THE TEAM

 Sama Wareh, M.S
Director 
​Naturalist and Co-Founder

Naturalist, University Instructor, Artist, Author of "How to Draw 60 Native CA Plants and Animals: A Field Guide"  and Environmental Educator for over 16 years.

Sama has a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies from CSUF. Her Bachelors is in Filmmaking and she has a minor in Art. Wareh has led over a thousand hikes, taught TK to university level, and has done workshops for arboretums, nature centers, and museums all across California.  She has spoken before the UN, given a TED-X talk, given trainings for OCParks and Interpretive Centers and has received multiple awards, including the OC Register's 40 Under 40 award, OC Weekly's people of the year, and Access California's Humanitarian Heart Award. She has received a certification in Tracking from The Tracker School, is a certified Project WILD and Project Wet Facilitator. Sama teaches on and off as an adjunct faculty at Teachers College of San Joaquin. In 2021, Sama received the "Top Southern California Educator Award" from the Association for Environmental Outdoor Education. 

Sama has a strong passion for the outdoors and the environment and her vision of sharing it with the community in a way that channels a deep and meaningful connection is what sparked the Art and Wilderness Institute.  Her philosophy on instilling Magic into the experience is at the heart of all classes taught at AWI. Along with Syma and Khadeeja, Sama is a co-founder of the Art and Wilderness Institute.

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Dr. Khadeeja Abdullah
Programming Director
​Co-Founder

Dr. Abdullah is a professor in the Environmental Studies Masters program at California State University, Fullerton. She has worked in various capacities as an Environmental Consultant, Researcher, and Adult Curriculum Developer for the Labor Occupational Safety and Health Department at UCLA, the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety, Heal the Bay, Ralley (a social marketing firm) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.  She is passionate about equal opportunity access to outdoor environmental education and is working hard to make that a reality.

Dr. Abdullah has a Doctorate in Environmental Science and Engineering from UCLA,  a Masters in Environmental Health and a Minor in Education. Her passion for sustainability and the environment is what led her to further her education and obtain a certification as a Master Recycler through the City of Burbank and certification in Ethnobotany from the School of Self Reliance. Among her hobbies is going on extremely long hikes, camping with family and friends, and spending quality time with her family. This passion for sustainability and desire to connect to nature and community is what got her involved in co-founding the Art and Wilderness Institute. 


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 Syma Aslam
Administrative Director
Culinary Instructor
​Co-Founder

Syma obtained her Bachelors in Psychology and Social Behavior from UCI.  Syma is active in the Southern California Community in multiple capacities and is on the board of ISOC.  Syma is a dynamic organizer, multi-tasker, and problem-solver which is why she is internally known as the " backbone" of Art and Wilderness Institute. Her humility runs so deep she wouldn't even write this bio, which is why Sama enjoyed writing this for her.

    Syma's genuine sincerity and thirst for knowledge is what got her interested in the outdoors and sparked her passion to help co-found the Art and Wilderness Institute. She is the co-leader of the Outdoorswomen Club as well as the journalism team. Syma is a passionate baker and can often be spotted showing up to classes with a basket of freshly baked bread and butter cut out into little heart shapes. Her attention to detail and strong sense of ethics is what gives her the ability to have a strong role in every part of our organization.

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Suhana Shereef
Green Masjid Initiative Manager

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Suhana is a mother of 2 amazing little people and being a part of the AWI family has opened up a whole new world of outdoor learning experiences for their family. These experiences have led them to slowly start making changes in their daily lives and strive to be more mindful of doing their part to help take care of the environment.
​Suhana is a homebody and loves to spend her free time at home enjoying a cup of tea and a good book. She also loves making handmade gifts for friends and family. She is grateful to have the opportunity to learn and grow alongside her kids as they continue their learning explorations.
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Maimoona Rashid
Administrative Secretary

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A homeschooling mum of four, Maimoona spends her free time gardening, reading, DIYing, and has just taken up a new hobby of knitting. Her passions involve organizing and decluttering, encouraging a simple life where you enjoy moments rather than things...unless it's a deal on Facebook marketplace!
Maimoona has been tutoring kindergarten-fifth grade for four years now, and is also part time book keeper. 
In her free time, Maimoona enjoys drinking her Yorkshire tea among her succulents and other plant babies, loves  laughing with her kids and husband.
She has studied drama in her younger years and  wants to instill the love of the arts through teaching drama and theatre studies. 
This  happy Sagebrush Steward gardener is excited to share her dramatic experiences through Art and Wilderness !!

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Faathima Sufi-Ismail
Marketing Wizard

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Faathima is a digital storyteller, graphic design enthusiast, and creative. Living between both SoCal and NorCal, she enjoys the beauty that her beautiful state of California has to offer. 

Born and raised in Orange County with a large Sri Lankan family, Faathima obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Marketing and Africana studies along with a certification in Graphic Design, while volunteering at her mom’s Montessori school and working as a barista. 

Currently she works as a contract digital marketing manager with a specialty in social media marketing. All those hours behind a screen makes her that much more appreciative of the California outdoors. Catch her on trails (nothing too extreme), at the beach, or taking in views wherever they may be!​

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Qanita Mohiuddin
Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Coordinates and develops Refugee, special needs and diverse socio-economic inclusion in programming

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Qanita Mohiuddin is the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at AWI.  She holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential as well as a Masters in Teacher Education from UC Irvine.  She is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on equity and inclusion in educational systems.  Qanita is a Home School Teacher with Cabrillo Point Academy and also serves as the Director of Education and Enrichment for CORE Academy.  She loves exploring OC trails with her children and has been leading hikes at AWI for students from refugee families.  

 INSTRUCTORS & SUPPORT STAFF

Wendy Machovsky
Language Arts and Math Instructor
SUMMER CAMP DIRECTOR
PRESCHOOL TEACHER at REDWOOD RAVEN SCHOOL​

A homebody with wanderlust, Wendy is the proud mama of 2 daughters that loves to chase wonder - whether in the pages of a book, on the trail, or when meeting new people.

Wendy received her degree in Wildlife Biology and Management from the University of Rhode Island. Specializing in wetlands management, she had the opportunity to participate and contribute to a variety of environmental endeavors. From research done on resource management for migratory songbirds to point pollution mitigation to wetlands mapping and delineation, Wendy is most at peace in a pair of hip waders or floating quietly in a canoe taking in the beauty of nature.

Wendy has been homeschooling her daughters for the past 8 years and has loved every minute of the demanding journey. Always integrating the environment and cultivating a love for the earth, education has become a true passion for her.

Recently, Wendy has been a co-founder for a growing homeschooling community in Southern California that seeks to educate both mother and student in the philosophies and methods of Charlotte Mason.

She is thrilled to be invited into the Art & Wilderness Institute family and can't wait to combine so many of her passions.

Sarah Hafeez
Art Instructor

Sarah Hafeez is a Canadian born graphic designer, illustrator, and humanitarian. She has a passion for Islamic art, history, nature, children’s animations and charity work.
Sarah has worked in the creative industry for over 20 years, designing, creating and illustrating various works. She is currently an art teacher at The Art and Wilderness Institute in California, where she teaches watercolors and traditional art methods.
Sarah was the first to create a Muslim Children's monthly magazine in the U.S. called MiniMuslimeen. MiniMuslimeen circulated for over 2 years and was enjoyed globally by hundreds of children and adults alike. Sarah is also the illustrator behind "How to get Hijab Ready:  A Guide for Muslim Girls ages 8-11". Sarah’s work also includes business branding and merchandise design.
When she isn’t creating, Sarah enjoys spending time with her three wonderful daughters and husband.  In her spare time Sarah works with Open Arms In Kayseri, whose mission is to help refugee Mothers displaced by war.

Rania Siddiq
Outdoor Leadership

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Rania Siddiq grew up exploring the outdoors and wilderness areas of the American Southwest. She is an educator of ten years, in diverse settings from halaqahs to full-time classroom teaching. She earned a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential and Master's in Education from Cal Poly Pomona. She also graduated from Al-Huda Institute with a degree in Ta'leem al Quran. She has taken coursework in art education at CSU Fullerton, which inspired her to teach with creativity. She has additionally trained in ecology and field biology for Southern California educators and has attended the Wild Teacher Apprenticeship with AWI, which sparked a deep passion for education through the outdoors. Rania's teaching philosophy is to bring joy to education and help all students achieve their potential as compassionate, global citizens. Rania is passionate about teaching with creativity, art, and nature in all subjects including English language arts, math, science, and social studies. You can find her hooting owl calls in her backyard or figuring out how to bring an ultralight art kit on her next backpacking adventure. ​

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Carla Taylor
Language Arts- Mugworts Middle School
Backpacking Leader
Handworks Instructor

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Carla Taylor is a Northern California native, where she received her Bachelors in Health Science from San Jose State University.
Her background and years of experience working in the nonprofit sector has presented her with opportunities to explore ways in which she could use her various skills and passion for humanity, literature, nature, and teaching to create a positive impact on the environment and the next generation that will inherit the earth.  
Carla works on and off with Rabata, a nonprofit organization focused on creating  positive cultural change. She focuses on various writing projects and campaigns designed to inspire women and young girls to become positive change makers, and also assists in writing grants, as well as  teaching in their youth program, called Dragonflies.   
Carla is also an active member of her library and sits on the board as Vice President of Friends of Menifee Library, where she aids in decision  making and assisting in programs for the library. 
As a homeschooling mom of 3 Carla enjoys and values her ability to create engaging and memorable learning experiences with them, through outdoor activities and literature. 
Carla takes a holistic approach to education, placing a high importance on fostering personal development and empathy in the youth, which she is excited to bring to AWI. 
In her free time, Carla enjoys writing, reading, gardening, hiking, knitting (all crafts really), and traveling with her family.

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Shana Lipner-Gover
Plant Medicine & Botany
Mugworts Middle School

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Shana Lipner Grover, a clinical herbalist, health and nutrition educator, field botanist, ethical wildcrafter, medicine maker, and forever student of life and wonder is the director and primary educator of Sage Country Herbs School of Botanical Studies in north county San Diego. 
Sage Country Herbs School of Botanical Studies, a 2 year program, is a hybrid online and field-based ecology, botany and plant medicine school that guides students through weaving the study of plants and ecology of diverse environments into the practice of making and using herbal medicine. Through mountain hikes, plant walks, farm activities, and a bit of adventure we learn our roles within our local ecologies.
Shana runs a clinical practice in north county San Diego focusing on empowering people to take responsibility for their health. Beyond her field school, she teaches at a variety of outdoor education including Art & Wilderness Institute and Solidarity Farm School as well as Healing Hands School of Holistic Health, covering 350 hours of herbal medicine and nutrition programs. With bylines in Plant Healer Magazine and Herbaria, you can also find her teaching at a variety of herbal symposiums and conferences like the Plant Healer Botanical Medicine Confluence and TerraVita Herbal Symposium and Oshala Farms, Herb Camp.
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Naz Ullah
Language Arts & Math 
​Unit Studies

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Naz has loved reading, grammar/writing and the study of word origins for as long as she could remember. (Language is so important and using the right words to express ourselves is a skill that’s slowly fading).
She loves all things nature and being new to California is extremely fascinated by the mountains, beaches and parks where she craves to learn something new every single day.
Naz is currently completing a certification course  through the Institute for Excellence in Writing, a renowned program that is passionate about using language skills in self-expression.
When not out exploring California's beauty, Naz loves to cuddle up with her sweet fur baby Dino the cat and enjoys eating dark chocolate.
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Deborah (Karemah) Alfaddaghi
​Redwood Raven Academy Instructor
Licensed Montessori Teacher

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Karemah is a Licensed Primary Montessori teacher.  She specializes in Emerging readers using the Raz Kids A-Z  online platform.  She worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for 25 years adapting many other programs for EFL and ESL students. She enjoy a hands on personalized approach to teaching. In her  spare time she has enjoyed Girl Scouting and serving on the US Chair of girl scouts from 2003 to 2013. She also enjoys working with orphanages in Nepal and Central Asia.

When she is not busy with lesson-planning or spending time with her family, she enjoys sipping Ice tea in her garden.   She joined AWI team in December of 2020 as the Parent and Me instructor and is excited to keep sharing the joy of teaching and the outdoors with AWI students and families. ​

​Amy Hossain
Redwood Raven School Instructor 

Amy Hossain is on a journey towards a more wholesome regenerative lifestyle through growing food, upcycling, stacking the functions of available resources, learning how to produce and build, and fostering community self-reliance. Amy received her Permaculture Design Certification from Zaytuna College Center for Ethical Living. She also recently completed a course on "The Islamic Gift Economy and Social Permaculture" in the Program for Ethical,  Appropriate & Regenerative Livelihoods taught by Dr. 'Adi Setia and Rhamis Kent. Amy is also a veteran homeschooling parent whose two daughters are now in college. 

Deborah Graves, OTD, OTR/L
​Redwood Raven Academy Instructor
Licensed Occupational Therapist

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My love of nature, whole-body learning, and nurturing growth in others has woven through, defined, and created the fabric of my being and life-purpose. Early on I pursued my Bachelors degree in Environmental Studies with a focus on Environmental Education. I then taught PK through 6th grade science and outdoor education for 11 years through the Orange County Department of Education as a Traveling Scientist and Program Naturalist. During summers I taught swimming, sailing, and kayaking as an outdoor adventure instructor. Later I went on to pursue my Masters and Doctoral degrees in Occupational Therapy. I also received specialty training in Ayers Sensory Integration, as well as numerous intensive trauma-informed practices and interventions, preparing me to further integrate a holistic and caring approach to supporting children’s growth and learning. More recently, during the 2021-2022 school year I developed curriculum and taught groups of children ages 4-13 in several enrichment-based, multi-subject homeschool programs. I apply my combined experience to offer a teaching style that challenges and engages students in strengthening their body, mind, and relationships, gaining valuable skills of resilience for care of self, others, and our planet. In my free time I enjoy a variety of movement and mindfulness-based practices, hiking with friends, nature photography, creative writing, therapeutic art, learning new things, and cultivating curiosity! I am looking forward to getting to know your family!​​

Assiya Guitunga Akyol
Geography teacher,
​Monday Unit Studies

Francinete (Assiya) Guitunga Akyol obtained her Bachelor in Marketing Communications with a major in Political Science from the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. She holds both an AMI Primary as well as well as an AMI Elementary Montessori Diplomas from the Montessori Training Centre of Minnesota enabling her to work with children ages between 3 and 12 years. She discovered her passion for teaching when she thought English as a second language while she was living in Damascus, Syria. Francinete’s home country is Mozambique, a nation she returns to as often as possible where she is both the founder and an educational consultant for the school, Escola Génios. Francinete is a home-schooling mom of 3 children who enjoys making YouTube videos of her families experiences of the world. In her spare time Francinete enjoys cooking Turkish food, reading fantasy novels, and improving her language proficiency in Spanish and Turkish.

Tehsina Raza
Preschool Assistant Instructor

Tehsina is a proud mother who enjoys spending time outdoors and working with children brings her an immense sense of joy. 

Amina Mustafa
AWI FIELD PHOTOGRAPHER
Art Instructor

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Amina Mustafa, AKA Creative Formula, is nicknamed "supermom" around here. She has a certificate in the WILD TEACHER APPRENTICESHIP COURSE, in addition to her independent research on CA Native Wildlife.

​She can be found doing practically anything you can imagine with a baby slung onto her! She uses her talents of exceptional creativity through photography as well as multimedia.

Proud mother of 4, Amina spends most of the day creatively "Capturing" her time through meaningful activities spent outdoors and through involving her little ones in those meaningful activities. 

Yousfa Janjua
Mommy & Me Instructor

​Yousfa was born in Montreal, Canada but left building snowmen for sandcastles instead in sunny Southern California with her husband. When she isn’t busy keeping 3 children fed, sheltered and somewhat clean she enjoys being out in nature, gardening, creating digital art, and writing silly poems and short stories for unsuspecting friends and family. On any random day you will most likely find her tinkering in her garden or at the library during storytime which she enjoys as much as her children. Her need for relatable, inclusive and faith based stories for her own children and passion for writing led her to write her first children’s book, “My First Muslim Potty Book,” which won The Daybreak Press Book Award for Best Juvenile Non-Fiction in 2020. She also has a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering.

Mariam Yusuf, M.S
Singing Instructor

Mariam Yusuf holds a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering and a Masters of Information security with 5 years of experience in the back end of a bank. She’s a strong believer of learning and expression through music as well as it being a connector that binds people across generations, cultures, languages and diversities. As a teacher, her aim is to help students unlock and find their own artistic voices; using musing to communicate and connect with their peers and adults alike. The outdoors is a great place to unleash our voices without a care in the world and AWI provides the perfect space for just that. 
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She is a proud mom of 4 children and is passionate about sharing the world of learning through music with your children.

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Nuran Alteir
Journalism Instructor

Nuran Alteir is a professional communicator and visualizer who paved her own path into the world of engineering. She works as a process engineer in the pharmaceutical industry and freelances as a photographer and writer on the side. Her byline has appeared in local and national publications such as The Orange County Register, KPCC: Southern California Public Radio, The Oregonian and more. Nuran holds a B.A. in communications and minor in Spanish from California State University, Fullerton and a B.S. in chemical engineering from Oregon State University. ​

Farah Ashraf
Parents, Playmates and Me Instructor
​(PTO)

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Farah was raised loving animals, music, and art. She finds healing in nature.

She holds a degree in Linguistics from CSUF. She is certified in the Social and Emotional Arts program from UCLArts and Healing. She is a homeschooling mom to four energetic kids and loves to sing songs with them in the car. She will be teaching the mommy and me program using tried and tested techniques that make her own kids giggle. She also spends her time raising her 4 chickens and riding her bicycle when the weather is nice.

Farah Ruknuddeen
Story Circle

Farah Ruknuddeen holds a BA in Social Science from UCI and a Masters in Public Administration and Policy from CSULB. In addition she holds a multiple subject teaching credential in the state of California. Farah has been homeschooling her children for the past 5 years. She decided to continue to pursue her interests in education and go back to school to earn a second credential in Special Education from Cal Poly Pomona. She is the host of the high tea with farah podcast where she and her guests discusses homeschooling and other topics.

Farah enjoys hiking, baking and Reading aloud to her four children.

Sana Rashid
Campout Leader

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Sana Rashid is a college student on her journey to obtain her Nursing License.. Sana has a wide range of future careers she hopes to pursue, including her mission to work with Art and Wilderness Institute to accomplish teaching children in a unique and engaging way, and bringing the community closer together to share the magical experiences that nature offers. She has her associates degree in Arabic and has worked with Sama in the past for 2 years, helping lead hikes and co-teach children at camping trips. She has been a henna artist for 8 years and has done henna at volunteering events, QUAD M, and fundraisers. In her free time, Sana enjoys stargazing, drinking coffee, watching sunsets, mountain biking, tie dying, painting, hanging with friends and family, and traveling. Her favorite thing in the entire world is cherishing precious moments on camping nights beneath the dark black sky scattered with shining stars with the firelight crackling and glowing, along with the sound of her friends and family laughing and talking. 

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory” Dr. Suess.

Mariam Wingate
Archery and Handworks Instructor

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Mariam Wingate is a college student currently attending UCLA in pursuit of a B.A in psychology. She graduated with honors from Dehesa Charter School, and hopes to turn her passion for helping others into a career as a therapist or counselor. She enjoys teaching, and has led many projects through youth organizations, including cake decorating, archery, arts and crafts, and has been a youth summer camp counselor for four years. She is also dedicated to community service and has volunteered for numerous projects, including a nonprofit Islamic organization, a pediatric therapy center, and senior centers. When she's not busy with school, Mariam enjoys crocheting, painting, trying new recipes, reading, and cuddling her kitten, Grey. She adores beach sunsets and mountain sunrises, and could spend the rest of her life in a forest cottage. She also loves spending time with family and friends.

INTERNS

For direct inquiries, please contact:
info@artandwildernessinsititute.com
(714) 745-3001