People

Reclaiming the roots of education!

• We believe in the holistic benefits of nature-based learning for children.
• We endeavor to heighten awareness of the importance of understanding child development in learning environments.
• We seek to contribute to sweet communion through networks of support, inspiration, and collaboration.Our methods include: forming authentic relationships, offering LIVE online certification courses, facilitating on-site training, providing affordable consulting services, organizing regional retreats, and helping envision sustainable site development plans. 

FSTI training and certification is endorsed by the MSED in Outdoor Teacher Education at Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee.

In 2021, Jean retired as Wauhatchie School Director to further her mission of training others to teach and establish Forest Schools around the globe through the Forest School Teacher Institute, which she founded in 2018. With in-person sessions and the online Zoom program, she has helped train over 1000 forest school teachers and directors from almost every state in the US, Canada, China, Thailand, Korea, Italy, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Costa Rica, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Dominica.

Short in stature, but long in my love of learning. My goal is to be a lifelong learner, a wandering wonderer, and a force for good in my personal and professional life. My life was shaped by a childhood of relocations which resulted in my relying on books as a source of stability. Thus began my steady relationship with books of all kinds which I obtained in school and local public libraries. This habit became a career as I parlayed that passion for knowledge into education. The lessons learned during pursuit and my attainment of a Masters degree in Montessori Education positively shaped my adult life as a parent, and as an educator. The philosophy of Montessori matched my own thoughts about the care of self, care of others, and care of the world. These principles of kindness, the ethical treatment of all living things, my love of nature, the power of knowledge, and the importance of personal responsibility guide the way I live life and continues to influence my career path.

I'm an associate professor at NC State studying children & nature and environmental education. I'm interested how being outside can provide benefits for children, as well as how youth can create positive change in their communities. I have a strong interest in partnering with EE organizations for evaluation, as well as research around community-based environmental learning. 

Christopher Davis is a passionate sustainability advocate hailing from Compton, CA driven to ameliorate the impact climate change has on kids by accelerating the adoption of renewable energy systems via educational institutions, while incorporating hands-on STEM education into secondary and collegiate curricula, especially those in disadvantaged and low-income communities. He is currently a project manager for the renewable energy consulting firm, TRC Companies, as well as the Community Coordinator for Color Compton & Assistant Curator at the Compton Art & History Museum. An alumnus of San Diego State University, he earned his degree in Environmental Science, with minors in Education and Political Science, and he is currently pursuing his Masters in Energy Systems Management at the University of San Francisco. During his time at State, he served in various roles, including Founder & President of Black Campus Ministries & advisor to University Senate for sustainability and environmental impact on disadvantaged communities. Chris is a devout Christian, ardent Lego enthusiast, and an avid fan of manga, movies, & amusement parks.

Passionate about environmental conservation, education, and research.

I am a senior at Old Dominion University, earning my undergraduate degree in elementary education. I am orginally from Vienna, VA and attended Fairfax County Public Schools. I am currently living in Norfolk, VA as I attend school.

Madeline is a senior specialist for international and leadership programs at NAAEE, supporting the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP), youth leadership programs, and other global initiatives.

I am Katherine DeCamp, an Environmental Studies student at Susquehanna University.

I teach at the intersection of art and nature.

The real attraction is the long-term challenge. One successful match is not enough. You need to build consistency across a season.