Courtney, Nature Preschool Director
courtney@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Courtney is a lifelong educator who believes strongly in the power of playing and learning in nature. She taught kindergarten for ten years, most recently at Lowell Elementary in Madison. She has a Masters degree in curriculum and instruction from UW Madison, a reading specialist license, and a Bachelors in elementary education and psychology. Her connection with ALNC began in 2013 as a summer environmental educator. Courtney believes that nature can bring so much to both children and adults — joy, wonder, curiosity, peace — and is dedicated to helping nature-based education become a central foundation of all teaching and learning in our community. She is also passionate about social justice and anti-bias education which she believes is integral to early childhood learning environments. When not at ALNP, she spends time running, reading, and trying to tame her wild vegetable garden. She and her husband have a one-year-old who they love to take on hikes in the Madison area.
courtney@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Courtney is a lifelong educator who believes strongly in the power of playing and learning in nature. She taught kindergarten for ten years, most recently at Lowell Elementary in Madison. She has a Masters degree in curriculum and instruction from UW Madison, a reading specialist license, and a Bachelors in elementary education and psychology. Her connection with ALNC began in 2013 as a summer environmental educator. Courtney believes that nature can bring so much to both children and adults — joy, wonder, curiosity, peace — and is dedicated to helping nature-based education become a central foundation of all teaching and learning in our community. She is also passionate about social justice and anti-bias education which she believes is integral to early childhood learning environments. When not at ALNP, she spends time running, reading, and trying to tame her wild vegetable garden. She and her husband have a one-year-old who they love to take on hikes in the Madison area.
Nature Preschool Educators
Claudia (Cottontails)
claudia@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Claudia was born in Germany and her childhood there included summers camping with her family, as well as foraging for mushrooms and berries with her grandparents. After her family moved to Wisconsin when she was 11, she began to thoroughly enjoy learning about the flora and fauna of the Midwest. She adores finding wonder and joy in the little surprises to be found in nature, and delights in exploring and sharing that with young people. She loved teaching field-trips and summer camp at Aldo Leopold Nature Center starting in 2018, leading groups ranging from 3 year olds to college-aged students and feels that she’s found her “happy place” here. With a BS in Environmental Science and several years of experience as a preschool teacher, Claudia feels that teaching at ALNP is her dream job. She appreciates the value of introducing children to nature early in life, and understands that this can spark a life-long love of our natural environment! She enjoys hiking, backpacking, reading, learning new things, knitting, snowshoeing, eating and traveling, and lives in Madison with her husband, two kids, and a lovable mutt.
claudia@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Claudia was born in Germany and her childhood there included summers camping with her family, as well as foraging for mushrooms and berries with her grandparents. After her family moved to Wisconsin when she was 11, she began to thoroughly enjoy learning about the flora and fauna of the Midwest. She adores finding wonder and joy in the little surprises to be found in nature, and delights in exploring and sharing that with young people. She loved teaching field-trips and summer camp at Aldo Leopold Nature Center starting in 2018, leading groups ranging from 3 year olds to college-aged students and feels that she’s found her “happy place” here. With a BS in Environmental Science and several years of experience as a preschool teacher, Claudia feels that teaching at ALNP is her dream job. She appreciates the value of introducing children to nature early in life, and understands that this can spark a life-long love of our natural environment! She enjoys hiking, backpacking, reading, learning new things, knitting, snowshoeing, eating and traveling, and lives in Madison with her husband, two kids, and a lovable mutt.
Julie (Cottontails)
julie@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Julie’s connection to nature developed during her childhood, hiking the dunes and playing in the waters and sands of Lake Michigan. Her wonder, care, and concern for nature led her to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in ecology from the University of Michigan and a career as an environmental educator. Then, after several years working in a preschool, her love of children and the desire to foster their wellbeing, led her to Western Washington University for a Masters of Education in school counseling and to work as an elementary school counselor and child and adolescent therapist. After moving to Madison in 2010, Julie worked in the non-profit sector, supporting school sustainability efforts and collaborating with teachers to integrate place-based, outdoor inquiry in their teaching. As a preschool educator, Julie aims to facilitate the wellbeing of children, families, and the natural world through helping to connect people to themselves, others, and nature. Julie enjoys hiking, cooking, baking, gardening, and acting. She lives in Madison with her husband, son, and dog.
julie@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Julie’s connection to nature developed during her childhood, hiking the dunes and playing in the waters and sands of Lake Michigan. Her wonder, care, and concern for nature led her to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in ecology from the University of Michigan and a career as an environmental educator. Then, after several years working in a preschool, her love of children and the desire to foster their wellbeing, led her to Western Washington University for a Masters of Education in school counseling and to work as an elementary school counselor and child and adolescent therapist. After moving to Madison in 2010, Julie worked in the non-profit sector, supporting school sustainability efforts and collaborating with teachers to integrate place-based, outdoor inquiry in their teaching. As a preschool educator, Julie aims to facilitate the wellbeing of children, families, and the natural world through helping to connect people to themselves, others, and nature. Julie enjoys hiking, cooking, baking, gardening, and acting. She lives in Madison with her husband, son, and dog.
Kate (Chickadees, Nature Beginnings)
kate@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Kate is a nature play advocate and anything outside enthusiast. She has an undergraduate degree in Conservation Biology and a MAEd in Environmental Education. She has been working and volunteering in the outdoor education field for 15+ years, much of it centered on the early childhood audience. Kate believes unstructured, outdoor play is critical to healthy development for kids of all ages and is a big advocate for designating more time and space for play. Kate is a mom to three kids and keeps busy with local organizations that get kids, including her own, outside. Kate is also a mud kitchen-maker, a hammock reader, a trail runner, a mountain biker, and an Ice Age Hiker.
kate@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Kate is a nature play advocate and anything outside enthusiast. She has an undergraduate degree in Conservation Biology and a MAEd in Environmental Education. She has been working and volunteering in the outdoor education field for 15+ years, much of it centered on the early childhood audience. Kate believes unstructured, outdoor play is critical to healthy development for kids of all ages and is a big advocate for designating more time and space for play. Kate is a mom to three kids and keeps busy with local organizations that get kids, including her own, outside. Kate is also a mud kitchen-maker, a hammock reader, a trail runner, a mountain biker, and an Ice Age Hiker.
Katherine (Chickadees, Nature Beginnings)
kkoehler@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Katherine grew up in Vermont where she developed her love for the outdoors by hiking, cross-country skiing, and climbing the trees in her family’s apple orchard. She graduated from UW-Madison with degrees in Geography and Spanish. Katherine worked at ALNC in college, and after graduating, moved to Colorado to work in outdoor education. She returned to ALNC last May and is so happy to be back! She looks forward to teaching the Chickadees this spring!
kkoehler@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Katherine grew up in Vermont where she developed her love for the outdoors by hiking, cross-country skiing, and climbing the trees in her family’s apple orchard. She graduated from UW-Madison with degrees in Geography and Spanish. Katherine worked at ALNC in college, and after graduating, moved to Colorado to work in outdoor education. She returned to ALNC last May and is so happy to be back! She looks forward to teaching the Chickadees this spring!
Maggy (Nature Beginnings)
madams@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Maggy comes to the Aldo Leopold Nature Center excited to merge her backgrounds in childcare and conservation. She holds degrees in both botany and conservation biology from UW-Madison. Most recently, she has worked providing childcare for young families in the Madison area. She is also enthusiastic about preserving Wisconsin’s native plants and is a volunteer with several Wisconsin conservation organizations, conducting native plant and site surveys. In her spare time, you can find her hiking with her husband (Ethan) and their three young children (Willow, Laurel & Ash), shuffling the kids between activities, or deciding to embark on some new project after the kids’ bedtime, while listening to an audiobook!
madams@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Maggy comes to the Aldo Leopold Nature Center excited to merge her backgrounds in childcare and conservation. She holds degrees in both botany and conservation biology from UW-Madison. Most recently, she has worked providing childcare for young families in the Madison area. She is also enthusiastic about preserving Wisconsin’s native plants and is a volunteer with several Wisconsin conservation organizations, conducting native plant and site surveys. In her spare time, you can find her hiking with her husband (Ethan) and their three young children (Willow, Laurel & Ash), shuffling the kids between activities, or deciding to embark on some new project after the kids’ bedtime, while listening to an audiobook!
Nicky (Chickadees)
nicky@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Nicky has been an environmental educator for 20 years and has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Education from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. She has experience working with children as young as infants and as old as teenagers. Working for the Forest Service allowed her to teach children all across the country from different backgrounds. She spent two years at Nature’s Classroom learning how to write curriculum, teaching team building skills and doing historical simulations. At Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, Nicky worked with every age of kids, but really fell in love with teaching the toddlers. For the past 12 years, she has loved working as a Naturalist at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center. Nicky is most looking forward to dipping in our pond throughout the year and watching the phenological changes with the children. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, running, traveling to other countries and camping and has 3 children who love coming to ALNC.
nicky@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Nicky has been an environmental educator for 20 years and has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Education from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. She has experience working with children as young as infants and as old as teenagers. Working for the Forest Service allowed her to teach children all across the country from different backgrounds. She spent two years at Nature’s Classroom learning how to write curriculum, teaching team building skills and doing historical simulations. At Neighborhood House of Milwaukee, Nicky worked with every age of kids, but really fell in love with teaching the toddlers. For the past 12 years, she has loved working as a Naturalist at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center. Nicky is most looking forward to dipping in our pond throughout the year and watching the phenological changes with the children. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, running, traveling to other countries and camping and has 3 children who love coming to ALNC.
Rhi (Cottontails)
rhiannon@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Rhi is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Growing up she explored many local parks and often went to the shores of Lake Michigan with her family. She bounced around Michigan for a bit, first to get her Biology degree from Oakland University then to work at a land conservancy up north. She moved to Madison in 2023 for graduate school, and now has her masters of science in Environmental Conservation. She began working at ALNC in October 2023, and has enjoyed sharing her love of nature with weekend visitors, preschool kiddos, and field trip students! In her free time she likes to read, walk, spend time with friends, start crafty projects, rarely finish them, and cuddle her unwilling cat.
rhiannon@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Rhi is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Growing up she explored many local parks and often went to the shores of Lake Michigan with her family. She bounced around Michigan for a bit, first to get her Biology degree from Oakland University then to work at a land conservancy up north. She moved to Madison in 2023 for graduate school, and now has her masters of science in Environmental Conservation. She began working at ALNC in October 2023, and has enjoyed sharing her love of nature with weekend visitors, preschool kiddos, and field trip students! In her free time she likes to read, walk, spend time with friends, start crafty projects, rarely finish them, and cuddle her unwilling cat.
Rowan (Nature Beginnings)
rkoster@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Rowan grew up exploring Madison’s city parks as well as visiting the woods, prairies, and lakes all around Wisconsin. These early introductions to the outdoors created a love for being and learning in nature and a passion to help others have these opportunities as well. In 2020 Rowan graduated from Northland College with a bachelors degree in Outdoor Education with an emphasis on equity and inclusion. Rowan has spent time working with preschoolers to teenagers leading summer camps, after school programs, and overnight trips. In their free time Rowan loves to garden, swim, cook, and craft!
rkoster@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Rowan grew up exploring Madison’s city parks as well as visiting the woods, prairies, and lakes all around Wisconsin. These early introductions to the outdoors created a love for being and learning in nature and a passion to help others have these opportunities as well. In 2020 Rowan graduated from Northland College with a bachelors degree in Outdoor Education with an emphasis on equity and inclusion. Rowan has spent time working with preschoolers to teenagers leading summer camps, after school programs, and overnight trips. In their free time Rowan loves to garden, swim, cook, and craft!
Nature Preschool Support Staff, including Lunch Bunch and After Care
Brian
brian@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Brian grew up traveling around the state of Wisconsin with his family and exploring the many landscapes the state has to offer. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Environmental Studies from UW-Madison and an M.S. in Conservation Biology from UW-Stout. Brian has been an environmental educator at ALNC for 8 years and has enjoyed leading backpacking, canoeing and camping trips, as well as working camps and field trips with kids of all ages. Brian believes every day spent outside leads to new discoveries and that connecting with nature is an integral part of education. In his free time Brian enjoys birding, photography, camping, and cheering on his favorite Wisconsin sports teams.
brian@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Brian grew up traveling around the state of Wisconsin with his family and exploring the many landscapes the state has to offer. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Environmental Studies from UW-Madison and an M.S. in Conservation Biology from UW-Stout. Brian has been an environmental educator at ALNC for 8 years and has enjoyed leading backpacking, canoeing and camping trips, as well as working camps and field trips with kids of all ages. Brian believes every day spent outside leads to new discoveries and that connecting with nature is an integral part of education. In his free time Brian enjoys birding, photography, camping, and cheering on his favorite Wisconsin sports teams.
Cameron
cmaricque@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Cameron grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and has made his way over to Madison to pursue his B.S. in Psychology with hopes to graduate in 2026 and begin pursuing either a Masters or a Ph.D/Psy.D. He’s spent his Summers since graduation from high school working at camps and loves getting to foster a fun environment for kids outdoors. Cameron is also very passionate about pond dipping. In his free time, he enjoys reading, art, and hanging out with his critters.
cmaricque@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Cameron grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and has made his way over to Madison to pursue his B.S. in Psychology with hopes to graduate in 2026 and begin pursuing either a Masters or a Ph.D/Psy.D. He’s spent his Summers since graduation from high school working at camps and loves getting to foster a fun environment for kids outdoors. Cameron is also very passionate about pond dipping. In his free time, he enjoys reading, art, and hanging out with his critters.
Natalie
njones@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Natalie is a Madison native who grew up camping, hiking, and otherwise exploring the outdoors. She has graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Management from UW Superior. In her spare time, Natalie can be found biking, birding, or spending time with friends and family.
njones@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Natalie is a Madison native who grew up camping, hiking, and otherwise exploring the outdoors. She has graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Management from UW Superior. In her spare time, Natalie can be found biking, birding, or spending time with friends and family.
Nate
nhinahara@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Getting equal joy from the lakes of Minnesota as the waterfalls of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Nate’s bi-cultural upbringing fostered an early appreciation of diversity in humans and the greater community of life. He is passionate about social and environmental justice, as well as community living and positive youth development. They got involved in youth work while getting a bachelor’s in Biology and Environmental Sciences from UW-Madison, and now have nearly five years experience as the Teen Program Coordinator at a local neighborhood center. They also have nearly a decade of cooperative living experience in Madison, including being a co-founder of the housing co-op where they currently reside. Nate enjoys frolicking in the prairie, and spending quality time with his wife and daughter.
nhinahara@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Getting equal joy from the lakes of Minnesota as the waterfalls of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Nate’s bi-cultural upbringing fostered an early appreciation of diversity in humans and the greater community of life. He is passionate about social and environmental justice, as well as community living and positive youth development. They got involved in youth work while getting a bachelor’s in Biology and Environmental Sciences from UW-Madison, and now have nearly five years experience as the Teen Program Coordinator at a local neighborhood center. They also have nearly a decade of cooperative living experience in Madison, including being a co-founder of the housing co-op where they currently reside. Nate enjoys frolicking in the prairie, and spending quality time with his wife and daughter.
Noelle
nhurst@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Noelle grew up in Green Bay, WI and is now going into her junior year of college at UW studying Environmental Science and Environmental studies. In her free time she enjoys feeding seagulls and spending time outdoors with her friends. In past summers, she has been a Y-camp counselor/environment educator and has loved getting to work with kids in outdoor settings.
nhurst@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Noelle grew up in Green Bay, WI and is now going into her junior year of college at UW studying Environmental Science and Environmental studies. In her free time she enjoys feeding seagulls and spending time outdoors with her friends. In past summers, she has been a Y-camp counselor/environment educator and has loved getting to work with kids in outdoor settings.
Siri
snycklemoe@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Siri grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and studied Environmental Studies and Norwegian at St. Olaf College. She recently moved to Madison from Minneapolis, where she ran nature-based programming as a Certified TimberNook Provider for Edina Public Schools. In her free time, Siri enjoys cross-country skiing, cooking, and spending time with her husband, Sam, and their basset hound pup, Luka.
snycklemoe@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Siri grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and studied Environmental Studies and Norwegian at St. Olaf College. She recently moved to Madison from Minneapolis, where she ran nature-based programming as a Certified TimberNook Provider for Edina Public Schools. In her free time, Siri enjoys cross-country skiing, cooking, and spending time with her husband, Sam, and their basset hound pup, Luka.
WisCorps Service Member
Ariam
ariam@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Ariam is an Americorps service member serving the Aldo Leopold Nature Center as an Environmental Educator for the next year. She’s currently pursuing a B.S. in Conservation and Environmental Sciences at UW-Milwaukee, hopefully graduating in 2026! Growing up in Madison, Ariam spent her childhood roaming the Arboretum and making fairy homes in her trees. She loves nothing more than sitting around campfires, swimming in any body of water she can get her hands on, and foraging.
ariam@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Ariam is an Americorps service member serving the Aldo Leopold Nature Center as an Environmental Educator for the next year. She’s currently pursuing a B.S. in Conservation and Environmental Sciences at UW-Milwaukee, hopefully graduating in 2026! Growing up in Madison, Ariam spent her childhood roaming the Arboretum and making fairy homes in her trees. She loves nothing more than sitting around campfires, swimming in any body of water she can get her hands on, and foraging.
