Our Team
Sarah Sperry
Founder/Director
Sarah is a mom of two and after her first baby, she became interested in the role that play took in her child’s development. Sarah has been running process art groups, co-ops and hiking clubs locally since 2010. Sarah combined her love of nature education and art as a certified Tinkergaren leader in 2016, where she also worked for the organization training prospective leaders on how to facilitate play. Sarah holds several playwork training certificates from Pop-Up Adventure Play. In 2020 Sarah founded Wonder Tree Community Play School to offer parents a drop off option for nature education and process art. Sarah believes that learning and playing outside is a fundamental right of every child. While not taking kids outside, Sarah enjoys trail running, camping, biking and adventuring! Sarah and her family live in Haddon Heights.
Lisa Caswell
Director
Lisa has been involved in public education since 2002. She has a master’s degree in elementary education and a New Jersey teaching license for grades K-6. While attending Tinkergarten classes with her own child, Lisa saw the immense benefit to teaching outdoors and became a certified Tinkergarten leader in 2019. Lisa is also a local Girl Scout leader and is on the board of the Center for Environmental Transformation in Camden, NJ. Lisa believes that when children are given the opportunity to play in nature, they thrive. She resides in Collingwood with her husband and three children.
Ayesha Brooks
Ayesha is a stay-at-home mom on a self-described delightful adventure with her four-year-old son. Her little explorer has opened her eyes to the beauty of every bug, rock, and flower, turning our home into a haven for outdoor exploration. Together, they have embraced the wonders of nature - from scavenger hunts in the backyard to muddy adventures in the park. Amidst their adventures, Ayesha finds joy in sewing, painting, baking, and crocheting - hobbies that bring color and warmth to their lives. With a background in behavioral health, Ayesha helps Wonder Tree create a nurturing environment that fosters emotional well-being and celebrates every milestone.
Playschool Leader
Andrea Robinson
Playschool Leader
Andrea Robinson is a dedicated science educator and a lifelong outdoors woman. With children ranging from 5 to 17 years old, she understands the joys and challenges of all developmental stages. Andrea is a crew member on the Schooner North Wind, where she connects with young people on the Delaware River, sharing her passion for marine science. When she isn't teaching or sailing, she serves on the Audubon Board of Education and fosters dogs and kittens for the Burlington County Animal Alliance.
Chelsea Capron
Toddler Program Director
Chelsea is passionate about getting kids outside and letting them truly explore with all their senses. She has a master's degree in Occupational Therapy and is a certified yoga teacher. Chelsea has practiced OT in various adult and pediatric settings across the US and abroad. After having two sons, she is leaning into maternal/infant health and fostering community in motherhood. Chelsea enjoys hiking, music, and going on adventures with her family.
Evelyn Diaz
Toddler Co-op Leader
As a former nanny and the mom of two she always brings a playful spirit to her time spent with kids. Evelyn believes spending time in nature and engaging in risky play is vital for developing young minds and bodies. Passionate about community building, she is local to Oaklyn and joined Wondertree in 2023. She cant wait to see you outside!
Elsa Salazar
Wondertree & Me Leader
Elsa is a former elementary school teacher and current stay-at-home-mom of 2 littles (3 & 4 years old). Early on as a parent, she realized that everyone in her family was happier when they spent time outdoors. Since then, they’ve been spending as much of their days outside as possible! It started out by making their backyard as much of a “yes” space as possible and has grown to exploring new trails, playgrounds, and outdoor spaces whenever they can. Learning through play and providing opportunities for exploring the world around us are incredibly important to Elsa. The joy of engaging kids in play and then taking a step back to let them take over is unmatched!
Ingrid Leiva Ospina
Wondertree & Me Leader
Ingrid is a stay home mom of two, originally from Colombia, who loves to explore the world. She decided to put her teaching career on hold and dedicate her expertise as a bilingual educator, using Spanish and English not only to raise bilingual kids but give them new experiences, motivation to value others, connect and learn from them. For her, nature acts as a language we all speak because even if we speak different languages we connect when we are in nature. Nature lets us feel and understand the world without words, it is a kind of magic silence full of sounds, textures, colors, temperatures that fills up the soul and makes us happier! She loves to take her family and her dog on hikes to soothe the spirits and gain a positive vibe for the week.
Ashley Afruntti
Wondertree & Me Leader
Ashley is a mom of one, a preschool teacher, and Girl Scout leader who resides in Haddon Twp with her family. Having worked in the early childhood field for over 15 years, Ashley has always prioritized outdoor, child-led play. She feels children learn best when given the space to explore their natural interests, curiosity and skills. In her free time Ashley enjoys reading, volunteering with Haddon Township Equity Initiative, and hobbies like crocheting and embroidery.
Megan Farid
Wondertree & Me Leader
Megan has been a health and physical education teacher for six years. She is a mom of two, and has always had a love for the outdoors. When she had her daughter four years ago, she found that she was always happier outside. This sparked a passion for creativity and being out in nature as much as possible. She implements nature in her daily activities for herself, her kids, and her students! She is the Green Team advisor at her school, where she educates students about caring for the pollinator garden and taking care of the earth. When she isn’t teaching, Megan enjoys running. She has completed every race distance from a 5k to a 50k!
Rachel Saunders
Community Administrator
Rachel discovered Wondertree Playschool through a neighbor after moving to Collingswood from Los Angeles in 2022. She had been looking for a truly play-based, outdoor option for her daughter and three years later they are still in love with the programing. Rachel left the luxury hospitality industry in 2020 to be a stay at home parent, but when the opportunity to contribute to Wondertree came along- the choice to be a part of something she foound so meaningful was a natural one. Rachel’s hopes her communication and care for the philosophy of Wondertree help create a sense of connection and community among families.