Hi, there! I am a mama of two children who thrive in alternative, play-based educational environments. When our daughter first started daycare we were blessed to have found a local center who prioritized time outdoors and incorporated Reggio Emilia philosophies into a child-directed environment. We saw our daughter flourish in this environment and soon after, our son followed suit.​ I started reading all the books and researching the importance of outdoor, child-led learning.​

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After making the big decision to homeschool our daughter, I was on a mission to find a local nature/farm school where my daughter could socialize with friends, learn new skills, raise animals, and continue to spend a lot of time outdoors. There wasn't one place that checked all the boxes, so we created one. Hello, Gather + Grow Wisconsin!​

 

My mission is to offer the great outdoors to children in our community where they can come together and not only learn about nature but develop and foster friendships with one another. My dream is to build a sense of community... a little village of individuals who are on the same mission to give our children a childhood outdoors. Let's bring back the magic of the outdoors!

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As a Registered Nurse with almost over 12 years of experience, I have always had a passion for learning and educating others. My two favorite subjects are science and art. Nature has a beautiful way of intertwining the two which is why being outdoors brings me so much happiness. I am currently in the process of completing my forest school teacher training through the Forest School Teacher Institute (FSTI). In addition to being a Registered Nurse, I am also CPR and First Aid certified. 

 

Austin is my high school sweetheart, one of the handiest guys you'll ever meet, and a big supporter of Gather + Grow. Early on in our relationship, we developed a passion for woodworking together. We built a lot of the furniture for our first home. Now you can find us building chicken coops, Lego tables, sensory tables, rock climbing walls, and more! We have one daughter, a son, one rowdy seven year old Redbone Coonhound, and way too many chickens to count. As a family, we enjoy spending our time together hammock camping, biking, boating, hiking, snowboarding, tending to our garden and chickens, and more!

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You will likely find me barefoot with a hot beverage in my hand (usually a matcha from our local Sweet Spot cafe). I am a podcast enthusiast, thanks to my love of learning and years of commuting. I enjoy learning about all things health, wellness, motherhood, parenting, and business!