Staff

Laurel feels the most at home standing high on a mountain top, hands deep in the dirt, and her toes dipped in the rippling water of a cool creek. She has always felt a deep connection to the natural world and her life's experiences have led her on a path to deepen these connections and share them with others. 

Laurel is a Tuftonboro native. She was raised roaming the wild woods of her home, mostly by horseback, and sharing in adventures with her family. This exploration throughout her childhood helped her to grow a deep sense of place and a love for the nature that would last a lifetime. 

Laurel's higher education began at the University of New Hampshire where she received a B.S in Wildlife Management. Her passion for wildlife and the outdoors led her to study in Kenya, Africa where she grew an even deeper connection to the wildlife and the people around her, and she gained a greater understanding and appreciation for relationships between humans and our environment. Following her experiences at UNH she made her way to California to work with Point Reyes Bird Observatory- Point Blue Conservation Science, studying song birds. It was here that she felt a calling to shift her work toward connecting youth with nature. 

Laurel continued her schooling at the Teton Science School in Kelly, Wyoming and Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona where she did her masters studies in Environmental Education. She returned to CA where she remained for the next 7 years learning and growing as a wilderness mentor for a non-profit, Wilderness Youth Project(WYP), in Santa Barbara, CA. It is with WYP that Laurel learned about the true importance of unstructured time in nature for children.  

Laurel's learning journey has continued daily and has been the most profound as a mother. Every day she is witness to the value of nature and play in childhood and creating a deep sense of place. Her lifetime of outdoor experiences and constant learning has shaped who she is today and has inspired Laurel to provide nature-based learning opportunities for children in her rural NH community.