Our Instructor
Mx. Van (Vanessa Ehecatl Santos)
Instructor Bio:
Mx. Van has taught outdoor science, ecology based education and interdisciplinary arts since 1999. Emphasizing hands-on, land-based learning that integrates environmental awareness, fine arts, and youth development.
Early experience includes teaching at the LGBTQ Center Childcare Program in San Francisco (2004) and working as a Parent-Teacher Assistant with Portland Parks & Recreation’s Nuts About Nature After-School Program and at Waldorf Village School in Portland, OR (2005–2009), supporting nature-based curriculum and hand-arts instruction.
From 2012–2019, they co-taught with the Junior Nature Conservation League in Iowa, coached youth programming through 4H and served as Art Education Coordinator and Teaching Artist for the Homeschoolers of North Central Iowa Alternative Fine Arts Program (2012–2018). During this time, they also led Farm to Table workshops with small community farms in North Central Iowa, teaching sustainability and food-based arts. Additionally, they ran all ages Plein Air Multimedia classes and Wild Weed Walks at the Water’s Edge Nature Center in Algona, Iowa from 2011-2017. They served as an all-ages Nature School Teacher in the Outdoor Program at Debs Park (Los Angeles) and Kenneth Hahn Park (Culver City) through 2021-2022. In the Mojave Desert they lead Plein Air Art Workshops at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center from Winter of 2022 to Summer of 2023 before moving permanently to Los Angeles with their family.
Most recently Mx. Van worked as Aftercare Arts Coordinator Consultant at El Rio Waldorf Charter School, Arts Education Consultant at Heavy Manners Library and taught Interdisciplinary Studio Arts and Career in the Arts to Disabled Adult Artists at Tierra Del Sol Foundation in Sunland, CA. They are currently co-teaching in the Ceramics Lab at Braille Institute in Los Angeles and works as a certified Art Vendor with Sky Mountain Charter School of California.
Mx. Van’s teaching and Cross-Disciplinary Art Practice have been featured in:
Vanessa’s Other Websites:
Devic Organization of Elemental Science
Past Works:
Ifiaar Featured Artist
Tele Mag ‘Room for the Cream’
SGV for SGV 626 Zine
Children’s Play: Francis Alÿs Article Pomelo Mag
Elderberry Syrup Recipe Pomelo Mag