I can trace my life direction back to my time at School in the Woods. It instilled in me a passion for being outdoors and gives me a unique background for the work I have done in public education. I also made my best friend Katie Wyckoff (Katydid) that year and we have remained close ever since.

School in the woods provided some of the fondest memories I have from childhood. I made my best friend, Miranda Lanning, and we are still best friends 20 years later! It helped me to build my confidence and pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I loved that we got to be outside all the time, giving us the opportunity to be kids and learn from the world around us.

SITW instilled a deep love of and connection to nature in my life. Her brother, Adam Winter, also attended in 2001-2002 and later passed away in 2015. The sudden and unexpected loss of her brother was heartbreaking and very jarring, but spending time outside appreciating the great outdoors has been a significant source of comfort and joy.