Although my degree is in International Studies (with an area emphasis in East and Southeast Asia and a minor in English), I’ve made a career working with children. I’ve spent time as a mentor for at-risk youth in the community, an ESL teacher in Taiwan and China, and five years as a behavioral health specialist working with public school students. My work in behavioral health was emotionally demanding and often felt like a band-aid solution to much deeper systemic problems. The ideas behind nature-immersion get to the root of what children need to thrive and build resilience: autonomy, respect for individual needs, connection to the natural world, a deep sense of friendship and community, playfulness, curiosity, and creativity.

I love the outdoors and spend as much of my summers as I can out camping and hiking with my dogs. I have a deep love and appreciation for this earth and all it has to teach us. Foraging for edible plants, using natural plant dyes, raising animals, and microbiology are a few of my passions I love sharing with our nature school students.