Our Teachers
Robbin Schwartz - Lead Teacher
Robbin began her undergraduate career at Brandeis University with a concentration in literature. After her sophomore year, she took a break from her studies, and traveled overseas to Israel, first studying Hebrew and living and working on a kibbutz, and then moving to Jerusalem where she continued to study literature and theatre arts at Hebrew University, and completed her BA with high honors. When she returned to the United States, she became licensed as a massage therapist, and certified as an infant massage instructor, and completed a level II reiki training. She subsequently received a master's degree in Waldorf education (grades 1 - 8) from Sunbridge College, and then completed a 13-month certification in teaching children under the age of 3. She worked as a teacher in the Music Together program for 11 years, created her own infant massage program for parents in 1998, (and continues to teach it privately) and was lead teacher in the parent-child program at Brooklyn Waldorf School for 10 years. She also led and further developed the Bridge program for pre-nursery children for four years at the Brooklyn Waldorf School. Robbin's work as a teacher is very much informed by her work as a healer, and she strives to create an environment for her students that is calm, grounded and warm.
Assistant Teacher
GG - Grace Gordon
Mx. GG/Grace’s love for nature began in their very own backyard in Baltimore City. This space, and many other urban ecologies, served as an important backdrop or “set” to their outdoor adventures growing up. As a teen and young adult, Grace continued to immerse themselves in the natural world while also expanding on their practice as a multi-disciplinary artist. After graduating from The New School with a BFA in Theatre Arts, they have gone on to dabble in foraging & wild food crafting, herbal medicine, and botanical dyeing/art making. Currently working as a School Programs Educator at the New York Botanical Gardens, where they are also earning their certification in Therapeutic Horticulture, Grace aims to weave ecological and social justice, community care, and personal empowerment into their ever-growing teaching practice.
Assistant Teacher
Roger Horton
Roger’s outdoor experiences began near his childhood home in Pennsylvania, exploring the forest just beyond his backyard. His comfort in the outdoors expanded during camping and backpacking trips as a Scout, including a memorable “high adventure” expedition in the mountains of New Mexico. Service in the US Navy took him to the tropical forests of Hawaii and the national parks of the American West, while time spent teaching in Bulgaria and Kenya created opportunities to encounter the flora and fauna of those regions. Just before returning to the US, he backpacked across the mountains of Tajikistan while managing a community development program there.
He has worked with NYC students from 2nd to 12th grades - creating maker fairs and after-school maker projects for the younger students and organizing confidence-building wilderness retreats for the high schoolers. Roger volunteers as a hike leader with the Appalachian Mountain Club and in his local community garden in Brooklyn. He is certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid. He looks forward to learning with and from the children of Urban Forest Kinder, and believes that every child benefits from time spent outdoors, especially hands-on learning in nature.