Summer team
Maylet Hernandez
Summer Camp Director
Film Producer. Traveler. Epicure.
Pursuing a Law degree at UABJO, originally from Oaxaca, Mexico. This is her third summer with Terra Camps, where she brings a unique blend of creative and educational experience. She has spent several years working with children through Arte por la Mixteca, an art education program she directed in rural communities. Her background also includes film production, international shoot coordination, and social impact work that earned her recognition as Citizen of the Year in Oaxaca de Juárez. A radiant and imaginative educator passionate about magical realism, creative advocacy, and using chocolate as artistic fuel.
Dylan Turner, M.A., Ph.D
Earth Ed. Field Director
Avid Hiker. Preschool Teacher. Equity Advocate.
Accredited Early Childhood Educator, Ph.D. in Anthropology at City University of New York. M.A. in Sociology and Social Anthropology at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. B.A. in Anthropology and Philosophy (Joint Honors) at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. 15 Years early childcare experience. Currently, he runs his own outdoor Earth Education program, bringing a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to our students. We believe Dylan's passion for education and the outdoors will inspire and engage our children in exciting and meaningful ways.
Gabriel Perez
co-Earth Ed. Field Director
Imaginative. Dedicated. Adventurous.
Originally from Oaxaca, Mexico. Gabriel is pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Cultural Management and Sustainable Development at Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez. This is his second summer with Terra Camps. With over four years of experience directing film projects and managing cultural activities, he also brings strong leadership skills from his involvement in the Boy Scouts. Gabriel enjoys being outdoors, connecting with nature, and sharing knowledge. Passionate about teaching, he values passing on meaningful skills and experiences. He also loves storytelling—and collects movie memorabilia that makes him feel like a wizard.
Earth Discovery
Bridget Perater
Camp Counselor
Resilient. Nurturing. Compassionate.
Originally from Manlingay, Mabinay in Negros Oriental, Philippines, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Negros Oriental State University and 18 education units from La Consolacion College. A proud mother of three. Bringing a heart for service and a love for learning, she has been teaching English online to Japanese students since 2019 and has also served as a substitute high school teacher in her local community. Her background in education, scheduling, and customer care has shaped her into a thoughtful and reliable team member. This summer, she’s excited to support Terra Camps in creating meaningful and joyful experiences for children and families. Outside of work, she finds peace in gardening and caring for her small sugarcane farm.
.jpeg)
Mia Sassi
Camp Counselor
Fun-loving. Curious. Responsible.
Holding a Bachelor of Science degree from Chapman University, originally from Richmond, CA, USA. This is her first summer with Terra Camps, where she brings a strong blend of analytical and educational experience. She has worked as a wealth management intern, developing communication and problem-solving skills, and as a student teaching assistant in private schools, supporting student learning and engagement. With a minor in Chinese, she brings cultural awareness and language experience. A fun fact is that she studied abroad in Taiwan.
Jaz Perico
Camp Counselor
Active. Adventurous. Grounded.
Originally from Makati City, Philippines, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing Management. This is her second summer with Terra Camps. She brings five years of experience as a Marketing Coordinator in the real estate industry and four years as a virtual assistant, specializing in administrative and customer support. Reliable, detail-oriented, and solution-driven, she’s passionate about creating a smooth and joyful experience for campers and families. A devoted aunt, she’s deeply involved in the lives of her nephews and niece, and brings that same warmth and care to camp. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, dancing, organizing, and connecting with people from all walks of life.
Spanish Immersion
Aurora Mora
Camp Counselor
Epicure. Nature. Hikes. Love spending time with family.
Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, originally from San Francisco, California. This is her first summer with Terra Camps. Aurora brings three years of experience babysitting and supporting young learners through aftercare at Terra Schools. A caring and enthusiastic educator, she’s excited to contribute to the camp community and grow professionally this summer.
Danna Moreno
Camp Counselor
Friendly. Patient. Curious.
Originally from Pasto, Colombia, Danna is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and English. She is coming back to Terra Camps, bringing a warm and patient presence to the team. Danna has always loved spending time with children and is passionate about fostering positive, supportive environments where kids feel safe to learn and grow. She’s excited to share her language and culture while gaining valuable experience and improving her English along the way.
William Villota
Camp Counselor
Energetic. Caring. Cultural.
Originally from Pasto, Colombia, and raised in Cali, he is currently studying Spanish and English at the University of Nariño. This is his third summer with Terra Camps, where he brings a love of language learning and a passion for working with children. With a background in soccer, tennis, and swimming, he enjoys combining play and education to create dynamic, engaging experiences. He’s excited to spend another summer sharing his culture, teaching Spanish, and making meaningful connections in San Francisco.
Patricia Cárdenas
Spanish Preschool Teacher
& Camp Counselor
Educator. Music Lover. Puppeteer.
BA in Early Childhood Education at Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University in Peru, followed by over 17 years of classroom experience—10 years in Peru and 7 years in the United States, “It’s amazing how quickly children absorb a new language. Teaching through play is at the heart of what I do. What feels like a game to the children is actually a meaningful learning experience, rich in communication, empathy, and problem-solving. Their curiosity and kindness inspire me every day.”
Leeby Karolaay Flores
Spanish Preschool Teacher & Camp Counselor
Loves hiking and nature. Loves to cook.
Preschool teacher with a deep love for working with children. I’m a proud mother of a 25-year-old son, and I share my home with three little dogs—Toby, Rambo, and Laika.
I was born in Panama and have been living in the United States since 2005. I’ve been teaching for 15 years. I find so much joy in being a teacher—interacting with children and supporting their development fills my heart.
Beyond the classroom, I love to walk outdoors, exercise in nature, go to the beach, dance, cook, and read.
_edited.jpg)
Carlos Joel Pasarán Pérez
Camp Counselor
Curious. Outgoing. Attentive.
Originally from Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico, he holds a degree in Communication and Digital Media from Universidad La Salle Oaxaca. This is his first summer with Terra Camps, bringing with him several years of professional and teaching experience across academic and workplace settings. He has taught university-level courses and worked closely in collaborative, family-like environments across different organizations. His experience spans image and drone operations, photography and editing, document and script writing, and support in audiovisual production. He is deeply passionate about communication in all its forms—visual, written, and audio—and enjoys working across media to bring ideas to life. A strong writer at heart, he also thrives in photography, video, radio, and social media. He values connection with people of all ages and backgrounds, believing it is essential for fostering tolerance, respect, and curiosity about the world. His personal motto is: “To grow as a person, you must know the world.”
Maria Ximena Castro
Camp Counselor
Energetic. Empathetic. Team-Oriented.
Originally from Mexico City, she is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology and is spending her first summer with Terra Camps as an Assistant Counselor. She brings experience connecting with children through sports and group activities, using her background in football (soccer) to foster teamwork, confidence, and resilience. With a passion for creating positive and inclusive spaces, she draws on her psychology studies to support campers’ emotional needs and group dynamics. She looks forward to building meaningful connections and helping create a fun, supportive environment for all.
Mandarin Mania
Patricia Etchekan, M.A.
Mandarin Preschool Teacher
& Camp Counselor
Natural athlete. Quadrilingual.
M.A. in Chinese Language & Literature at Inner Mongolia University, China. B.S. in Preschool Education at Inner Mongolia Normal University and B.S in software engineering from Groupe Pigier, Côte d’Ivoire. 6 years of preschool teaching experience. Fluent in Mandarin, French, and English. Proficient in Spanish.
Dana Wang, M.A.
Mandarin Preschool Teacher & Camp Counselor
Adventurous. Nurturing. Mother.
MA in Child psychology at Chinese Academy of Science and BA in Education and English Education at Qinghai Minzu University, China. Born and raised in Shandong, China, and has over 10 years experience working as an preschool and elementary teacher in Beijing and Shanghai. She is currently getting another master’s degree in education at Moreland University. She enjoys hiking and can make delicious dumplings from scratch!
Xuan Luo, MD
Mandarin Teacher &
Camp Counselor
Healer. Organizer. Mother.
Originally from Quanzhou in Fujian Province, China, she holds a Medical degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Changsha Medical University and brings over a decade of experience as an acupuncturist and pediatrician. This is her second summer with Terra Camps. Her previous roles include serving as a Mandarin assistant teacher at Terra San Francisco and working in Terra Marin’s 2023 summer camp. After having her daughter five years ago, she discovered a deep passion for early childhood education. She believes in the importance of thoughtfully crafted learning environments that nurture each child’s ability to comprehend, plan, and grow—finding great joy in witnessing how quickly children thrive when given the right support.
Transportation Team
Michael Pastor
Bus Driver - Marin
Served in the Navy. Has a grown daughter.
San Francisco native. Punctual, 17 years as a bus driver. Previously, served as a building and property manager.
Melvin Watson
Bus Driver - San Francisco
Loves bikes. Father of four grown children.
Born in Galveston, TX. Previously owned and operated a bike shop, spent 22 years as a building manager in the Presidio, and worked a few years at another K8 school in SF.