Meet Your Lead Guide
At Creative Cocoon Nature School, I use the title Lead Guide because my role is to gently walk alongside children as they explore, create, wonder, and grow.
Rather than rushing or directing every moment, I offer rhythm, safety, thoughtful invitations, and caring support while allowing each child’s curiosity to lead the way.
Mrs. Ily
A Bit About Me
Hi, I’m Miss Ily, the founder and Lead Guide of Creative Cocoon Nature School.
I am a mother of five, an early childhood educator, and a deeply creative guide with a heart for child-led learning, nature-based play, emotional growth, and whole-child development. My work is rooted in the belief that children learn best when they feel safe, connected, respected, and free to explore the world through their senses, movement, imagination, and natural curiosity.
Over the years, I have seen again and again that childhood does not need to be rushed. Children need time in nature, meaningful relationships, open-ended materials, stories, songs, movement, messy play, and caring adults who trust their process.
At Creative Cocoon Nature School, my role is not simply to teach, but to gently guide. I create a safe, nurturing rhythm; offer thoughtful invitations; observe each child’s interests; and support children as they discover, create, problem-solve, connect, and grow.
I am also currently working toward becoming a certified neurodiversity coach, which deeply supports my vision for Creative Cocoon as a neuro-affirming, child-honoring learning space. I believe every child deserves to be seen for who they are, not asked to fit into a narrow mold of how learning, play, attention, communication, or connection “should” look.
Creative Cocoon Nature School was created from my love of childhood, nature, creativity, and the quiet magic that happens when children are given space to be fully themselves.
My background includes over a decade of experience supporting children and families through early childhood education, creative arts, play-based learning, emotional development, and holistic family-centered care.
2003 - 2010: Extended Day Program, California
2012 - Holistic Health Practitioner Certification
2013 - ToLabor Birth Doula Training
2016 - Tinkergarten Leader
2026 - Chakradance Kids Facilitator Certification
2025 - Present: Lead Teacher,
Country Home Learning
& Art Center
2010 - Motherhood Begins
2013 - Our Nest Grew
2015 - Three Little Learners
Taught in a before and after school extended day program, stepping into a Lead Teacher role from 2008–2010. This experience supported my foundation in child guidance, daily rhythm, social-emotional care, transitions, group supervision, play-based enrichment, and creating safe, nurturing spaces for children outside the traditional classroom day.
Completed Holistic Health Practitioner training with studies in whole-person wellness, mind-body connection, emotional well-being, nutrition, natural health foundations, and supportive care practices.
Training in evidence-based birth support, informed decision-making, emotional presence, comfort measures, breath awareness, supportive communication, and family-centered care. This experience helped shape my calm, nurturing, whole-person approach to guiding children and supporting families.
Guided outdoor, play-based learning experiences for young children and families, with a focus on nature connection, child-led discovery, sensory exploration, movement, creativity, and social-emotional growth.
Tinkergarten helped deepen my belief that the outdoors offers children a rich, living classroom - one where sticks, mud, leaves, weather, animals, stories, and open-ended play become meaningful tools for growth.
Lead Teacher for Thursday–Friday programming, guiding children through creative arts, sensory-rich play, storytelling, movement, social-emotional support, and hands-on learning. This role is separate from Creative Cocoon Nature School, while continuing to support my work as a child-led, nature-rooted educator.
Chakradance Kids is recognized by the International Institute for Complementary Therapists as a healing modality and approved training provider. It uses story, music, movement, imagination, and art to support body awareness, emotional expression, self-awareness, and wellbeing.
For my work, this offering is separate from Creative Cocoon Nature School, but the philosophy beautifully aligns with it: children need movement, imagination, creativity, emotional safety, and space to express themselves in ways that feel natural to their bodies.
2019 - A Fuller Nest
2024 - Mother of 5
2026 - Certified Neurodiversity Coach Training in Progress
Currently working toward becoming a Certified Neurodiversity Coach, deepening my understanding of different nervous systems, sensory needs, communication styles, learning rhythms, emotional regulation, executive functioning, and neuro-affirming support.