Changing the way we care for our children, and our world. 

When I moved to the Olympic Peninsula, I began teaching science in the classroom—but I quickly realized I needed to get back outside. Becoming a parent only deepened that instinct. I wanted my daughter to grow up knowing that nature isn’t a separate place you visit on field trips—it’s all around us, all the time. That realization led me to revisit an idea I first began developing in 2013–2014 while working at a variety of outdoor education centers: The Nature Nanny.

At those early programs, I noticed a common thread. While kids had joyful and meaningful experiences in nature, those moments were often fleeting—disconnected from their everyday lives. I wanted to help bridge that gap. I believe in showing children that nature isn’t confined to parks and preserves; it’s in our yards, our neighborhoods, and our daily routines. It sustains us. And when we truly connect with it, we’re inspired to care for it.

My approach to outdoor education is grounded in both childcare and teaching experience. I earned a Bachelor of Education from McGill University in 2007 and began my career in a traditional classroom. But I quickly felt the need to step outside the box—literally. I traveled, worked, and volunteered in a variety of settings—from schools to stables—often living out of my tent. In 2012, a year in New Zealand rekindled my love for teaching. I completed a Bush 1 course through the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association (NZOIA), where I built skills in campcraft, navigation, and ecology. I also had the opportunity to work with teens in the outdoors, which cemented my path toward outdoor education.

In 2018, I went back to school and earned my Master of Arts in Biology through Miami University’s Advanced Inquiry Program. The program emphasized both ecological study and community engagement, and it took me as far as Paraguay, where I was reminded of the power of grassroots efforts and connection. That experience reinforced my belief that environmental education isn’t just about facts—it’s about people, relationships, and shared responsibility.

Since then, I’ve continued to grow The Nature Nanny, and it has been deeply rewarding to see how outdoor experiences can shape children’s perspectives. Through camps, after-school programs, adventure clubs, and one-on-one excursions, I help kids explore forests, farms, gardens—even their own backyards—with curiosity and wonder. Each program is tailored to the individual child, allowing their interests to lead the way. The curriculum is always evolving, just like nature itself.

My personal goal is to lead a life of low impact, rooted in connection to the land. I love exploring parks big and small, watching birds overhead, and marveling at moss underfoot. Through The Nature Nanny, I get to share that joy with others—and watch it take root in the next generation.

“An environment-based education movement—at all levels of education—will help students realize that school isn’t supposed to be a polite form of incarceration, but a portal to the wider world.

— Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor of Education - McGill University

  • Master of Arts in Biology - Miami University

  • Bush 1 - NZOIA

  • Wilderness First Aid - Base Medical

  • CPR - American Safety and Health Institute

  • Clean driving history

  • Cleared WA State Education Background Check

  • Cleared Criminal Background Check