Nature is the best teacher
Meet the Team
Julia Winsor
Director & Co-Teacher
Julia wears many hats — mama, educator, and Registered Dietitian — but her favorite role might just be muddy-boots explorer alongside the kids at Astoria Sprouts. Before joining our forest crew, she spent years teaching everyone from toddlers to grandparents about food and wellness, even earning a New Yorker of the Week nod from NY1.
She grew up in the Midwest, where climbing trees, camping under the stars, and tromping through the woods sparked her lifelong love of the outdoors. These days, she shares that same sense of adventure with her own children — whether hiking, snowboarding, rock climbing, or pulling out a board game on rainy days.
At Astoria Sprouts, Julia blends her love of good food, fresh air, and joyful play into every day, helping little ones discover the magic of learning in nature.
Rachel Sardina
Doug Paulson
Teacher
Teacher
Rachel is a mother and an educator who has a M.S. in Literacy Education from Tuoro College and an English Adolescent Education B.A. from Hunter College.
She has been a freelance educator in NYC for 20 years for various after school programs, camps, toddler classes, cooking classes and parent education workshops.
Rachel also runs her own summer camp called Down to Earth for children aged 6 to 9, which centers community and nature. Subjects covered include local parks and trees, pests and pollinators, gardening, community stewardship, environmental advocacy, and Native American customs and contributions.
Doug is an educator and artist with over 20 years of working in classrooms, institutions, schools, and across continents.
Doug’s pedagogical and creative practice embraces discovery of the creative process, the natural world, and establishing common dialogue between participants.
Doug teaches at The New School University; was formerly the Director of Education at Socrates Sculpture Park, and has taught at MoMA, The Queens Museum, The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP), and beyond.
He loves spending time outdoors - finding creatures, watching birds, listening to the big and small sounds, and the smell of trees and coming rain. He’s a cyclist who has ridden across much of Europe, a rock climber who seeks out remote crags, and a snorkeler who has drifted in awe amongst bioluminescent coral reefs.
In his creative practice, he has done sprawling and collaborative, socially engaged projects across the world; but also loves making drawings and books. These days you might catch him with an audio recorder trying to capture the sounds of a passing mosquito or a distant red-bellied woodpecker.
Elizabeth Kurinskas
Esther Keusch
Teacher
Intern
Elizabeth is an experienced early childhood educator who believes that nature is the best classroom. After spending over 10 years as a Pre-K teacher, she was inspired by motherhood to bring her love of outdoor learning into her teaching practice. As a Forest Preschool Teacher at Astoria Sprouts, Elizabeth creates joyful, play-based experiences that nurture curiosity, confidence, and a deep connection with the natural world. Whether it’s searching for worms, building fairy houses, or observing the changing seasons, she encourages children to explore, imagine, and learn through discovery. As the parent of a four-year-old daughter, Elizabeth understands how meaningful early learning experiences are for young children and their families. She brings warmth, patience, and creativity to her work each day, helping children grow socially, emotionally, and independently in a caring, nature-filled environment. When she’s not teaching, Elizabeth enjoys exploring local parks with her daughter, gardening, and finding small ways to bring the calm and magic of nature into city life.
Esther is a high school student at The Young Women’s Leadership School of Astoria. She is a member of the drama club and table tennis team as well as Student Junto, the Computer Science Honor Society. She is also a Student Ambassador, collaborating with other TYWLS schools and leading tours and orientations. Outside of school, she takes lessons in French, guitar, and voice. She has recently started pet-sitting and babysitting. Esther loves spending time with young children and being outside. She is very excited to be a part of Astoria Sprouts and looks forward to seeing familiar faces when there is no school.
Jin Kim
About our Founder
Astoria Sprouts first sprouted from Jin’s dream of giving children more time under the sky and in the trees. Growing up in Maine, she spent her days tromping through the woods, playing on the beach, and soaking up the magic of nature. When her daughter was born in 2021, she wanted that same joy for her little one—and so Astoria Sprouts came to life!
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Though Jin has since stepped away, her love for adventure, surf, hikes, and muddy play lives on in every giggle and muddy bootprint here at Astoria Sprouts.