CREATIVE TEAM

Ashley was born, raised, and still resides in the driftless region of rural Wisconsin. She believes in leading by example and inviting her kids to spend time outside with her as their interests and personalities strengthen and grow. As a family, they enjoy the outdoors by practicing wildlife management and conservation on their hunting properties, camping, and traveling. Her family has set a goal to travel to each of the 50 states by the time her youngest graduates high school. Other hobbies include drinking coffee, making sourdough, participating in triathlons and marathons, gardening, her chickens, playing volleyball, and reading. A physical education teacher for 14 years, she enjoys helping her students get active and spend time outside at school, too.

Brittany has a background in international nonprofit work and now brings brand stories to life as a copywriter for mission-driven organizations. Years ago, she fell in love with Chile while backpacking through South America, then fell in love with a Chilean and settled in Santiago for six years (where she never missed a sunset over the Andes!) Now the mom of a daughter, a son, and identical twin boys, Brittany and her crew are loving life in the spectacular Rattlesnake Valley of Missoula, Montana. A happy camper, former ocean kayak guide, Girl-Scout-version of an Eagle Scout, and passionate forest school advocate, Brittany is convinced that the best gift we can give our kids is a warm and trusting relationship with the earth.

Calen is an adventurous mom to three little girls, who tries to find the fun in every mundane daily activity. Guided by her own sense of wonder and desire to learn all there is to learn, her family loves the outdoors and travels as often as possible. With a background in urban social work and mental health, Calen is a big advocate for families from all socioeconomic classes and residential settings to get away from the hustle and bustle as much as possible and get grounded in nature. She is also a homemade marshmallow expert, a lover of literature, and a low-key crafty mom. Calen and her husband Bill are always trying to find ways to live on the move and give their girls a childhood that is rooted in exploration and trust in self.

Carolyn and her family love nature and being outside in all seasons. Through Prairie Crew Adventures’s website and Instagram, Carolyn shares her passion for making the outdoors accessible and enjoyable for families. She shares practical tips, such as what to wear in winter when cross-country skiing, engaging kids on the trail, and crafting budget-friendly travel itineraries, like their memorable trip to Churchill, Manitoba to see beluga whales and polar bears.

Clarice is a Brazilian expat who has found her home in Alaska, where she and her husband are raising their two children to embrace life in the Last Frontier while also exploring the world through travel. Although she is now living her dream, it wasn’t always that way—her perspective shifted when she chose to adventure with her kids rather than put life on hold until they were older. These days, she can be found hiking, camping, skiing, and flying to new destinations with her little crew, sharing her experiences and lessons learned along the way.

Courtney is a wife, mama to three fearless adventurers (with baby girl number four on the way), and a physical therapist turned business owner. A runner, biker, hiker, camper, and backpacker, she thrives in the great outdoors and believes in its power — both for healing and for building community. She leads monthly Mama & Toddler hikes through North Carolina’s scenic trails but doesn’t hesitate to whisk her daughters away on spontaneous adventures, solo. Her travels, both near and far, have deepened her love for nature, and she finds endless joy in watching her girls discover the world with wide-eyed wonder. She credits their confidence and resilience (and her own) to time spent outside and enjoys encouraging families that childhood is best lived outdoors and that parenting is a little easier when you do!

Crystal is a mom of three with some sort of a camera always in hand (because let’s face it, every family moment needs to be documented, even if the older kids are over the paparazzi). By day, Crystal’s an accountant, but come the weekend, it’s all about the great outdoors. Between school, work, and surviving the chaos, her family squeezes in as many adventures as they can, from exploring parks to simply enjoying each other’s company. Life is a whirlwind, but while they’re still little and letting mom hug them a little too much, she’s trying to enjoy every second of it!

Lizzy is a mom to two girls (6 and 3 years old), a sometimes-teacher, and an all-around outdoor enthusiast. She currently lives with her family in Naples, Italy. Her husband is in the U.S. Army, so they move often and all over. Her family spends most of their free time traveling and exploring the new places they find themselves living in. They love hiking and camping in the summer, and skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. After growing up in the Pacific Northwest in a family that prioritized outdoor time, it comes naturally to Lizzy to spend as much time in nature as possible with her own kids. She’s also found that spending time outdoors provides a sort of calm to the chaos of parenthood and the military lifestyle.

Emily and her family have moved across the US multiple times, and the best things about each state have been the outdoor adventures and the public libraries! Now living in Utah, Emily has continued her love for both. She explores both mountain and city outdoor spaces weekly with her three kids and friends and attends library story times, as well as leads a local story time. Emily has a passion for children’s literature. She uses books to educate, promote inclusion, understanding, and justice, and inspire adventure and creativity. Emily loves how reading and being outdoors overlap in so many exciting ways!

Felicia is a psychiatrist, mental health and wellness advocate, and outdoor enthusiast who believes in finding the wonder in every day. As a busy mom in a two-physician household, she makes it a priority to unplug, get outside, and create meaningful experiences with her husband and tween boys. A photographer, vlogger, and storyteller, Felicia shares tips for living intentionally and embracing everyday adventure on Instagram and her blog, inspiring others to find joy in the outdoors. She values her close multigenerational family relationships and will often #BringTheGrandparents on adventures—showing that the outdoors is for every age. Passionate about diversifying outdoor spaces and recognizing that representation matters for Asian American families, she enjoys contributing to platforms like RWMC to help more people feel welcome in and access and enjoy outdoor spaces. Felicia is exceptionally skilled at balancing work, mom life, and self-care, bringing enthusiasm and energy to everything she does. She actively practices gratitude and believes in finding joy in both the big adventures and the small everyday moments. As a family, you can find them camping, hiking, fishing, biking, skiing, and trying new activities together. Based in Southern California, Felicia and her family are weekend warriors who love taking road trips or quick flights to explore new places. During school breaks and summer, you’ll find them visiting national parks and discovering international destinations.

Jackie is a mama to four wild souls, a wife, a writer, photographer, teacher at home and her local homeschool co-op, small business owner, and a full-time day dreamer. She has been a teacher in many classrooms, a caseworker and foster parent, and brandished many other titles in the many versions of herself in seasons past. She lives in the Ozarks in an off-grid homestead that she, her husband, and kids have built up themselves from raw land.

Jackie grew up in central Pennsylvania but is currently enjoying island life in the Salish Sea with her two teens, a pre-schooler, and identical twin baby girls. She specializes in soul-centered outdoor elopements on wild pieces of Earth, as well as soulful, nostalgic, and cozy storytelling photography for families wishing to reconnect with the Earth and with each other. She is a former forest preschool teacher with a PhD in developmental psychology who whole-heartedly believes that Reginald Horace Blythe was right when uttering the words “Mud is the most poetical thing in the world,” and loves to spend her time in the thick of nature, usually with bare feet. Her greenhouse is her happy place. She also believes that children are big philosophers in little bodies and that we would all be better off walking through life as they do, with our eyes, ears, and heart open to it all. To that end, she wishes to share photography as a means to live more fully and intentionally in each moment and in nature. Mostly, she just wants her children to grow up with a sense of wonder, to wander, and to have a strong passion for protecting this planet.

Jayme is a nature enthusiast, entrepreneur, and holistic esthetician who finds joy in the rhythm of the seasons and teaching others about the flow of nature. Originally from Missouri, she previously owned a wellness spa specializing in botanical skincare and holistic treatments. After relocating to Knoxville, TN, she has embraced more time for family and outdoor adventures while continuing to share her passion for the natural world. An avid fly fishing angler and outdoor advocate, Jayme is a former Missouri Master Naturalist and is currently working toward her Southern Appalachian Naturalist Certification, immersing herself in the magic of the Smoky Mountains. She and her husband offer fly fishing experiences, inviting others to connect with the beauty of the outdoors. Their son is often part of their adventures, developing his own love for nature—especially anything water-related. Whether through skincare, guiding, or sharing her knowledge, Jayme is passionate about helping others find harmony in nature and create meaningful outdoor experiences with their families.

Jessie Lehson is the author of seasonal children’s books and nature-focused curricula. She is the founder of a public nature school in Baltimore, MD, and the former director of an educational farm owned by Baltimore City Public Schools. A longtime teacher and professor of sculpture, Lehson is an illustrator and environmental artist. Lehson is an avid chicken keeper, urban homesteader, master gardener and permaculture designer. She is mom to two adventurous little boys who love nature.

Jocelyn is a pediatric Occupational Therapist and a nature-focused mom of three who believes in the transformative power of movement, unstructured play, and nature on child development. As a military spouse, Jocelyn embraces the challenges and transitions that come with her family’s lifestyle, using nature as a grounding force to build resilience—not only in her children but in herself. Blending her expertise in child development and neurodiversity with a passion for the outdoors, she is a firm advocate for getting kids of all ages and abilities outside to play.

Katherine is a mom of two and an early childhood educator. After spending a decade in pre-kindergarten classrooms in Washington, DC, she shifted to a chapter of adventuring with her little family. Technically right now, she’s a “stay at home mom”, though there’s very little staying in any one place on any given day! With a passion for child development and Masters in education, Katherine loves to find places with her kids that encourage and inspire creativity, imagination, challenge, and adventure. She feels deeply that even the smallest outdoor adventures can yield the biggest benefits and loves checking out any new little spot that could become a family favorite.

Katie resides in the heart of Oklahoma with her husband and two incredible children. She loves all things outdoors. From blowing backyard bubbles with her kids to backpacking in the Rockies. She has a heart for it all. She is passionate about conservation, community, and cultivating a space for the two to collide. When she’s not adventuring with her kiddos, you can find her nose-deep in a book – either reading one or writing one. She is a sucker for a good story and she is excited to share a piece of her story with you.

Lauren MacLean is a primary teacher with over 15 years of experience, a keynote speaker, and an outdoor learning consultant who helps educators take curriculum learning outside. She is the author of Me and My Sit Spot, Finding Common Ground, and Risky Play Gone Away—picture books that inspire curiosity, connection, and confidence in the outdoors. Her educator’s guide, Sitting With Nature: An Educator’s Guide to Sit Spots, supports teachers in creating meaningful outdoor learning experiences. As the host of the Teach Outdoors podcast, Lauren shares practical strategies, engaging stories, and expert insights to help educators embrace nature-based learning. Beyond her work in education, Lauren is a mother of two young adventurers who constantly remind her to slow down, embrace unstructured play, and appreciate the value of risky play. In their “down time,” you’ll find them exploring backyard forest trails, building forts, and creating storytelling adventures—living out the very lessons she shares with educators and families. Passionate about fostering curiosity and stewardship, Lauren sparks a love for nature in children and adults alike.

Lea is a mom of two adventurous kids and wife to her surfer husband, Brandon. She is an Army veteran, Registered Nurse, photographer, and small business owner. Lea has lived in Hawaii, New Mexico, and now resides in Florida, where she and her family are enjoying endless ocean adventures. She has traveled to Costa Rica, South Korea, and many states across the US. Lea and her family love to surf, fish, hike, skate, and travel to new places. She is passionate about teaching her kids about nature and protecting our planet. Lea’s goal is to influence more families to explore the beauty of the outdoors while educating them about photography, medical issues (including first aid), outdoor safety, and gear recommendations.  

Leslie is an Ohio farm girl and chaser of light, children, and sometimes chickens. She’s a lover of Jesus, wife to her high school sweetheart, and a homeschooling mom of four wild rascals who love the great outdoors as much as she does. As a family, they love hiking, camping, fishing, and just about any outdoor activity. She and her husband are just beginning the process of building a homestead from the ground up, doing most of the work themselves. Leslie has a lifelong obsession with writing and capturing everyday life from behind the lens. You can follow along with their homesteading, homeschooling, and everyday adventures on her Instagram account.

Maggie is a Colorado native with a deep love for being outside. You can find her hiking, tending her garden, paddle boarding, and photographing Colorado families and wildlife, but you won’t find her on the slopes (which makes her a bit of a Colorado anti-hero). When she’s not outside, she’s at home with her husband, two kids, two dogs, a three-legged cat, a bearded dragon, a fish, and a hardworking bucket of worms (because vermicomposting is the real gardening MVP). Maggie loves National Parks, coffee, reading, chasing Colorado wildlife (from a respectful distance), growing food and flowers, and spending time with her favorite people.

Marial Leisge is the founder of Ocean State Kids, a nonprofit organization focused on encouraging parents to become their child’s most influential teacher. Inspired by her own journey into motherhood and the unexpected challenges and joys it brought, Marial transitioned from a career in branding and marketing to creating a thriving community of parents looking to become the biggest advocate for their children. She discovered nature schooling and felt a deep calling to foster a community for like-minded families. In just one year, Ocean State Kids grew exponentially, supporting over 100 families across Rhode Island through outdoor learning programs that emphasize parent involvement and children’s developmental needs. Marial’s personal experience as a mother to her son Otto, who is a Gestalt Language Processor, has profoundly shaped her perspective on education and inclusivity and sparked a passion for advocacy, particularly for children with unique learning styles. Whether it’s simply watching airplanes with Otto or crafting programs to empower parents as educators, Marial is dedicated to creating spaces where curiosity, connection, and community can flourish.

Michelle is the founder of Wonder Club Explorers, an independent scouting program that offers fun activity ideas and merit patches for kids. Michelle is also the co-host of the Run Wild My Child podcast. An outdoorsy mom, Michelle resides on Florida’s Emerald Coast with her husband and son son where they enjoy everything from the beaches and bayous to the pine forests and starry night skies.

Natalie is a photographer, adventurer, and mom to two teenage girls. She is passionate about getting outdoors and exploring. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Natalie has lived and traveled all over the world, experiencing firsthand the magic of nature and the freedom it brings to childhood and families.

Sandy is a free-spirited mom of three adventurous kiddos. She calls North Carolina home and has lived in multiple areas of the state. From the Piedmont, to the foothills and now the barrier islands off the coast, she finds the entire state’s natural beauty an adventure all on its own. After 13 years as an educational tutor, she decided to stay home when her first child was born. Since then, she has started a writing career, blogging, website management, multiple outdoor clubs and classes for kids and their parents, and homeschooling. She is thankful for the love and support of her husband of 13 years. Her goal is to help moms, and families, enjoy what nature has to offer and experience the benefits of being in nature with their kids. She and her family love hiking, camping, all things water related, and finding new nature spots to explore.

Steph lives in St. Louis with her husband, Mark, their three daughters (ages 5, 3 & 1), and their funny pup. Steph taught elementary school for five years and became a stay-at-home mom when her first child was born. When the pandemic hit and the playgrounds were closed, she started taking her kids hiking on a different trail each day. Steph is also a NICU mama (her 2nd daughter was born 3 months early). The outdoors has been so healing for her and her family, not to mention fun! Since the pandemic started, their family has visited over 175 parks and hiked over 200 trails around St. Louis and Missouri. Their family also loves to tent camp, canoe, and bike. Steph has a passion for exploring the outdoors, helping start a free, weekly nature playgroup, and sharing adventure tips with others. When she is not hiking, she loves baking, reading, and dreaming of being a Survivor contestant.