SHELLY ZACKS - CO-FOUNDER & BOARD CHAIR

After reading “Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv, Shelly Zacks was inspired to create a children’s garden to foster nature play and environmental stewardship in our community. She has over 40 years of experience as an Early Childhood Educator and has a BS in Elementary Education and a MS in Early Childhood Education. She is also a Palm Beach county certified Master Gardener and a long time member of National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). She was an Educator at Sunflower Creative Arts in its early years and has a long-lasting passion for empowering children to lead their own play. Shelly tends our red wiggler worm farm and educates our visitors about cultivating compost. In 2022, she was invited to be a speaker at the World Forum Foundation.

JEANNIE FERNSWORTH - CO-Founder & Botanist

Jeannie is a graduate of the New York Botanical Garden School of Horticulture and a member of the Rare Fruits Council. She is passionate about plants, the environment and community. Jeannie has an extensive background as a Botanist and Horticulturist and helped to curate the diverse plants growing at the garden including over 50 fruit trees, medicinal herbs and native flowering plants. Her vision for the garden helped to transform it into the eco-wonderland that it is today. She helped to build the soil with nutrients and tirelessly tend to the land. She has worked for The New York Botanical Garden and The Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Christina Nicodemou - Executive Director

Christina is a dedicated leader with a BA in Business Administration and over 25 years of consulting and development experience. She is an accomplished grant writer and fundraiser, having raised over $2 million for nonprofits serving youth. As a certified Nature-Based Educator (ERAFANS) and the founder of the Nature Education Cooperative, Christina is passionate about sharing hands-on nature and science studies with children. She has developed a robust online curriculum for homeschoolers based on her successful nature school program.

As the Executive Director of Delray Beach Children's Garden, she leads strategic development, including fundraising, grant writing, program creation, outreach, and curriculum. Starting as a volunteer, Christina played a key role in securing the Impact 100 grant in 2018. With a background in landscape design, she previously specialized in pollinator gardens and educational school gardens in NY. Christina is passionate about empowering youth and inspiring children of all ages to explore nature and science.

Veronica Green - Program Manager

Veronica is our garden's Program Manager and the lead facilitator of Mother Nature & Me, our cherished and longest running early-childhood program. She is also the leads our newly established Garden Adventures program, sharing nature and gardening lessons with children of all ages. Veronica often curates specialized field trips for our collaborations with Title 1 schools, public libraries, girl scout troops and homeschool groups. In addition to this, she leads a delicious cooking workshop, which helps children connect to nature through plant-based foods. She has received her Forks Over Knives Plant Based Certification through Rouxby Culinary School and continues to hone her skills as she creates tasty new recipes for our young chefs in the garden. Veronica Green is a children's book author, best known for her popular series titled The Adventures of Veggie Vero, which teaches children about eco-consciousness and compassion towards animals. She has a BA in Public Communications and Sociology from Florida Atlantic University. Veronica, with her efficient organizational skills and cheerful disposition, is talented at keeping our bustling children’s programs running smoothly.

VALENTINA DELCORO - Grounds manager & Garden educator

An experienced horticulturist who nurtures both plants and curious children, Valentina is our magnificent Gardener and Grounds Manager. With a deep-rooted passion for regenerative gardening and a strong respect for seasonal rhythms, she cultivates our vibrant edible landscape while helping the garden evolve in harmony with nature.

Valentina plays an integral role in both program support and curriculum, assisting with hands-on learning experiences that connect children to the cycles of the earth. She also problem-solves and manages essential systems such as solar and irrigation, ensuring the garden remains sustainable and thriving. With great care and attention to detail, she leads seed-starting, propagation, pruning, and the thoughtful organization of our labyrinth beds. Whether tending the garden or harvesting alongside young learners, Valentina brings intention, knowledge, and heart to everything she does—creating a space where both plants and people can truly flourish.

SAVANNAH STORCH - GARDEN ECOLOGIST

Savannah is a seasoned ecological and edible landscaper with experience ranging from VT, CA, and FL. Savannah holds a BA in Ecology and a minor in Climate Justice and brings to the garden an unwavering passion for biodiversity conservation and inspiring others to wonder and care for the natural world around us. From growing up in the ever-changing landscape of South Florida, Savannah has cherished the healing power of green space, and cares deeply to preserve these spaces for future generations. Savannah is the vice president of the Palm Beach County Atala Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association and when not in the garden, they can be found exploring our Palm Beach County natural areas for butterflies with their film camera in hand.

Cayla Coco - GARDEN leader

Cayla is a dedicated arts educator with over 15 years of experience inspiring creativity in learners of all ages. She brings a deep passion for nurturing artistic expression and believes in the transformative power of creativity as a tool for connection, confidence, and self-discovery.

Throughout her career, Cayla has collaborated with educators and underserved youth to expand access to the arts, leading workshops, community murals, immersive installations, and student art showcases. Her work reflects a commitment to making creativity accessible, meaningful, and rooted in community.

At the garden, she supports our programs with intention and joy, guiding child-led art experiences that honor each child’s imagination and unique voice.

MARISSA JAYE - GARDEN LEADER

Marissa brings over 25 years of experience nurturing and educating young children, with a deep passion for supporting their natural curiosity and development. She holds a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education and is certified in Social & Emotional Intelligence Coaching, allowing her to thoughtfully support the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally.

Marissa brings warmth, experience, and intentional care to every interaction. She is the also the founder of Sunflowers Education Services, which provides playgroups, tutoring, parent to parent support, and homeschool evaluations.

Micah Robbins - Board Member

Micah is a well respected community leader in the field of prevention and coalition building and has loved this work for over 25 years. He is a sought after group facilitator, public speaker, moderator, and serves as the Director of Special Projects for the Palm Beach County Behavioral Health Coalition. As a talented grant writer, Micah is excited to support the garden with funding goals this year. He feels that supporting the Delray Beach Children’s Garden is a natural fit as connection to nature is a cornerstone for healthy communities.  The impact it has had on his wife Nicole and son River are an immeasurable gift of nature, growth, play and enchantment.

BRIDGET LANGFORD - Board Member

As a founding contributor of the garden, Bridget has devoted much of her time over the years tending to our garden, working with members and managing volunteers. Bridget has a M.Ed and is an elementary science teacher at Gulf Stream School. Bridget is an active member of Boca Junior League and a Committee Member of Boca Junior League Gardening Club. Bridget served as a founding board member for Delray Beach Children’s Garden through 2021. She spent the last year traveling the Unites States with her two boys with a mission to visit as many national parks as they could. Bridget is a devoted activist of the Earth and a long-standing member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.