Osiris is a 14-year-old with natural curiosity and a growing sense of belonging at La Maestra Foundation. She first started attending La Maestra camps and classes at age 8, after moving from another country, and she was unsure about fitting in.
Now, she reflects on her experience with a smile.
“We have kids here from different places, different cultures,” she says.
“They’re all really fun, active and nice. It’s fun to create that bond. It’s nice to know that I have people here who look out for me.”
This sense of connection and belonging is at the heart of La Maestra’s mission, which is to empower children and families to overcome obstacles and thrive.
Nurturing Growth Outside the Classroom
La Maestra Foundation, a part of the La Maestra Community Health Centers local network, emphasizes the importance of more than just physical health.
The La Maestra Foundation Center for Youth Advancement focuses on enriching young lives through a combination of after-school activities, summer and winter camps – all designed to support children beyond traditional academic learning, while also supporting the families that call the community home.
“We have families that come to us that really have nowhere else to take their kids. If they don’t bring their kids to us, they have to miss work,” says Norman Paraiso, La Maestra Program Director.
La Maestra camps and after-school activities are designed to fill that gap, providing much-needed childcare while also teaching them valuable life skills – including environmental education.
“We do hikes, we do field trips. I think it’s better for the kids to get out in the dirt and leave their devices at home,” says Norman.
“They learn more by being outside than by being on their electronic devices.”
Norman has been with La Maestra for a decade and loves seeing the children grow to become well-rounded individuals, with a love and appreciation for the planet.
“The sun and the water are life,” he says.
“Without the sun and water, we wouldn’t be able to feed our animals, to plant or grow. We wouldn’t be able to live.”
Setting Sustainability Standards for Future Generations
Students who attend camps and after-school activities take in the fruitful lessons of sustainability – learning to recycle, grow plants and food, and understand the key connections between the environment and daily life.
Staff at La Maestra hope these hands-on experiences shape students’ understanding of the world and instill a sense of responsibility for its future.
“When they get into the ground and they see their plants growing and what comes of it, they can’t wait to take it home,” says Norman.
“They can’t wait to share it with their parents. Just to see their faces, you could see that they were so proud that they grew it.”
Osiris is just one of many students who take these lessons home with them. The skills she’s learned at camp not only shape her understanding of sustainability but also make their way into her home, where she teaches her family the value of caring for the earth.
“I tell my mom about it and show her the plants I’ve grown,” she says.
Together, she and her mom have taken to planting succulents. “For me to be able to teach her everything that I’ve learned here makes me feel happy.”
This generational shift in perspective is exactly what La Maestra aims for: empowering children to become environmental stewards who not only care for their immediate surroundings but also influence those around them.
By empowering the next generation, we can ensure a more climate-resilient future for our region. As part of the Fifty & Forward Campaign, San Diego Foundation will grant $500 million to realize our region’s greatest opportunities in three key areas: education, children and families, and the environment—and raise $1 billion to help shape our community’s future. Learn more at SDFoundation.org/50.
About Opening the Outdoors
San Diego Foundation has supported La Maestra Foundation through multiple grant cycles, championing outdoor access and expanded learning opportunities.
Since its inception in 2010, the Opening the Outdoors Program has been a catalyst for connecting, protecting, and increasing equitable access to outdoor spaces across the county, with a particular focus on underserved communities.
The program’s impact has helped more than 90 nonprofits, like La Maestra Foundation, receive support – ensuring that more than 84,000 youth and families can access the outdoors.
The Opening the Outdoors Program underscores the value of preserving green spaces, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring everyone can experience the benefits of nature. Learn more about the program.
