About 

Seeds of Love Collective empowers teachers, families, and students to collaborate and support each other in developing holistic educational pathways in connection with nature. 

The founder, Brooke Mitschang, is a dedicated educator with a lifelong passion for learning. She has her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, an MA in Education, as well as a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit and has worked within various schools and camps throughout the Bay Area. Brooke's passion is nurturing children’s curiosity and development through meaningful connections with nature. She fosters a mindful community that is both kind and safe, to nourish the development of lifelong, empathetic learners who have the tools and resources to problem-solve. She has recently completed the first academic school year as the Open Wilderness Literacy & Science (OWLS) Director & Teacher.

She has enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of different learning teams across a variety of schools and camps that cared for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary children in Kinder through 6th grade in Santa Cruz, Oakland, Emeryville, Berkeley, and El Cerrito.

After working with Trackers Earth Bay Area for 2 years, as a Camp Guide/Coordinator and Micro School Teacher, she decided to dedicate her time, efforts, and focus on building an outdoor academic support program.  She offers literacy and science instruction for a small mixed age group of elementary children through authentic, hands-on learning experiences outdoors. 

She is continuously reflective about developmentally appropriate practices, theories of teaching & learning, and philosophies on the purpose of education. She has been  informed by: 1) Vygotsky to scaffold lessons and work within each child’s zone of proximal development to ensure they have appropriate access and engagement with the world around them as they learn. She observes and takes notes as the children engage with each other and the materials she provides to gain a sense of their interest and knowledge base and then she builds upon that. 2) Bronfenbrenner as she develops class community and learns about the children, their families, their neighborhoods, and culture through surveys and discussion. 3) Dewey as she helps foster communication and collaboration within her class community and school by taking time to help children develop their language and conversational skills with a focus on democratic participation. 

She loves and appreciates each child as individuals and contributing community members. She carefully plans, adapts, and modifies materials and levels of engagement to support each child’s growth as a learner and community member.

At Seeds of Love Collective, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or gender or transgender identity), disability, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristic, in its programs and activities. We honor and acknowledge each child’s pronoun preference while they are at school.

Sign up for the OWLS Community Newsletter by subscribing to our list below. You will receive, at most, one email a month with highlights and updates about our program.