About
In Nature Education has a strong passion to help tamariki connect with nature through play based learning and exploration. We want to offer a place for the tamaiti to be themselves and follow their interests. We follow several different teaching philosophies however we have ultimately created our own teaching theories and philosophies after having gained a number of qualifications, learning from some of the best and travelling through Europe and Canada to experience some amazing Forest Schools and Nature Education centres and programmes. We have put all of our knowledge and experience together to create and facilitate our unique programmes.
Anna Ormandy
Founder/Director/Facilitator
Kia ora, my name is Anna Ormandy. I am a qualified Primary teacher with a background in environmental education and sustainability. I have a Graduate Diploma in Sustainability and Outdoor Education and a Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning amongst several other qualifications. I have been teaching in various forms for the last six years and am currently working in Early childhood education.
I started my education journey with a goal to work in environmental education however, once in the classroom I found that in order to make a sustainable change to our planet we must first make sustainable changes to human minds. From this, my goal and passion moved towards Social and Emotional Wellbeing. I now believe that in order to create a more sustainable planet we must have mentally healthy, resilient and competent children who have the confidence and capability to look after themselves, their whanau and the planet.
My personal passions are music, dance, yoga, mindfulness, mountain biking, the ocean and of course spending time in taiao.
Jodi Ellis
Facilitator
Tena Koutou Katoa... Ko Jodi Ellis toku ingoa. Jodi Ellis is my name. I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Anna in delivering nature based education in the Tasman region. As a parent and a teacher I am passionate about connecting children with nature and empowering them to become kaitiaki (caregivers) of te taiao (the natural environment). I am also committed to giving our tamariki the opportunity to experience the richness of Te Ao Māori and as a lifelong learner and speaker of Te Reo Māori I love bringing this aspect into my teaching. I first started teaching on Auckland’s West Coast at Piha but since moving to Te Waipounamu I have had the privilege of working in a variety of educational roles in early childhood education including teaching at Motueka Steiner Kindergarten, Laura Ingram Kindergarten and Harakeke Pre-school. I am a certified teacher with a Diploma in Early Childhood Education.