My son did the Aventuras toddler program and it was the highlight of his week. He spoke endlessly of Maestra Juana and days we didn't have class he asked to go and woke up singing the group songs. Juana was warm and welcoming and had great crafts for the toddlers to do. We would go on a nature walk and talk about what the kids would see in spanish - my son speaks more spanish than english right now but still there were words like arroyo y fuente to discover and learn. As a parent in a city it is so hard to feel like your kids aren't experiencing nature. Aventuras is a gift, thank you Pilar and Juana for such a special school! read more

Highly recommend this school. Pilar and her teachers are the best! Attentive to the children and encouraging them to grow and think with a bigger mind set. The curriculum is academically foundational and also simultaneously leads with love and heart. This school creates good citizens of the world Our child left this school with appreciation for nature, Spanish language, friendship, community, and life education. She now says nature is her best friend. We are sad to leave Aventuras but our little one has aged out and now onto elementary school. read more

My son attended Aventuras for one school year when he was just turning 3 years old. Aventuras was his first school experience. My wife and I are so thankful he got to have this experience. Coming off the beginning of the pandemic he had not been able to socialize much and so Aventuras was also his first time really socializing with other kids. His unique needs definitely presented some challenges but the teachers lead by Pilar Gonzalez were compassionate and took great care to meet his needs and to keep us informed about his activities, struggles, and successes. Additionally, the Ferndale Trail setting of the classroom was magical. On the mornings where I dropped him off, he and I would park at the entrance to the park and hike up the trail and through the creek to arrive at his class. It was a blast and it was great to get to start my day amongst the lush vegetation and trees of the Ferndale Trail. read more

It's hard to describe the Aventuras Forest School, as I cannot say we have ever encountered anything in the same orbit. Having moved frequently with our child, we have had him enrolled in many different programs, each with it's own pedagogical ideas, but had never found the right fit until Aventuras. The program was the perfect mix of self-directed learning, play, and language immersion, all within the very unique urban / natural ecology of Griffith Park. 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. read more

We enrolled our child for their summer camp, which from what other care takers said is similar to their year-round program. If you prefer your kid to be outdoors, this is a great program for you. There's plenty of shade because of all the big trees around. Be forewarned, your kids will get very dirty every day, so dress them accordingly. read more

The Bottom Line: My daughter has tested as a native-Spanish speaker for enrollment in a Spanish immersion K-6 program despite neither of her parents speaking Spanish. This would not be possible without Pilar and Aventuras. It felt almost fated--my wife was searching for Spanish immersion or Forest School programs for our 3 year old on the near east side to no avail. One day Aventuras appears sounding too good to be true--an outdoor, play based, Spanish immersion program in Griffith Park. Aventuras was founded by Pilar and her Husband, Roberto. We interviewed as one of the founding families for the program and were immediately drawn in by Pilar's vision, professionalism and immediate connection with my daughter. Like most, we had our initial worries about moving toward the unconventional--leaving the typical classroom setting for something that did not conform to my personal experience of childhood--but quickly realized that our kid absolutely loved being outside from a significant portion of the day. At Aventuras, learning happens through immersion not only in Spanish but also with the environment. Education and activity occur simultaneously in the park setting. My child returned home appropriately tired from activity, but fulfilled by the experience. My child began with a limited base of Spanish, but quickly blossomed with Pilar's guidance. There were always a mix of primarily English, primarily Spanish and bilingual members of the program. Nonetheless the vast majority of interaction is performed in Spanish. Certainly this can create some initial frustrations for the students, but is part of the learning process and quickly subsided. We never pushed Spanish too hard at home as our child seems to enjoy the duality of her life--she really enjoys the independence of having her language and world! The kids engaged in a variety of activities at forest school with the emphasis of using nature for both education and physical activity. She would come home with beautiful art made from the surrounds and educate us on the natural flora and fauna of the park. They would go hike, climb trees, play tag and experience being a kid. She learned a profound respect for the natural world and her responsibilities as part of it. Pilar's education and credentials speak for themselves, but more importantly she is a caring, empathic person who genuinely cares for my child, both as a student and a human. My child views her like a mother and we view her as a true friend. All of the assistant instructors have been wonderful people that my child really loved being with--she adores Sofia, who is cool, comfortable and warmhearted. We feel truly honored to have had our experience with Aventuras and the path it has lead us down. My daughter is now thriving in her 90% Spanish immersion primary school setting. She still loves the independence of having something that is her own achievement, something that would not be possible without Pilar and Aventuras! We can't wait for our son to be able to enroll next year! read more

12-months into the pandemic, my wife and I began looking for a "forest school" or tinkergarten for our 3 year old daughter.  Where my wife grew up, forest schools or outdoor schools are pretty common, but as we discovered, much less so in LA.  And so, as it happens, my wife found out about Aventuras through a friend, and we decided to meet with Pilar, who runs the program.  One of the things that stood out to me from our meeting with Pilar was the overall school philosophy and goals of the program - instill a respect for nature, encouraging kindness, empathy, and understanding, and creating space for kids to explore their interests and creativity.  After a great first meeting, we decided to give it a go... I was a little uneasy at first about putting my daughter into a Spanish immersion program - she knew only a few words before she started in the program - but the potential benefits outweighed the fears, so off she went.  I was expecting the first week to be a tough one, as our daughter had not been around other kids since the start of quarantine, but every day, when we picked her up from Aventuras, like clockwork, she told us about how great her day was.  It's not to say that there weren't some acclimation challenges, but Pilar, Yatzil, and Sophia, and the rest of the Aventuras teachers, helped our daughter feel welcome, comfortable, and free to express herself.  They also made it really easy for her to get used to hearing, and by the end of summer camp, speaking Spanish.  By the end of week three, our daughter was thriving.  She came home every day covered in dirt, ready to regale us with stories about the different animals they saw, games they played, books they read, or art projects they created that day.  As a parent, it brought my immeasurable joy to see how happy my daughter was in the program. The team at Aventuras was truly invested in my child's development, and in helping her develop a sense of herself, and for that I am truly grateful.  Very proud to be a part of this community and can't wait to send our daughter back next summer. read more

Aventuras was an unexpected gem we came across that fit exactly what we were looking for and didn't think existed. Our son was only part-time but gained so much and developed such a fondness for his teachers and friends. The focus on developing an emotional awareness, building empathy, instilling kindness, encouraging creativity, and increasing respect for nature all while in Spanish was a complete win for us. We have a passion for the outdoors and we were excited our son would spend more hours outside while learning so much. The teachers were kind, caring, and loved their job. The owners are great people that care about our little ones becoming good kind humans. That's more than we could have asked for. We are so sad our year got cut short due to the pandemic but are grateful for the time we had. Thank you Aventuras for an incredible and memorable pre-school experience for all of us. read more

Because of Covid, we had to cut out time with aventuras short and it was one of the hardest things of the pandemic. While there, my daughter thrived. She not only became physically stronger from the hiking and outdoor play, but she became incredibly adept at enjoying herself in nature. She was able to make art, and play imagination games with whatever she found in nature. I cannot say enough good things about Aventuras. I believe it is the best choice you can make for your child. read more

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. read more

My 3-year old daughter absolutely loves going to "my school" - she looks forward to every session and enjoys all the activities. Her favorites are singing, yoga, making crafts with found objects, and playing in "muddy puddles" - just like Peppa Pig! Her time with Pilar and her school mates have taught her about sharing and how to be a good friend, and she is picking up Spanish well - I wish Aventuras had been around when my son was her age. The location is convenient - a wonderful oasis in the big city where kids can be free and explore, under Pilar's watchful eye, of course. I wholeheartedly recommend Aventuras Forest School for families that are looking for a unique enriching experience for their children. read more

Incredible preschool program! Our son came home everyday happy and full of stories about his outdoor adventures. I wish they had an elementary school program, we never wanted to leave! read more

Both 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. read more

Enrolling into Aventuras Forest School is the best decision I've made for my son! The teachers are beyond amazing. They are kind, knowledgeable, fun, understanding and caring. Putting your young child in someone else's hands can be worrisome. I can assurable say that Pilar and her team care and guide my child better than I think I could myself! My son looks up to them and I couldn't be happier! Aventuras is an experience so rare and unique, my child has built a foundation of mindfulness behind everything he does. My child went from barely being able to speak, to speaking, counting and singing in both English AND Spanish. They practice motor skills, they explore, they play and they learn...not ONLY about typical "school-curriculum" skills but ALSO about themselves, others, and the planet. These skills are priceless and will help create the next generation of caring, mindful, creative and innovative adults. I wish I could be a student at AVENTURES to learn everything Pilar and her team has to offer! Thank you for everything you guys do! read more

We've had kids in a number of pre-schools and I can tell you without reservation that Aventuras is the best we've encountered. It's an incredibly special place - the time our son spent there was transformative, and we dropped him off every morning knowing he was in the best hands and would leave at the end of each day with a sense of wonder at the world and broadened horizons. I cannot recommend Pilar and the experience at Aventuras enough! read more

Aventuras is fantastic all around. Pilar and her staff were so calm, kind and wonderful with the children. I love that the topics discussed are very thoughtful and civic minded. While there, my son got introduced to native and indigenous foods, foraging, understanding disabilities and differently abled people, a wide range of cultures and traditions, and so much more. I loved that we as a family got to be present and participate. I helped my son present about his favorite topics - garbage and composting - came and sang holiday songs with the kids, and even led a little yoga session. I saw my son become even more capable and confident in the year he attended, and the community was so tight knit and fun to be a part of. The setting in Griffith Park is idyllic, and I felt great about my son getting to spend that peaceful time in nature when we live in such an urban metropolis. Lastly, Pilar was very communicative and supportive, and she very expertly and thoughtfully helped my son work through some socialization challenges with the other kids. I recommend Aventuras hands down with absolutely zero reservations or misgivings. Great people, great program. read more

Pilar and the Aventuras Forest School is a world of wonder and intrigue. My 3 year old daughter looks forward to discovering nature and enjoys her time at the school. Every time I pick her up from school she thanks me for dropping her off to play and learn. Immediately she grabs a seat on Pilar's lap and is off to learn the world around her. I believe not only has it brought adventure to my daughters life, but her language acquisition and knowledge of Spanish has grown exponentially. Pilar has a natural way about teaching style and her ease with children is refreshing. The kids don't even realize this is school, as they are experiencing the world around them naturally. I highly recommend Aventuras Forest School and wish them the greatest success in their endeavors. The first of its kind and definitely one of a kind! Thank you for making learning fun. read more