Wild Education The Freedom to Thrive
A non-directive, child-centered approach that emphasizes self-directed exploration through free play, movement, and interaction within a carefully prepared environment.
Mauricio and Rebeca Wild, who founded the Pestalozzi Educational Center in Ecuador, created an educational methodology that emphasized a non-directive, child-centered approach, fostering learning through free play, movement, and interaction with a prepared environment, drawing heavily from Montessori and Piaget’s developmental theories. Unlike formal education’s fixed curricula and teacher-led instruction or other alternative methods like Waldorf’s structured creativity, the Wilds’ approach prioritizes self-directed exploration and respects individual developmental rhythms, avoiding prescribed academic goals.
About Miranda & Sebastian
Miranda & Sebastian Wild were born in Ecuador. Their grandparents were Rebeca and Mauricio Wild, the founders of the Pestalozzi School in Ecuador.
Both Miranda & Sebastian went to the “Pesta” (as it was later called) and the CPAAs (Centres for Autonomous Activities). They had a very different education experience, one that emphasized non-directivity, autonomy, prepared environments, and respecting life processes. Giving each child the freedom to thrive and be themselves.
Their learning process involved a very hands on intrinsically motivated philosophy of education. They used many didactic materials to read, write, do maths, geography and more.
Knowing the impact that their grandparents had in the world, and with the goal to spread their legacy and continue the process of the Wild Education Philosophy. They give speeches and immersive workshops sharing their experience of a Wild Education.
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Consulting Services
For anyone interested in going deeper, or if you have a project and need help we offer 1-on-1 virtual consulting services.
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Immersive Talks
2 to 3 hour talks, you get to experience and play with some of the didactic materials, and we talk about our experiences.
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Immersive Workshops
We offer immersive 12 to 30 hour workshops. Where we share our experiences, have conversations and Q & A sessions with the participants. Big focus on learning how to use the various didactic materials.
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Speeches
We give speeches and motivational talks. Taking a deep dive into the current education systems and our experience.
Upcoming Wild Workshops and Talks
Venue: Institut Escola Mestre Morera, Barcelona
Time: 17:00 - 19:30
Language: Spanish
May 8
Experiences of an education based on respect for life processes
An eye opening talk on our experiences at the Pestalozzi School and the CPAAs. Challenging the paradigm of education, and what a Wild Education is all about.
Venue: Institut Escola Mestre Morera, Barcelona
Times: Friday from 17h00 - 20h00, Saturday from 9h00 - 19h00 (with 1 hour lunch break)
Language: Spanish
May 9 & 10
Immersive Workshop
Immersive 6 hour workshop. We share our experiences, have conversations and Q & A sessions with the participants. Immersive yourself in a hands on learning process, these immersive workshops emphasize learning how to use didactic materials.
Venue: Cuques de Llum, Marçà, Tarragona
Times: Sunday from 10:00 - 18:00 (with 2 hours lunch break)
Language: Spanish
May 11
Immersive Workshop
Immersive 12 hour workshop. We share our experiences, have conversations and Q & A sessions with the participants. Immersive yourself in a hands on learning process, these immersive workshops emphasize learning how to use didactic materials.
Rebeca & Mauricio Wild
Rebeca Wild (1939–2015) and Mauricio Wild (1939–2020) were pioneers in alternative education, known for founding the Pestalozzi Educational Center, or "Pesta," in Ecuador.
Their work challenged conventional schooling, emphasizing respect for life processes, non-directivity and children’s natural stages of development.
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Contact us
mirandasebastianwild@gmail.com
Ecuador