Our Story

Mercedes Rumack

Founder & Educator, Mariposas

Mariposas was created from a simple but deeply held vision:
to offer a learning environment where children are truly seen, respected, and supported as whole human beings.

A Childhood Rooted in Nature and Creativity

Mercedes was born and raised in a rural village in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Growing up surrounded by nature, art, and education shaped her understanding of childhood as a time for exploration, creativity, and connection with the living world.

With a mother who was a school teacher and a father who was both a veterinarian and farmer, she was immersed early on in a life where learning, care, and respect for nature were part of everyday experience.

A Broader View of Learning

As a young adult, Mercedes lived and traveled through different communities around the world.

These experiences deepened her understanding of culture, human connection, and the many ways children learn and grow. She became increasingly curious about how environments shape development, and how children thrive when they are supported with care, creativity, and meaningful opportunities to explore.

The Role of Creativity and Relationship

Before creating Mariposas, Mercedes worked in Buenos Aires offering art therapy programs for children in underserved communities.

Through this work, she witnessed the powerful role that creativity, emotional safety, and relationship play in children’s development. It became clear that education is not simply about teaching content, but about creating spaces where children can express themselves, build confidence, and discover their own strengths.

The Birth of Mariposas

After moving to the United States and becoming a mother, Mercedes began to imagine the kind of learning environment she wanted for her own children and for the wider community.

This vision became Mariposas.

A Living Approach to Education

Over the past four years, Mercedes has guided Mariposas Nature Preschool in Brookings, Oregon, working closely with young children each day.

Through observation, reflection, and hands-on experience, she developed what she now calls The Mariposas Curriculum, a nature-connected, relationship-centered approach that follows the rhythms of the seasons and supports the whole child through meaningful experiences.

This work continues to evolve in response to the children, the environment, and the community.

A Way of Being, Not Just a Method

At the heart of Mercedes’ work is a simple belief:

Children grow best when they are supported with warmth, trust, and meaningful opportunities to engage with the world around them.

She sees herself not only as a teacher, but as a guide and a learner, walking alongside children as they explore, create, and grow into themselves.