Patricia Walsh-Collins
Founder/Director
My name is Patricia Walsh-Collins. I am the founder and Director of Earth School. As a certified professional educator, my career spans nearly thirty years. Many of those years were spent teaching Visual Arts and World Religions at Buckingham Friends School in Lahaska, PA.
Cross curricular integration is one of my specialties. I love this work because it brings deeper meaning and connection to each subject. I have presented many of my unique curriculums, at state, national, and international education conferences, and continue to do so.
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I have also developed numerous camps locally, such as the Michener Art Museum, Montessori Development Center, Bucks County Community College, and Children’s Art Studio.
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Compelled to deepen my work with children, I took a leap of faith leaving the 'system' of education. As the inspiration for Earth School, and mindfulness training found me, I became an educational entrepreneur and 'intuitive educator'.
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In 2014, Earth School emerged as a beautiful synthesis of the many teachings shared with me through travel, Native cultures, and personal development . As such, Earth School exists as a multi-layered, hands-on experience where children intuitively form a kinship with the Natural World, and recognize their own inner wisdom.
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In my precious down moments, I embrace any opportunity to spend time with my two grown children. They are the best! Living a creative life is a huge part of who I am, as well as spending personal time in my gardens, among the trees, waters, and birds, either at home or somewhere out in the world!
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Spending my days with children, as they explore their outer and inner landscapes, is precious to me. I see our joyous, collective future held within their beautifully muddy hands!
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Juli Eckmeier
Juli has been working with children throughout the New York and Philadelphia region, since she was a youth herself. Before and since having her own four children, Juli has worked with various preschools and camps sharing her gifts of music, art, and movement.
As her personal and professional yoga studies deepened, she found herself intuitively incorporating this ancient practice into her family and work life offering children a higher sense of awareness and deeper healing.
Juli possesses a wide variety of yoga certifications, bringing her experience and expertise to all age groups. In particular, Juli loves teaching the young and old alike.
At Earth School we are grateful for all of Juli's passions as she incorporates them into all that she does. She lives the philosophy of personal awareness of our bodies and our environment , can help change the world, one child at a time.
Peter Pearson
Peter Pearson is an Earth School Board member and facilitator. He has a long and influential career in education. After years as a classroom teacher, and Summer Arts Camp creator, Peter became the Head of School at Buckingham Friends School. He is one of my greatest mentors, and my former boss. Following an administrative position at Solebury School, in New Hope, Peter served as Head of School at Westfield Friends School in Cinnaminson, NJ.
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Peter is an artist as well. For the past forty years, he has created beautiful work in stained glass. He also loves to hike, camp, and work with wood. He is a much valued member of our Earth School family and every community he has ever been a part of.
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Our Earth School workshop facilitators are experienced, dedicated educators,
and experts in their fields.
