Hijos Maíz
"Corn Children"
Leading Children into their Wholeness
A Bilingual Nature-Based Enrichment Program
Head, Heart, and Hands
A 12 week outdoor program where children immerse themselves in Spanish (and some English!) through joyful connection, play & hands-on experiences in nature.
Each session blends language, culture, movement, creativity, and outdoor exploration to cultivate the Whole Self: curiosity, balance, confidence, nourishment, respect, wonder, and a lifelong connection with the natural world.
We gather once a week "whatever the weather" to meet the World and explore a second language.
Key Ingredients:
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Spanish through songs, rhymes, play and everyday conversation
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Cooperative games, movement activities, self and team-building activities
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Nature journaling and seasonal observation
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Trail running, hiking, tree climbing, rock hopping
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Foraging, herbal medicine, and cooking
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Altar building and Fire
Hijos Maíz | "Corn Children"
Corn is at Aida's childhood heart, her great-grandmothers taught her how to grind it, make nixtamal, masa, tortillas, atole, sopes and more. Corn is a staple at our home and an important part of our cultural heritage that carries a much deeper story across the Americas.
For countless Indigenous peoples, corn has been a sacred source of nourishment, ceremony, story, and relationship with the land. Mexican cosmovision tells that humans were created from Corn, an understanding that we are connected to the Earth, to one another, and to the generations who came before us...corn is a symbol that unites ALL as RELATIVES across America. It is a food that crosses borders and brings people to the same table.
Food sharing is an important component of our program. Most of the snacks will include an element of corn; tortillas, popcorn, atole, corn cakes, grilled corn husks...and more!
Enrichment for All Children
Our program is open to all children, whether homeschooled or attending public or private school, children can benefit from a day in nature that nurtures social-emotional skills, cultural connection, creativity, and a deeper relationship with nature.
Hijos Maíz is designed to add richness and connection to every child’s life.
Hijos Maíz Guides
Gardener, FlowerArtist, Medicine Woman & Wombkeeper
Aida Atzintli
Aida is a bridge builder, an artist, and a medicine woman in service to humanity.
For a decade in Mexico City, Aida re-introduced thousands of adults and children to Nature by way of urban gardening in schools, museums, and her own summer camp; co-developed one of the first bilingual nature based curricula for public and private schools in her country. For adults, she taught urban permaculture, organic agriculture, herbal medicine, and community building.
She has over 15 years of experience working with children professionally. She has a diversity of certifications and trainings in Permaculture, Biodynamic Agriculture & Beekeeping, Waldorf Early Childhood Caregiver, Social Therapy & Herbalism. Aida absolutely adores her motherland culture of Mexico and cherishes sharing her people's ways. From Tortillas to Songs, from Language to Salsa Verde.
When Aida is not working with children, she is creating or mending. When she is not doing either of those, she is in service to the continuum of womanhood through her own medicine.
Games, Movement, Foraging, Beatboxing
Joshua Braden
Joshua is a lifelong student, devoted teacher, and initiator. His passion is to lead others through engaging experiences that transform the mind, heart, and will.
Movement, games, backpacking, music, language, philosophy, dance, the healing arts.
Joshua is currently a student with both the Spacial Dynamics Institute (the organization that trains Waldorf Movement and Games teachers) and the CHEK Institute, where he is learning to better serve children and adults through movement therapy, games, and holistic living.
Joshua has 15 years of working with children professionally at camps, schools, and group homes, and rites of passage. He has served as Spanish Teacher, Backpacking Guide, Camp Director, Social Therapist, House Father and Caregiver for adults with DD. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish.
When he's not guiding children, he's guiding adults as a holistic health and lifestyle coach.
When he's not doing either of those, he's washing dishes and beatboxing...or taking a nap!
We are partners and co-creators in Love, Freedom and Creation. Professionally, we have 30+ years of combined experience serving with children and adults in educational and therapeutic settings. We are guided by the value of Family as an Altar: our daughter, Sol, our dog Muna, our son in the stars, Néctar and our blood and spiritual family in Mexico, Vermont, Virginia, Florida and Colorado.
This program is an extension of our family's vision and values, it reflects how we relate to the natural world, community, and ourselves.
Hijos Maíz
12 Weeks | September-December
Starts 2nd or 3rd week of September
One break during Thanksgiving week
Wednesdays
9am to 3pm
Ages 6 to 12 | Max 12 children
The formation of the group is based on a balanced mixed age. Group will open with a min of 7 children.
$600 per child
One or two payments
Craftsbury, VT
The Craftsbury Farmhouse
