Forest Enrichment Leaders

Nikki - Founder, Director and Lead Guide

Nikki is a highly experienced professional with a diverse education in Psychology, Arts, and Administration with a human resources background. She earned her BA in Ealry Childhood Studies locally at CSUCI. With a strong focus on creating positive experiences and fostering a sense of community, Nikki has made significant contributions to various organizations before launching

Woods Forest School.

Throughout her studies, Nikki has focused on early childhood-aged children's emotions, behaviors, healthy communication, and learning and development through play-based learning.

Nikki is a dedicated teacher who is passionate about creating positive learning experiences, supporting education, and fostering a sense of community.

Anabelle- Early Childhood Educator & Forest Guide

Anabelle is a dedicated preschool teacher passionate about creating a nurturing, play-based learning environment. With extensive experience working with diverse learners, including children with disabilities, she adapts her teaching to meet individual needs. Anabelle's philosophy encourages exploration, questioning, and connection to the world, fostering collaboration and creativity.

Anabelle's goal as a teacher is to allow for the creativity in each child to shine and work with not only the students, but the whole family. She is passionate about the play based philosophy and how it promotes growth and celebrates the passions of the individual student.

Beth - Environmental Education Forest Guide

Beth became part of the Woods Forest School community by participating in our parent-and-me classes, bringing along her unique talents and positivity, we knew she would be a great fit to our team.

Beth holds a bachelor's degree in Agricultural and Environmental Education from UC Davis and has over a decade of experience working with children in diverse outdoor environments. From urban gardens to the Los Padres National Forest, Beth has held various roles, including Naturalist, Farm Director, Outdoor School Instructor, Garden Manager, and Kayak Guide. She firmly believes that exploring and playing outdoors greatly benefits our physical, emotional, and mental health, regardless of age.

In her free time, Beth enjoys hiking, gardening, and baking.

Casie - Recreational Specialist & Forest Guide

Casie holds a Bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration from Cal Poly and brings over 15 years of experience in child care. She has served as a Day Camp and Child Care Program Director. She has been dedicated to her career by creating enriching and safe environments for children to learn and grow. Casie is passionate about fostering development through play and curriculum. She has been a tremendous addition to the team.

Enrichment Programs

Our community has some very special people who help create a beautiful rich learning environment. We are so grateful for them.

Lisa - Enrichment Mentor

Lisa is a highly experienced and dedicated professional in the field of early childhood education. With a passion for supporting the development and well-being of young children and their families, Lisa's extensive background and training make her a valuable asset to any program.

As Lisa's career progressed, she transitioned from owning a home daycare business to a structured school setting. She then took on the role of Director of an Early Childhood Program, overseeing the well-being and development of 120 families. In this position, Lisa honed her leadership skills and gained valuable insights into the dynamics of running a program.

Lisa's expertise and dedication led her to be contracted for "Parent and Me" classes with various community centers, churches, and synagogues. She later became a full-time Parent Educator for an early childhood center, serving 170 families. Due to her exceptional performance, Lisa was promoted to Assistant Director, where she continued to make a positive impact on the lives of children and their families for eight years.

In pursuit of further professional growth, Lisa recently obtained her Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Oaks. This educational achievement has allowed her to work more strategically with children, adults, groups, and systems, recognizing the interconnectedness between the individual child, their family, and the community.

Lisa is a motivated and action-oriented professional who excels in a team-based environment. She possesses a strong sense of self and upholds exceptional ethical and moral principles in her work. Lisa's experience, knowledge, and commitment to the early childhood profession make her a valuable asset to our organization.

Abby - Mindfulness Mentor

Abby Brandi is a certified speech-language pathologist with over seven years of experience working with children of various abilities and in multiple settings. Abby earned her Master of Science in Clinical Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Wyoming and earned her Bachelors of Arts in Speech and Hearing Sciences at Washington State University. She also has received training on integrating mindfulness within classrooms for children.

Abby holds the belief that outdoor play, mindfulness and environments rich in language are pivotal for optimizing

a child's development.

In her spare time she enjoys hiking, yoga, the beach, reading and playing card/board games with her friends and family.