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 trail running, reading, and adventuring with her son.
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 trail running, reading, and adventuring with her son.
Nature Preschool Educators
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.
Claudia
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.
Ella
eloup@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Ella has been at the nature center for over a decade. She started out as a camper, then a volunteer, and is now in her fifth year as a summer camp assistant. When she’s not at camp she enjoys making music by playing piano, guitar, and saxophone, as well as singing. She is currently attending UW Madison and majoring in Elementary Education.
eloup@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Ella has been at the nature center for over a decade. She started out as a camper, then a volunteer, and is now in her fifth year as a summer camp assistant. When she’s not at camp she enjoys making music by playing piano, guitar, and saxophone, as well as singing. She is currently attending UW Madison and majoring in Elementary Education.
Elly
elly@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Elly grew up in Illinois and spent her summers at a camp in Northern Wisconsin, where she learned to really love the outdoors. She attended Oregon State University to pursue a B.S. in Elementary Education and worked at a nature-based preschool while there. In addition, she has experience working in a typical elementary classroom setting and at summer camps. She strives to teach kids to be curious, ask questions, and never stop learning! In her free time, she loves running, camping, cooking, and reading, preferably outside.
elly@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org
Elly grew up in Illinois and spent her summers at a camp in Northern Wisconsin, where she learned to really love the outdoors. She attended Oregon State University to pursue a B.S. in Elementary Education and worked at a nature-based preschool while there. In addition, she has experience working in a typical elementary classroom setting and at summer camps. She strives to teach kids to be curious, ask questions, and never stop learning! In her free time, she loves running, camping, cooking, and reading, preferably outside.
Julie
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
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.
Maggy
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
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.
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.
Rowan
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!
