Reviews & Testimonies
"This school has been a god sent for our nomadic family. We love Lili, the team she weaves together and all that makes her program so unique, holistic and dynamic for our magical children. Merci!"
"Wild child is a dream come true for our family. It’s like a magical fairy land where children are held with such love and care. They spend a lot of time outside, feet on the ground. And the food is very healthy. My family has very high standards, and Wild Child exceeds them. Thank you!"
"Wild Child Nosara School is a veritable paradise for mini-humans, offering a nature-infused, free-spirited education that's equal parts magical and wholesome - but be warned, it's not for the rigid or traditional types. With its emphasis on outdoor exploration, healthy grub, and loving staff, this enchanting school is a dream come true for families seeking a unique and nurturing experience, especially those with younger kiddos or a penchant for the unconventional."
"Both of my kids have attended Wild Child over the last 4 years in high season and it’s been such an incredible experience for the littles! The staff are super caring, patient and provide a fun and safe learning environment. The school has fences (important for my explorer children who love to wonder solo) and is located in a calm area outside of Nosara. Highly suggest for younger ones when living or visiting Nosara 💙"
"Wild Child Play Garden has been such an incredible space for our little one to grow. Our toddler's natural curiosity has blossomed in the wild schooling program, where he explores freely and discovers new wonders each day. His growing confidence and joy in discovering the world around him - whether he's singing songs, collecting leaves, making mud pies or making bread - confirms that nature truly is the perfect classroom for our little one's developing mind. We couldn't recommend wild Child enough."
"Such an incredibly beautiful space and curriculum. Inspired by so much love, creativity and thoughtfulness, Wild Child takes inspiration from the best of many pedagogies along with weaving the unique lifestyle, culture and offerings of Nosara to make something so special and unique."
"We are beyond grateful to have met Lili. The vision and care of the Play Garden is beautiful. We have 3 children 8, 6 and 4. We home school in the states. We have searched the US for a place that aligns with our family goals. With no success we chose home school. We are building a company and need help with our little ones. We were in Nosara in April 2023 and came back now for 5 months and the Play Garden was the driving force in choosing Nosara."
Inspired by Timeless Wisdom & Progressive Pedagogies
Inspired by Timeless Wisdom & Progressive Pedagogies
At Dandelion Wildschooling, our approach is rooted in a vibrant blend of holistic educational models that celebrate the whole child and their natural rhythms of learning. These four guiding influences shape our daily life:
Waldorf Education
Waldorf Education
Fostering imagination, rhythm, and soulful learning
We draw deeply from Waldorf’s commitment to honoring childhood as a sacred time. Through storytelling, creative movement, seasonal rhythms, and hands-on exploration, children are invited to engage all their senses and develop in harmony with their inner world.
Rhythm is the heartbeat of Wild Child: Daily and weekly rhythms provide a comforting sense of flow
Artistic and hands-on activities nourish imagination and life skills
Stories, songs, and festivals help connect children to nature, spirit, and the seasons
Waldorf reminds us that learning is most potent when it arises from wonder, play, and deep connection.
Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia
Honoring the child as capable and curious
From Reggio Emilia, we embrace the image of the child as competent, curious, and full of potential. Our environment is intentionally designed to provoke inquiry, autonomy, and self-expression. Educators observe and collaborate with children as co-learners and researchers.
Learning emerges from children’s questions, interests, and observations
Projects evolve organically, allowing deep dives into meaningful topics
Art, clay, storytelling, and natural materials become tools of expression
Children are encouraged to share their ideas in many languages—movement, drawing, sculpture, and words—revealing their unique perspectives on the world.
Forest School
Forest School
Connecting deeply to the land through exploration and seasonal rhythms
Inspired by Forest School traditions, we see nature not just as a backdrop but as our primary teacher and classroom. Whether we’re identifying animal tracks, climbing trees, or tending the garden, we are building deep-rooted relationships with the earth.
Children spend most of their day outdoors in sun, mud, and rain
They build resilience, ecological literacy, and sensory awareness
Jungle, River, and Ocean Days invite unstructured exploration and land-based learning
We believe children thrive in wild places, and their bond with the natural world fosters empathy, wonder, and stewardship.
Summerhill
Summerhill
Respecting autonomy and freedom within community care
Inspired by Summerhill’s revolutionary approach, we honor each child’s freedom to be themselves. Respect for the child's inner timing, choices, and emotions is at the core of our social culture. Within a safe and respectful community, children are free to explore, lead, and rest when they need.
We foster democratic group decisions and inclusive rituals
Children are not pushed but invited to engage in their own way
Educators guide with gentleness and trust, not control or pressure
We know that when children feel seen, heard, and free, they naturally unfold into confident, caring beings.
Core Values
Core Values
🌿 Nature as Teacher
Every tree, stream, and moon cycle offers a lesson.
🌀 Rhythm & Ritual
Rhythm is the heartbeat of Wild Child Nosara and Dandelion Wildschooling full year program.
Daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythms ground children in trust and joy.
💫 Wholeness & Wonder
We nurture heart, hands, and head equally.
🕊️ Reverence & Sacred Stewardship
A deep love and respect for Life itself — honoring each moment with intention, mindfulness, and sacred awareness of the living world around us.
We embrace stewardship as a way of life, modeling reverence for Earth, Ocean, and all living beings.
We teach children to walk this life with open hearts, and to expand their capacity for empathy, wonder, and care — for themselves, others, and the planet.
🌱 Community Roots
Our long-term offerings are designed for families who choose to commit to all the seasons of Nosara — the rainy and reflective green season, the vibrant and fast-paced dry season, and everything in between.
🌍 Loving Worldview
We are part of a global world. We believe in the global village.
This worldview invites us to care deeply, live cooperatively, and act with love across cultures and generations. We honor our interconnectedness — to the land, to each other, and to the living story of the Earth.
We teach that home is not limited to a house or a country.
Home is the feeling of safety in your body, the rhythm of shared rituals, and the warmth of belonging.
Home can be found in:
the breath that brings us back to ourselves
the forest trail and the moon above
the people who see and celebrate us
the loving arms of family and friends
the stories we carry and the songs we share
the stillness that speaks inside
the soil beneath our feet
the ocean’s embrace and our precious sunset beach rituals
the wonder in a child’s question
the hands that hold, and the hearts that listen
In this way, home becomes a living, breathing presence — held in our bodies, our families, our communities, our Earth, and the universe itself.
Who We Serve
Who We Serve
We welcome children ages 2 to 7 who are:
Ready for small group socialization and gentle independence
Enthusiastic about nature and outdoor learning
From families seeking Spanish immersion and holistic education
Committed to a full school year (September–June)
Spanish Immersion & Nature-Based Cultural Learning
Spanish Immersion & Nature-Based Cultural Learning
Dandelion Wildschooling is a full Spanish immersion program running from September through June, created especially for expat families seeking a bilingual, nature-rooted education in Costa Rica.
Children are lovingly immersed in Spanish throughout the day, guided by native-speaking mentors through conversation, songs, storytelling, and daily rituals. To support fluency and confidence, we also offer daily Spanish language classes tailored to each child’s age and level—strengthening vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills in playful, meaningful ways.
At the heart of our immersion is a deep connection to nature. Children learn language through real-life, land-based experiences: harvesting herbs, exploring the jungle, preparing food, identifying plants, and observing animals.
We focus on:
🌿 Knowledge and connection with the land — learning through sensory exploration and ecological literacy
🗣 Daily Spanish language classes — to deepen structured learning alongside immersion
🎶 Cultural celebration — music, seasonal festivals, and traditional practices rooted in rhythm and place
📚 Optional English academic support — available as an aftercare offering for families seeking literacy, math, or project-based learning in English
🌱 A bilingual and global community — where children feel at home expressing themselves in multiple languagesOur intention is to nurture confident, curious, and connected children—grounded in rhythm, nature, and meaningful language learning.
Short-term programs: Flexible Enrichment for Nomadic Families
Short-term programs: Flexible Enrichment for Nomadic Families
At Wild Child Nosara, we offer a vibrant, nature-rooted learning space for nomadic families seeking a meaningful alternative to traditional education. Designed especially for Worldschoolers, Unschoolers, and Homeschoolers, our programs are child-led, project-based, and deeply holistic.
We are not a conventional school—we are a flexible enrichment environment where children gather to explore creativity, sustainability, ancestral skills, and essential academics like literacy and numeracy, all through the lens of cultural and ecological awareness.
We value vital health, mindfulness, and full presence, integrating practices that nurture the body as much as the mind—through outdoor play, rhythm, movement, and embodied experiences that ground learning in the senses and the seasons.
Our approach nurtures creative potential, natural leadership, and a profound connection to self, nature, and community. Children are empowered to lead their own projects, think critically and imaginatively, and develop intelligence rooted in purpose, joy, and deep listening.
We are committed to cultivating inner alignment, discernment, and sovereignty, while also fostering respect for others, love for community, and reverence for indigenous wisdom and the ancestral arts of living well. Our rhythms are attuned to the evolving world, honoring both ancient knowledge and the future we are co-creating together.
Our vision is to raise conscious, capable, and heart-centered individuals—children who thrive not only academically, but emotionally, physically, and spiritually, deeply aware of their role in shaping a more just, beautiful, and regenerative world.
Our emerging curriculum grows with the needs of your family, fostering a sense of community like a village. We offer year-round flexibility, with customized schedules and sliding-scale fees to ensure accessibility.:
Join Anytime: Membership is open year-round, and your child(ren) can start anytime during the season.
Flexible Programs: Choose from daily drop-offs, and short-term, or long-term programs tailored to your family’s rhythm.
Year-Round Availability: Our programs run throughout the year, offering consistency and community.
Customized Schedules: You decide the number of days your child(ren) attend and can adjust weekly as your needs and priorities evolve. While we encourage a minimum commitment of three full-time days, we honor the flexibility your family requires.
Our offerings are designed to nurture creative freedom, imagination, and interpersonal skills in children of all ages. Through hands-on experiences in sustainable living practices, co-creation, movement, and play, we provide an environment where children can thrive while having a lot of fun.
Memberships
Memberships
Membership fees are offered on a sliding scale, with scholarships available to ensure inclusivity. We also collaborate with families and businesses to customize programs and schedules to best suit their unique needs.
A Blend of Holistic Educational Philosophies
A Blend of Holistic Educational Philosophies
Wild Child Playgarden & Wildschooling is a harmonious blend of alternative pedagogical approaches, drawing inspiration from Waldorf, Forest, Reggio Emilia, Montessori, Sunbury, and Summerhill philosophies. Our programs integrate the most impactful elements from these paradigms while honoring the unique gifts, talents, and creativity of our educators.
Spanish Immersion
Spanish Immersion
We offer a full Spanish immersion program, led by Waldorf and Reggio Emilia-trained educators who bring warmth, care, and expertise to every moment of the day.
Mornings Filled with Joy and Wonder
The day begins with free play, creative stations, and circle time, where children sing, dance, and celebrate the beauty of life. Honoring the miracle of existence through music and movement is a sacred act, fostering joy, connection, and gratitude.
Following circle time, mornings are enriched with:
Nature Walks and Exploration: Discover the wonders of the natural world, including biodynamic gardening.
Creative Movement: Promoting physical development through engaging and fun activities.
Healthy Snack Preparation: Children participate in preparing their own wholesome snacks, cultivating independence and mindfulness around food.
Artistic Expression: Activities such as watercolor painting, drawing with crayons, and sculpting with beeswax allow children to explore their creativity.
Holistic Play: Imaginative and collaborative play fosters social-emotional growth and problem-solving skills.
The rhythm of the morning is guided by transition songs, gently introducing each new activity in a way that feels natural and harmonious.
Midday Calm and Rest
After a nourishing lunch, children prepare their cozy personal spaces for Storytime, where Waldorf storytelling traditions come to life with dolls, puppets, and vivid imagination. Most children 1- 4 years old transition into a peaceful nap afterward, recharging their energy for the afternoon.
Wild Child Playgarden & Wildschooling team
Wild Child Playgarden & Wildschooling team
Lili
I am the Founder, Education Program Manager, and Pedagogical Coordinator of Wild Child Playgarden & Wildschooling.
I have always dreamed of creating an alternative school or, more precisely, an alternative to school. I was born in Brazil, a country that I love for its culture and its nature: it's lush, it's vibrant, it's colorful. When I was 7, my family moved to Belgium. Access to better education was the reason for this radical change of culture, natural world, and society. I grieved the family left behind, the sun, the tropical fruits, the waterfalls, the musicality...This transition felt like a huge sacrifice, but I embraced and loved the European culture. There I learned three more languages (French, English, and Dutch), and earned a Master's degree in International Relations.
Education is essential to developing our capacities. I am forever grateful for the priority my parents put on education. Thanks to them, I started early to contemplate what "true and right education" is. Krishnamurti's philosophy of education and all the alternative pedagogies I learned about those past two decades have been great inspirations.
My former career as a humanitarian photographer and documentary filmmaker working for the United Nations and international organizations in DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Latin American countries strengthened the belief that access to education is crucial for creating a better world. With the mainstream school/university curriculum, though, I had to spend a lot of time unlearning...
My quest for understanding the world, the human condition, and human-nature interconnectedness has always been a spiritual quest. My world meanderings and life between worlds led me to spend the past decade in California. I communed with nature, immersed in a culture that broke my spiritual resistance, empowered me as a woman, and transformed me into a devoted wife and fulfilled mother. California inspired me to "rewild" myself and the world around me. Nosara is my new home. I find all the most beautiful things I love in the world, and I am here to share the gifts from my world travels and life experiences.
Wild Child Playgarden & Wildschooling is an expression of a life journey filled with immense love for the world and many synchronicities. I follow my bliss, and this is where it leads me...
Wild Child Playgarden & Wildschooling is an evolving co-creation and a shared dream rather than a school.
My vision is to co-create a holistic, supportive environment where parents can drop their children off any time of the day, including some evenings (Kids Moon Club) and weekends. There will always be caring and qualified, heart-centered adults trained in holistic pedagogies & inspiring specialists in different fields to guide, mentor, witness, and lovingly hold space for our children so they can play freely, learn skills, make friends, explore nature, take supported risks, and co-create beauty.
This will also be a space for parents and future parents to gather and learn together to be better parents.
Dunnia
Waldorf Lead teacher 3-6 years old
My name is Dunnia, I am Tica, I was born on the Caribbean coast in 1992. I am the mother of three children. At the age of 20, I started my journey to Guanacaste, and in search of a free and respectful education for my son, I came across the Casa de las Estrellas school, which I instantly fell in love with!
I worked at this Waldorf school for 10 years with children from 2 to 7 years old, I also gave extra crochet and sewing classes to children from 9 to 12 years old.
I studied and graduated in Waldorf pedagogy in Cuernavaca (Mexico).
The Waldorf pedagogy has given meaning to my life. I love how it views children as free beings with unique gifts to bestow into the world (Educating through will or doing), respecting the individuality of each being, and accompanying them. It also taught me to open my heart wide to receive their great discoveries.
Being surrounded by children is the most magical thing that exists. I learn from each one of them and I do my best to inspire to them to express themselves freely.
Yuliana
Yuliana
Waldorf Lead Teacher 18 months - 3 years old
My name is Juliana, I was born in the province of San José. I spent the first part of my childhood in the city. Over the years my parents started their way to this beautiful place called Nosara, I feel lucky to have grown up surrounded by nature and the sea.
Two years ago, I gave birth to my first child. Almost at the same time, I discovered the Waldorf philosophy. I love being surrounded by children, learning from them, and growing as a person thanks to my experience with them.
After a short experience at Casa das Estrelas, life brought me to the wonderful Wild Child Nosara Playgarden & Wildschooling where I am given the opportunity to fulfill my dream. Last June 2023 I began my training as a Waldorf kindergarten teacher in Colombia, it was a magnificent experience.
I want to always be surrounded by children because their joy is contagious and they bring the best of me as a teacher.
Jennifer
Jennifer
Gardening | Nutrition | Capoeira | Kitchen Alchemy
My name is Jennifer. I was born in Venezuela and have called Costa Rica home for the past 8 years. At Wild Child, I weave together my passion for movement, nature, and nourishment through gardening, integrative nutrition, and Capoeira — a unique Afro-Brazilian art form that blends martial arts, dance, music, and rhythm.
I am a proud student of the Muzenza Capoeira Academy Costa Rica and complement my Capoeira practice with boxing, weight lifting, high-intensity training, yoga, and dance, keeping my body and spirit energized, resilient, and expressive.
Capoeira is a dance and martial art with deep roots in African ancestry, brought to Brazil and passed down through generations. It is more than movement — it's music, history, rhythm, and storytelling. The songs, sung in Portuguese, tell stories about nature, resilience, and connection, and are played with instruments like the Berimbau, Atabaque, Pandeiro, and Agogô. For children, I describe it as a movement game inspired by animals and nature, which builds presence, flexibility, and connection with others.
Alongside teaching Capoeira and movement, I also manage the Wild Child kitchen. I studied Integrative Nutrition, and I create seasonal, organic, whole-food menus aligned with the rhythms of nature and the children's growing bodies. I’m also working in our school garden, growing as much of the food we eat as possible, with the dream of bringing our meals full circle — from soil to table.
My work is rooted in joy, rhythm, and reverence for the Earth. I believe children thrive when they are nourished, grounded, and moving with purpose — and it is my honor to help guide them on that path.
Aya
Aya
Yoga & Mindfulness teacher
Aya Dunin’s approach to Mindfulness & Movement is informed by InnerYoga, the Hakomi Method (Mindfulness-based Somatic Psychotherapy), and Dharma of Trauma training. She is a 500 hours registered yoga teacher, and has an extensive background in dance.
" I invite children to cultivate: Awareness. Kindness. Breath. Ease. Courage (the InnerYoga foundational principles), and lots of play.
I provide digestible tools to cultivate intimacy with the self and the present moment. My intention is to guide children home into their body temple, practice gratitude, and develop a coherent nervous system."
Aya is a Birth / Postpartum Doula & a Somatic Psychotherapy practitioner. She offers private sessions addressing themes such as birth integration to pregnancy loss, plant medicine ceremony integration or support for most life's thresholds.
Aya leads a wombyn circle called Cercle Shakti, and supports young menarches to harness their power.
Aya grew up in the UK & France, and has lived in Japan & California for the last 15 years. Today she is grateful to call the unceded Chorotega territory of Ostional her home, grateful to be surrounded by such a relatable international community.
Flaminia
Sustainable landscaping designer artist
"It all started with my passion for nature and thus a desire to dedicate my life to being in contact with it. After many years studying gardening, sustainability, ecology, permaculture, biodynamic agriculture, natural pools, ponds design...I realized that it was also about wanting to help others to connect and live in harmony with our environment.
Dandelion Wildschooling project inspires me with those goals. We are landscaping with harmony and we are focusing on the needs of the children. Landscaping with the environment and dancing with the little ones, playing and learning with nature, and the respect that Pachamama deserves."
Schedule an appointment via email
Schedule an appointment via email
info@dandelionwildschooling.org
www.instagram.com/dandelion.wildschooling.nosara www.instragram.com/wildchildnosara
Whatsapp: +506 6164 0827
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse