Educator

Sarah has over 20 years of paid and volunteer experience leading outdoor educational and recreational programming with children, families and adults of all abilities. She is a certified Nature-Based Teacher through the Association for Nature Based Education, and earned an advanced degree in informal science education from Oregon State University. She has been working in the conservation and environmental justice sectors for 12 years and has an ever-growing working knowledge of local ecology and a passion for equitable nature access and anti-racist outdoor programming. In addition to this, Sarah has been providing nurturing and child-centered childcare for families since she was a teenager. She is also a mother of 2 amazing nature-loving toddlers, and aims to spend time with her family outdoors every day. 

For more information on Sarah’s background and experience, please visit her LinkedIn profile here.

DIRECTOR OF NATURE PLAY

Kelsy Allan has a background in land stewardship and nontraditional outdoor education, with ~20 years of experience in environmental education. She has had,  and continues to have amazing opportunities to play and work in the woods with humans of all ages and identities. Kelsy is particularly excited about finding small wild creatures in their habitats with young folks, and believes that connecting with nature is a basic human right! 

Kelsy is a founding educator with Red Eft Play. For more information on their work and programs, please visit their website at https://www.redeftplay.com

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY

Renée Lopes-Pocknett has over 40 years of experience directing community development, grant-funded direct services and cultural education programs within several Tribal communities in the northeast.  She is a citizen of the Assonet Band of the Wampanoag Nation and has extensive experience with youth programming that is rooted in equity, restorative justice and honoring cultural identity. In particular, her extensive and inclusive work to bring together educational systems, community partners and Tribal communities is rooted in traditional knowledge and value systems and widely recognized throughout Indigenous communities in the northeast.

Renée is a partner with Just Collective, a small mall network of leaders, professionals, advocates, and specialists from a diverse base of marginalized communities committed to leveraging their expertise to advance equity and resilience. For more information on Just Collective, please visit their website at https://www.justcollective.net

DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY SUPPORT

Kalyani is a dedicated childcare professional with over 8 years of experience supporting children and families, and is the founder of the Cape & Islands Nanny Network. Kalyani serves as Director of Early Childhood Family Support, bringing a strong background in education and extensive, hands-on experience working with children and families across public schools, daycare settings, and in-home care. She has supported children as a mentor, coach, nanny, sitter, and tutor, and it is through this full-spectrum work that she learned how to meaningfully support families. Her approach is relationship-centered, practical, and deeply rooted in the real needs of caregivers and children.

For more information in Kalyani’s background and experience, please visit her LinkedIn profile here.  

For more information on the Cape and Islands Nanny network, please visit their website at  https://www.capenislandsnannynetwork.com