Who are we?
We are a group of enthusiastic individuals who love to work with children and for them. We are passionately committed to languages and we know how to bring them closer to children in a fun and interesting way. The nature presents great joy to all of us and for this reason the summer language camps for children in the countryside in the intact nature are perfect for us. Individually and collectively we are excited to be around these young adventurers and we are delighted immensely when we see them happy and content. Every day we are excited for them and with them when they get closer on their path to new knowledge. At our camps we develop the adventurous spirit, the true contact with the nature and we form long lasting friendships, also with the help of languages. Through all kinds of activities the languages tend to find their way to get under our skin on their own and they connect us.
Teachers & Counsellors
Aleksandra Borštnar Maček
Kozjanski rajAleksandra Borštnar Maček, BA in German and Literature and Journalism, with years of teaching experience and experience as an editor of school textbooks and the PONS foreign language literature; she spent her childhood and teenage years in Prevorje. Aleksandra spends every moment of her spare time in nature, she takes long walks, she prefers the river or the sea, she plays sports, meets with friends or reads books, and of course, she travels. From the numerous places she has visited she has discovered a little piece of wisdom: “Slovenia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and Prevorje is a place my foreign friends call paradise”.
“I truly wish that people wouldn’t lose themselves in this fast-paced lifestyle, and wouldn’t forget that that we are all a piece of the nature which surrounds us and gives us life. We have to learn to love it and take care of it. I feel I can help both children and adults have a taste of the country life in a way such that they can hear the silence, feel the softness of the grass, be tempted by the smell of the fresh hay, and sink into the magic of a starry night.”
Catherine Earles
Kozjanski rajCatherine Earles, English native speaker from England, is a trained sport scientist but has spent most of her life working with children – first as a tennis coach in England and America and then, after having children of her own, as a schoolteacher of students aged 11-16. Catherine loves to travel and having explored the world she discovered Slovenia was the perfect place for her. She relocated here in 2015 and now works in a primary school in Rogaška Slatina. She loves to spend her free time with her family in the great outdoors, walking and cycling in the summer and skiing in the winter.
“Life is meant for living. We must take every moment and make it special. I cannot think of a nicer way for children to spend their summer than taking part in these camps – exploring nature, making friends and learning skills for life. These memories will last forever.”
Eva Skok
Kozjanski rajEva Skok has always loved languages. It started with French and English in the high school, and now she is also learning Italian. Due to her love of languages, she decided to study Translation at the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana, where she will shortly obtain a double master’s degree with the University of INALCO (National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations) in Paris. She also loves working with people, so during her studies she chose an internship at La Mache High School in Lyon in France, where she worked as an English language assistant. She realized that teaching really fulfills her and that she would like to continue with it.
“I am mainly interested in working with children, the elderly and people who have difficulty learning. In my free time I like to be creative, I love all kinds of arts: dancing, singing, creative writing, and lately I like to do yoga and belly dance. I also love spending my time in nature.”
Hannah Burton
Kozjanski rajHannah Burton is a Native English speaker who lives in the UK but has spent a lot of time in Slovenia over the past 3 years. She has a BSc in Sports Education and is a qualified teacher, she has taught 5 – 13 year olds in England for the past 9 years and has spent time in schools in Slovenia more recently. Hannah is also a qualified football coach and has coached girls and ladies football teams for many years. She was brought up on a farm in England and loves the countryside and being outdoors. After spending a year out travelling in 2015 Hannah fell in love with Slovenia the first time she visited and now has a desire to explore the stunning landscapes here whenever she gets the opportunity. She loves the unspoilt nature within this spectacular country.
“What a fantastic opportunity children have here in Slovenia with camps like these, being able to experience and explore some of the most amazing scenery and culture I have seen anywhere, every child should be given this opportunity. I love to see children expand their horizons by increasing their knowledge through educational, social and cultural experiences and I look forward to assisting the children on these camps to do this.“.
David A. Mosquera
Kozjanski rajDavid A. Mosquera is a Colombo-American citizen, living in Slovenia for two years. David studied 3D animation and film at Lehigh Carbon College in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania (USA) where he also worked at WXLV 90.3FM as a radio host and DJ. Now in Slovenia, he is working as a motion graphic designer, photographer and musician. David loves dancing, travelling, food and music… Specially making music.
“Life is very simple, we are the ones who complicate it instead of living it – and to do so, we have to learn to live along with nature.”
Katja Kern
Kozjanski rajKatja Kern – A student in her final year at Faculty of Education Ljubljana. She is a person of multiple interests and she feels that being a teacher combines them all. Music and theatre represent a big part of her life. Whenever she has a few minutes to spare, she picks up a good book or does sport. She is a very flexible and active, never standing still. Since she remembers she loves to travel as well. Hand in hand she enjoys discovering extraordinary places and meeting new people. During her studies she has worked in various settings, always surrounded by children, collecting valuable experiences.
“Even though we learn in so many different ways, the nature provides everyone with enormous opportunities to gain a big variety of skills without even realising it at first. That is how stimulating the nature is!”
Špela Jenko
Kozjanski rajShe really likes hiking, she loves swimming and especially she likes meeting people and observing human mind.
»Children always find the way to make me smile. They know how I feel in a particular moment, they can read words and feelings from my eyes and they are the ones who always give unselfishly. We cannot take their giving as a fact. We need to arm these little people with knowledge and self-confidence to succeed in today’s world. And I hope I will manage to help them on that way. «
Marija Frece Perc
Kozjanski rajMarija Frece Perc, primary school teacher, teaches lower grades at the Prevorje Elementary School. She has a great deal of experience teaching children and leading extracurricular activities. She is involved in combined-classes teacher training as a multiplier, she teachers her colleagues how to work with children in such a class and what advantages these small schools have for children.
“I live and work in a genuine country environment. I am in constant contact with nature and it makes me happy. In my spare time I take invigorating walks in flowery meadows and through green forests. I watch water drops glistening in the morning sun and tiny flowers along the overgrown paths. I like to stop to talk to people, and on rainy days I read educational books or a book for the soul.”
Angela Žugič
Kozjanski rajAngela Žugič – Well, it is not often that people call her Angela, because everybody just calls her Angie. She is a German teacher, and has years of experience in teaching adults and children, translation and interpretation. For years now, she has been teaching Slovene language to German-speaking citizens who live in Slovenia. Early in her childhood, she noticed that she is good with languages and that she enjoys learning new words. Slowly and spontaneously she developed her love towards languages, especially German. She tries to present the language in a fun, easy way, by using a variety of techniques and devices that enrich her teaching or workshops, so that even her students would come to love German. The participation in the camps is particularly pleasing for her, because of the relaxed atmosphere, the contact that she has with nature and the curious faces of children, when learning also becomes a fun play.
“I was born in Switzerland to Slovenian parents, who had moved there with the desire to allow, me and my sister, a better life. And indeed, my childhood spent in Switzerland left a strong mark on me. It has given me width and depth regarding the diversity of cultures and values. It gave me the German language, which is close to me, and feels like home; the language that I feel as equally strongly as Slovene. I’m happy because I can do what makes me the happiest. I live in Slovenia, the country I like getting to know and look forward to, when I return from my trips. I am surrounded by loving family, friends and ultimately also with horses and nature, where I go after the workday and on weekends.”
Maja Perne
Kozjanski rajMaja Perne, a bachelor student of English and German. She wants to obtain a Pedagogical Master’s degree, as she is passionate about teaching. Visiting a summer language school in Kiel, Germany, has helped her polish her knowledge of German, as her time spent working in Scotland has done for her English. She enjoys working with children, is passionate about foreign languages and nature, and is always ready for an adventure.
“For my entire life, I have been living and working on a small farm, hence I am no stranger to life in nature and work with animals. I adore hiking, cycling and group activities. Nonetheless, my heart leaps, when I hear the word travel. I believe one’s true ingenuity floats to fore when travelling, not to mention, how getting to know foreign people and their culture widens one’s horizons which is simply priceless.”
Gašper Jamnik
Kozjanski rajGašper Jamnik is a wood engineering student at the Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana, where he was brought by his love of nature. As a child, he spent many holidays in various camps, including the camp In Kozjanski raj with outlaw Guzaj, where he is now every year returning as a counsellor. He has been working with children for many years as a counsellor at a local oratory. In his free time he takes photos, strums the guitar and hukes around mountains, and often all that at once.
»My memories of the language camps in Kozjansko as a participant are always joyful. All the games, friends, stories, and sleeping in the haybarn brightened my childhood, I also received some practical virtues that came in handy to me later in life. Now I am returning as a counsellor and
I wish for many children to get as good memories as I did. «
Anuška Poglajen
Kozjanski rajAnuška Poglajen, Professor of Spanish language and student of geography. I’ve been gathering experience in teaching in many classes and hanging out with the young in various volunteer camps, language camps in Slovenia and abroad.
“I live by the principle “Carpe diem”, because every day is beautiful and full of surprises and therefore unique. Home is the best, but a traveller’s heart is pulling me to friends around the world. In my student days I was impressed with Portugal and rather the complicated Portuguese language. Love of language and friends’ invitations led me first to the far west of Europe and later on across the Atlantic to Brazil, where I got completely addicted to Brazilian Portuguese, and now I enjoy sharing this love of language and the Brazilian energy in courses of Portuguese language. On trips I “charge my batteries” and all the new discoveries are delicious food for my soul. There I always learn something new, meet interesting people and then return back again, where I feel the best – at home.
Manca Žuna
Kozjanski rajManca Žuna is a primary school teacher, specialized for English teaching for young learners. She loves sports, working with children and is always up for a challenge. She runs sport classes in kindergartens, teaches swimming and works as an entertainer. By volunteering in the sport-camps and sailing camps, she has gained experience of working with disabled children. She has lived in the Netherlands for some time where she was teaching English.
“Children are very curious and love to explore. Camps like this one present a unique opportunity for them to gain knowledge, broaden horizons, meet new people, learn to coexist with others and create thousands of memories.”
Špela Skok
Kozjanski rajŠpela Skok is studying to become an organiser of the social networking. Ever since her high school she’s been investing her free time working with children. She spends her afternoons as a sports trainer for preschool children, as a tutor of English language and quite often children can see her at birthday parties or summer camps where she works as a counsellor. Besides working with children she also enjoys exploring beautiful corners of Slovenia. Her favourite activities are hiking and capturing photos for her lifetime memories.
“There are many things that are important in life and at the same time there are only a few of them that really matters. Great views, sunsets, laugh of children and sparkling eyes are always good recipe for a great life. Every now and then we can lose our focus. But as soon as we regain it, we can create important lifetime memories and things that really count in someone’s life. “
Lana Kolar
Kozjanski rajLana Kolar studies medicine in Ljubljana. As a child she remembers being at the language camp in Prevorje multiple times. It was very important for her to attend the camp as she gained a lot of confidence and learnt how to speak English. There was not a day that she did not enjoy there, which encouraged me to become a counsellor. She loves working with kids because they always seem happy, they speak the truth, and they always do something unusual. As she has got a lot of younger cousins, she gained a lot of experience working with children. She has also made some escape rooms, which were visited by many children, teenagers and adults.
“Besides working with children, I am really keen on jogging, puzzles, nature and music. As a child I attended music school and was singing in a school choir. My passion is also writing poems. “
