The Founders
Karina Smith and Danny Guarino began creating Jardin Urbain LC when their oldest daughter was six years old and they were searching for a way to continue her learning without school.
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Karina holds an MA in education and has worked for 15 years as an educator, administrator, and manager in Canada and overseas. Danny completed a degree in Culinary Arts after his BSc in Food Science, and worked as a cook in Europe, Australia and here in Montreal.
They are also the directors of Garderie le Jardin Urbain, a daycare they founded in 2013 that advocates kindness and simplicity via small ratios and time spent outdoors in the garden.
Karina and Danny have been unschooling their three daughters since 2019.
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The Staff
The role of the adults at the LC is to guide and support the children in their global development, expose them to innovation, nourish their innate curiosity, orient them towards necessary resources, discuss methodology with them, review their knowledge, and follow their academic and social progress.
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They work in close collaboration with the parents and communicate regularly via our online platform. This mutually beneficial relationship fosters within the children a desire to invest time and energy into their own educational path. They understand that they are well surrounded, and that they have the power to act, take risks, and change things.
Hello, I am Danilo Vaz.
For over 10 years, I have been involved in programs that promote the defense of children's rights and participation through education.
I hold a degree and specialization in education and communication. My professional career began as an educator and coordinator, followed by a role as a technical consultant for representation and advocacy, where I created programs, tools, and trainings for school directors and managers focused on the participation of children and youth in our educational spaces.
I also represented Brazil in a group advocating for children's rights in Latin America, worked on projects to reduce youth vulnerabilities through culture and sports, and served as a Brazilian Youth Ambassador to the United Nations.
After spending a year in Newfoundland, I am so happy to be at JU here in Montreal now.
DANILO
Hi I'm Emelie! I'm an educator at Jardin Urbain and I believe in the power of youth to bring about meaningful change in our communities. Before coming to JU, I worked as a humane educator for 5 years and coordinated the education program at the Montreal SPCA, where I facilitated hands-on experiences for kids and teens working directly with shelter animals. After the pandemic, I shifted to outdoor environmental education, guiding themed hikes on Mont-Royal and working as a forest school educator. I'm passionate about pets, plants, and kids. I have a B.A. in Sociology and a professional degree in Horticulture.
EMELIE
In very particular order, I define myself as a mother, an artist, and an educator. The combination of these hats has, over time, revealed my overarching philosophy of life: slow down, simplify, repeat. As I pursue a bachelor’s degree in Art Education at the pace of a sloth, in tandem with raising my very own little sloth, I came to perceive the act of parenting itself as a form of teaching. This insight has revealed my aspirations as an educator: to facilitate access to a space where one can develop and trust their intuition. At Jardin Urbain, I hope to plant seeds of an intrinsic sense of purpose, and nurture the kids' flourishment through mindful formats for exploration within a well-defined space—one we will build together.
LYLOU
My mother read me like a book the day she encouraged me towards a diploma as a day camp counsellor: my reason for getting up every morning was the kids! Since then, my whole career has revolved around youth. Tutoring, leisure activities, assistant director of a community center... and now, for the past 5 years, educator at Jardin Urbain. I left France and met Karina. She took me with her on the incredible adventure that is our Learning Center. When I'm not with our young people, I dive into literature, or go fox-spotting. I'm a sports fanatic, but above all I like to push myself, and cultivate a zest for life.
MANON
Initially a substitute teacher in the Outaouais school boards, I discovered the connections between adults and children from a whole new angle as a canoe-camping guide. I met inquisitive, illuminated youngsters who rekindled my own childlike heart. Community life encourages them to surpass themselves in a unique way.
That's what sparked my interest in alternative education. What a privilege to grow with the kids in the caring environment of Jardin Urbain!
On the side, I'm a tattoo artist and a painter. I love it more than anything when kids share with me what they're passionate about! I hope to encourage them to keep that flame burning. When I'm not at JU, you'll find me sketching in a park.