Our story

Melissa Macias is the founder of Wild Child CC, an early childhood educator, nature-based education advocate, trainer, entrepreneur, and lifelong believer in the power of children. With over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, Melissa’s work is rooted in authentic respect for children and a deep understanding of how they learn, grow, move, connect, and develop.

Melissa’s journey began in San Diego, California, where she created Eco Baby Childcare and Eco Child Outdoor with Nature, programs that grew from family childcare into outdoor, nature-based learning experiences. What began as a small home-based program evolved into something much bigger — daily hikes, beach adventures, city exploration, nature education, and a child-focused approach that encouraged children to become strong, curious, capable, and resilient.

In 2023, Melissa brought that same West Coast-inspired nature-based philosophy to Corpus Christi, Texas, where she founded Wild Child CC. Her goal was to create a program that honored childhood in its most natural form: muddy, joyful, curious, emotional, brave, and full of wonder. Wild Child CC blends outdoor learning, play-based education, child-led exploration, social-emotional development, and hands-on experiences that help children build confidence, independence, and a lifelong love for nature.

Melissa’s professional background includes early childhood education, psychology, human behavior, and child development. Before building her career in education, she was also a competitive boxer and athlete — a background that shaped her belief in discipline, resilience, body awareness, confidence, and grit. These values continue to influence the way she supports children, families, and educators today.

Her work is both research-based and deeply practical. Melissa understands that children need more than academics to thrive. They need movement, connection, challenge, nurturing adults, meaningful risk-taking, outdoor time, and the freedom to discover who they are. She believes children are naturally capable, and that the role of adults is to guide, protect, observe, and create environments where that capability can grow.

Melissa is also the founder of Wild Child Nature Academy™, a nature-based training and education program for teachers, leaders, and anyone wanting to learn more about nature-based education. Through this work, she helps educators understand how to bring outdoor learning, child-led exploration, and developmentally appropriate practices into their own classrooms and programs.

In addition to her work with Wild Child CC and Wild Child Nature Academy™, Melissa is collaborating with Coastal Bend Ranch Academy to develop the school-year program, after-school program, and summer camp experience, Wild Roots Ranch Camp. Through this collaboration, Melissa is creating an enchriching curriculum, program structure, learning experiences, and operational systems that blend academics with ranch life, nature education, animal care, outdoor leadership, hands-on learning, and real-world child development. Her vision for this work is to support children beyond the traditional classroom by giving them meaningful opportunities to learn through land, animals, movement, responsibility, curiosity, and connection.

Originally from San Diego and now rooted in the Coastal Bend, Melissa brings a unique blend of professional knowledge, athletic discipline, entrepreneurial spirit, and heart to everything she creates. Through Wild Child CC, Wild Child Nature Academy™, and her collaboration with Coastal Bend Ranch Academy and Wild Roots Ranch Camp, Melissa continues to help children and educators reconnect with nature, confidence, resilience, and the wild beauty of childhood.