FOUNDER & DIRECTOR

Maddi is an educator, an artist, a scientist, a doula, and most of all a lifelong learner. Originally from New York and Florida, she moved to Durham in October 2014 with her family after 16 magical years in the Pacific Northwest. Maddi has 20+ years of professional experience working with preschoolers through adults within the field of science/nature education as a teacher, mentor and program coordinator. She received a BS in Nutrition through Bastyr University in Seattle, and two graduate degrees in Science Education and Forest Resources through the University of Washington. While at IslandWood, a national model for outdoor learning near Seattle, Maddi served as an educator, a coordinator for 4th-6th grade programming as well as a mentor for graduate student educators. She is a trained Mindful Schools educator and integrates that practice into her work with youth. After moving to Durham, Maddi spent 5 years at a Reggio-inspired preschool, first as Assistant Director and then back in her happy place, bringing the learning outside with four and five year olds. In her free time you can find Maddi creating in some capacity, meandering along the Eno River, biking around town, gardening or some other form of playing outside with her husband Pete, and son, Ollie.

LEAD TEACHER

Beth, originally from Pennsylvania, has lived in North Carolina for the last fourteen years and has taught preschool for the last six years. Her lifelong passion for child health and wellbeing first led her to pursue pediatric medicine. While serving as a pediatrician was fulfilling, she noticed that she was missing a rich connection with the children in her care. Her decision to shift her focus toward teaching was challenging and also deeply rewarding. She loves the way this work centers social-emotional learning, scaffolds and develops children’s sense of self-worth and confidence, and builds connections among families. Beth has a special passion for building, curating, and engaging within nature-based play spaces. She has found great joy and relevance in working and walking with young children in the natural world and the symbiotic relationships between free play and cultivating appreciation for nature. An advocate of child-directed play and play-based learning, Beth loves exploring, facilitating, and discovering alongside children and their families. She is a member of the International Play Association and is currently working on her North Carolina Environmental Educators Certificate. Beth lives with her husband, twelve year old twin sons, nine year old daughter, 4 chickens and a very old grumpy cat. Her hobbies and interests include woodworking, birdwatching, gardening, sewing, and exploring new places.

LEAD TEACHER

Emily was born and raised in the foothills and spent her childhood exploring the wilds of western NC. She graduated from UNC-CH in 2006 with degrees in psychology and English literature. She has been teaching since 2007 when she got her start working alongside the phenomenal educators, researchers, and early interventionists at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute. While at FPG, Emily received her Masters in Education from UNC-CH with a specialization in Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support. She remains passionate about celebrating neurodiversity and advocating for children with exceptionalities. Emily’s most recent teaching adventures took place at a Reggio-inspired, project based preschool program. Finding herself particularly at home in the “outdoor classroom,” Emily received her Nature-Based Teacher Certification in 2024. She feels very fortunate that she gets to spend her days exploring, experimenting, laughing, and learning alongside young children. In her spare time, Emily enjoys hiking, foraging, gardening, weaving, playing the ukulele, and accumulating books. Emily lives in Durham with her husband, Paul, her children, Isaac and Clara, and her hound dog, Ruby.