Meet Miss Natalie: A Familiar Face for Wednesday Homeschool
Some of our youngest Aqualand kids already know her as Miss Natalie. Others call her Mrs. Henkenius. Around here, she’s Nat, and families who spent the summer in Boogie Wonderland have seen her helping little ones try something new, explore the shoreline, and find their confidence.
This school year, Nat will support our 4- and 5-year-olds and any students who are not yet swimming independently during Wednesday homeschool enrichment, with Matty leading the ocean program.
A Teacher, a Mom, and an Ocean Kid Herself
Nat grew up in Laguna Niguel, where surfing, boating, and beach days were part of her childhood. She studied elementary education with an emphasis in special education at Biola University, where she also played collegiate softball on scholarship.
A mother of three, Nat brings nearly five years of experience teaching third grade at Cornerstone Christian Academy. Her background combines classroom teaching, athletics, and a lifelong connection to the ocean.
At Aqualand, that experience has a practical purpose: helping children understand instructions, participate in a group, and approach unfamiliar activities with encouragement rather than pressure.
How Nat and Matty Work Together
Matty leads water instruction and supervises all surfing before students separate into their age-based enrichment groups. Nat works alongside him and the Aqualand team, giving our youngest students and non-swimmers additional guidance during the ocean portion of the day.
Her role is to help bridge the distance between a group instruction and a child understanding what to do next. That might mean breaking a direction into smaller steps, helping a student stay engaged, or offering reassurance when something feels unfamiliar.
This support is not limited to little ones. An older child who is not yet swimming independently also needs an appropriate starting point, without the expectation of keeping up with more experienced students.
What Learning Can Look Like at Four or Five
For our youngest students, ocean education is about much more than catching a wave.
Following directions near the water, staying with the group, learning to handle equipment, asking for help, and noticing what is happening around them are all meaningful things to work on.
So are taking turns, trying again after a frustrating moment, and learning how to be part of a class. These are the places where Nat’s teaching background fits naturally into outdoor enrichment.
The goal is not to rush children into what the older kids are doing. It is to help them build the skills and confidence for their own next step.
With Matty leading the water instruction and Nat providing additional support, our Wednesday team makes room for children who are younger, newer to the ocean, or still finding their footing. They belong at Aqualand, too.