Waldkinder Uster
Our Educators

The hands that hold the morning.

A team of six. Long tenure. First-aid trained. Quiet voices in the woods. Here is who you'll meet at the gate.

Natasha, silver-grey hair, in a green wool cardigan among ferns and green woodland, smiling softly
Lead Educator · Founder

Natasha Nagel.

“The forest is full of quiet wonders — I just walk slowly enough to find them with the children.”

Natasha's deep love of nature is felt in the forest in a special way. With an open heart, great warmth and a real passion for the wild and the original, she accompanies the children through the seasons of the forest. As a trained life coach with more than ten years in forest playgroups, she has seen how children grow and learn through free play, wide-eyed discovery and a close connection to nature.

For Natasha, the forest is a place full of magic, adventure and quiet wonders — a space where children may unfold their confidence, their creativity and their own strength. With mindfulness, joy and a fine intuition, she accompanies each child along their very own path.

  • Certified Life Coach
  • 10+ yrs forest playgroup
  • Mindfulness practice
Vice President

Heike Scheck.

“A guitar in the forest — and suddenly the whole morning sings along.”

Heike brings many years of experience in early-childhood education, and with it real depth of expertise and a wealth of life wisdom. Singing is one of her greatest passions, and her guitar is a familiar companion in the forest — one that delights the children again and again.

With Heike, children can explore their surroundings safely and unfold freely. Through play, music, cooking together and curious investigation, they learn naturally and with great joy. Under her attentive, experienced guidance, the children grow quickly and as whole little people.

  • Experienced Educator
  • Music Pedagogy
  • 20+ yrs experience
Heike sitting cross-legged on the forest floor, playing an acoustic guitar and smiling, golden evening light through the trees
Rebecca holding a brass bowl of foraged greens and elderflowers with a small soft toy, warm light in the forest
Educator · Song & Story

Rebecca Büchi.

“A song, a story — and the whole forest holds its breath.”

A mother of four young children, Rebecca brings a rich store of experience that beautifully complements her training as a marketing professional and kindergarten teacher.

With her warm manner she captivates children quite naturally — whether through a beautiful song in her angelic voice or an exciting story that lights up their eyes. When Rebecca teaches, even the forest seems to pause and listen closely.

  • Trained Kindergarten Teacher
  • Marketing Professional
  • Song & Storytelling
Educator · Forest Pedagogy & Inclusion

Nicole Baumgartner.

“Here, every child gets to be seen, accepted, and entirely themselves.”

A trained forest educator, Nicole brings great heart, creativity and joy to each day in the woods. With engaging activities, lovingly chosen snacks and special forest teas, she creates small moments full of warmth, togetherness and the delight of discovery.

As the mother of two neurodiverse children, she has developed a deep understanding of different ways of thinking, creative minds and individual needs. With patience, empathy and a fine intuition she supports every child — especially those who need a little more support, understanding, or a different way into the world. Nicole creates a space where every child may feel seen, accepted, and free to become themselves.

  • Trained Forest Educator
  • Inclusive Practice
  • Neurodiversity
Nicole in a fleece and glasses, smiling as she holds open an illustrated picture book, sunlit forest behind her
Alina crouching by a black cooking pot, stirring with a wooden spoon and smiling, a fox toy and wooden crate beside her
Educator · Art & Creativity

Alina Hermann.

“A leaf, a branch, a little earth — in children's hands it becomes a small wonder.”

Alina is an experienced, trained art educator who brings her passion for creativity and nature into the forest in a way all her own. Her love of nature — and the time she spends outdoors with her two daughters — inspires her work with the children anew each day.

With great enthusiasm she invites the children to get creative and to discover the treasures of the forest as tools and inspiration for their artwork. Leaves, branches, earth, colours and shapes from nature become small wonders in their hands. Alina encourages children to see the beauty of the forest with open eyes, to trust their imagination, and to find their own creative voice in nature.

  • Dipl. Art Educator
  • Land Art
  • Creative Facilitation
Our Nonna · Care

Mina Greguol.

“A little bit of home in the middle of the forest — here every child may simply be a child.”

Our beloved Italian nonna Mina brings many years of experience caring for children — and a warmth of heart you feel in every encounter. Her deep love for children shows in her caring, cheerful and tender way. In the forest she is known for the three sweet cuddly toys she always has with her — faithful companions that offer comfort, spark imagination and invite play.

With her life-loving, humorous and warm presence, Mina draws children to her quite naturally. She creates security, joy and a feeling of home in the middle of nature — where every child is welcome and may simply be a child.

  • Years of childcare
  • Boundless warmth
  • Three trusty cuddly toys
Mina smiling in a white linen shirt, holding up both hands with little animal finger puppets, low sun through the forest

A team of six.

We work in rotation — two to three of us with up to twelve children at a time, never more than four children to an educator. We talk every Friday afternoon about each child by name. We say what we noticed. We plan small things for next week.

The six educators together among the trees in the forest, relaxed and smiling in soft evening light

Come and meet us.

Trial mornings are the best way. Bring your child, bring boots, bring time.

Book a trial morning