Who We Are

Wonderbug Adventures was created by two Bay Area moms, Hillary Blum and Melissa Walton, both with backgrounds in environmental education and a passion for hands-on learning.  Hillary and Melissa worked together for many years at a local environmental education organization before taking time off to focus on their families.

While dedicating time to motherhood, Hillary and Melissa recognized that there was a lack of programs which encouraged parents and their little ones to get outside and learn from nature.   Drawing upon their professional and educational backgrounds, the two conceived of Wonderbug Adventures in 2008.

Hillary is a San Francisco-based mom with a preschooler and a toddler. A graduate of UC Santa Cruz, she has a background in early childhood education and has spent many years working in environmental education. She is a nature lover and enjoys seeing the natural world through the eyes of young children.

Melissa is a Peninsula-based mom of a 5 year old son.  She has a master's degree in environmental studies from Duke University and worked as the education director at a local environmental non profit.  She loves learning from nature and sharing her passion with her preschooler.

Allison Hughes Nygaard was brought onto the Wonderbug team in 2011 as the Program and Education Director. Allison is a Marin-based mom and environmental enthusiast. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of San Francisco and an M.A. in Geography with a concentration in natural resource management and environmental planning from San Francisco State University.
Allison has worked as a camp counselor, after school program coordinator, sea kayak guide, nanny, and most recently for Environmental Traveling Companions and the East Bay Regional Parks District. Allison loves spending time outdoors and helping connect people with nature and educate them about our natural
environment. She believes that personal connections with nature enhance our lives,
and are tons of fun!

Hillary Blum

Melissa Walton

Allison Hughes Nygaard

Wonderbug Adventures Publicity

Red Tricycle

Daily Candy

 Our Philosophy

To nurture and encourage young children's natural sense of curiosity by introducing them to the wonders of nature through hands-on discovery, ultimately inspiring them to become lovers of nature and future environmental stewards. 

Basic Principles of our Educational Philosophy: 

Inspired by principles of hands-on experiential learning, parent involvement, and the Reggio Emilia Approach to early childhood education, we believe that children are the initiators of their own discovery, parents are collaborators, and we, the teachers, are the facilitators of learning. Our approach embraces the following principles of teaching and learning:  

1. Hands-on experiential learning:

Learning occurs through active exploration of the environment as children touch, move, listen, see, and hear elements in the natural world. Hands-on experiential learning has a strong impact on learning through the engagement of visual, kinesthetic, and auditory pathways.  Students in a hands-on educational programs are more likely to remember the material, feel a sense of accomplishment when the task is completed, and be better able to transfer that experience to other learning situations. 

2. Parental involvement:

Parents are children’s first teacher. Participation and modeling of parents and caregivers, regardless of their own Ecology or Science background, is inspirational for children in the development of basic ecology knowledge and understanding. Discovering nature with your children is also fun and will encourage a love of lifetime learning. 

3. Mixed age group learning:

Mixed-age group learning creates a more family-like experience, encouraging cooperation, sharing, and helping one-another. Our activities focus on the adult/child interaction, so children of different ages can enjoy classes together. Each child gains a unique understanding of the Ecology theme presented based on his or her individual development.  

"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in."

  --  Rachel Louise Carson