Meet Us

Kara comes to Olympic Nature Experience with a master’s degree from New York University in Food Studies with a focus in food systems management and small business viability. She and her husband founded and ran Timber City Ginger Beer in Seattle for the past decade. Recently, they have happily transitioned from urban brewery life to a slower pace here on the Olympic Peninsula. Kara and her family moved to Sequim primarily because of the accessibility to Washington’s natural beauty, so she could not be more excited to help further the sustainability and strength of ONE’s incredible nature based teachings. She is well versed in community outreach and looks forward to using her grassroots fundraising skills to foster a resilient and vibrant ONE program for all our wild families with moss in their socks.

Jesica comes to Olympic Nature Experience with a bachelors degree in Marine Biology and a masters degree in Science Education.

She has worked in outdoor education for years teaching at aquariums, science centers, on boats and islands. Jesica most recently spent her time teaching science at a public charter school in Oregon and is looking forward to getting back to teaching students outdoors.

Moya grew up climbing mountains, supporting monarch caterpillar habitats and painting sunsets in Vermont’s Green Mountains. In high school she studied abroad in India, attending a student-run eco-based boarding school in the Himalayan region of Ladakh. This experience ignited a love of place-based student-lead learning. After earning a Bachelors in Global Studies from St. Lawrence University, Moya spent her twenties as a museum educator, working in college admissions and college access support, traveling the world solo with her two trusty backpacks, as an au pair in rural Australia and a private childcare provider for infants, toddlers and preschoolers in Appalachia. Moya, her partner and her dog moved to the OP in the fall of 2023 from Asheville, North Carolina. When she’s not at school you can find her on a dog walk, carving print blocks, cooking something yummy or looking for good rocks.

Mahina recently moved to Port Angeles. She was born in Hawaii, and grew up in New Mexico, but she has settled and is putting down roots here in the Pacific Northwest. She is an artist with many years of experience as an art educator, childcare provider and mom. She loves being out in nature and feels passionate about the positive effects of outdoor education and play for young children and is so excited to be joining the team at Olympic Nature Experience.

Tessa grew up on the Olympic Peninsula where she learned to love all the beauty Washington has to offer. She is an early childhood educator and outdoor enthusiast with a passion for helping children build meaningful connections with the natural world. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with a focus on Environmental Education, an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Tessa has experience teaching young children through play-based and nature-based learning. She loves following children’s curiosity, encouraging exploration and imaginative play, and creating opportunities for children to develop confidence, independence, and a sense of wonder outdoors.

Jubilee has lived in Western Washington since she was in high school. Attending The Evergreen State College, with its vast forest acreage and beach, helped her to discover how much she loves the mossy woodland of the Olympic Peninsula. Now living as one of the caretakers at The Tribal Edge in Blyn, Jubilee’s life is centered on being outside. Getting to share her passion for the outdoors, plants, and animals as a teacher with the kids at Olympic Nature Experience is truly a dream come true.

Kristi grew up in Massachusetts, spending as much time as possible roaming outdoors and traveling throughout New England. She then spent ten years working in the film industry in Georgia and California, while continuing to spend every spare moment camping, hiking, and seeking out new outdoor adventures across the country. She and her family made the move to Washington in ’25, drawn by the natural beauty of the Olympic Peninsula, family connections, wonderful community, and the outdoor learning she found through O.N.E. Now settled in Sequim, Kristi spends most weekends adventuring with her family and husky – exploring, camping, swimming, cooking, creating, and admiring the incredible plants, animals, and landscapes that make this region so special. She has spent many years doing photography, loves coffee, and is the owner of a small local business. She comes from a large blended family, having spent much of her life around children of all ages. Her experience includes homeschooling, coaching youth softball, and serving as an assistant to a math teacher. Kristi believes children learn best when they are free to build meaningful connections with the natural world. She loves the curiosity, creativity, and sense of wonder children bring to outdoor learning and looks forward to exploring alongside them through the seasons.

What Jordan enjoys most in life is camping, the beach and spending as much time with her family and friends as possible.  Jordan spends as much time as possible being outside so joining O.N.E. has been a natural fit. Before moving to Sequim, to run Jardin du Soleil Lavender farm, she was a preschool teacher and nanny for over 20 years.

Brittany has a strong sense of community and a deep respect for the environment. Having spent the majority of her life on the Olympic Peninsula she has explored a vast amount of the natural world around. She spent several years preforming scientific research in the Elwha valley, which lead her into a decade of work as an education ranger at Olympic National Park. Brittany has a degree in Environmental Science and Education. She has been a substitute teacher at the Children’s Montessori school, facilitated community based play groups, homeschools, volunteers with the local cub scouts and has helped support and coach youth sports. She finds children inspiring and loves the natural wonder, playful imagination, determination and joy children bring to the world. She has two amazing children that bring her happiness each and every day. She can be found gardening, playing board games, laughing, hiking, exploring, cooking and reading with her family.

Nora grew up right here on the Olympic Peninsula, gaining a deep lifelong familiarity with its unique natural wonders. An adventurer, she loves hiking, exploring, nature sketching, and swimming in local bodies of water. She also has a passion for creative expression, including beading, fiber arts, and playing music.

Nora’s educational foundation was built at Five Acre School, where she attended from preschool through fifth grade. That question-based learning environment fostered her outdoor skills and instilled a wonder for the natural world. Today, she is excited to bring those exact skills, personal interests, and local expertise into her teaching role at Olympic Nature Experience.

Trina recently graduated from Western Washington University in Bellingham. Trina was born and raised in Port Angeles. Trina loves hiking with her dog and doing arts. Trina is looking forward to getting to know you!

Sarah began working with Olympic Nature Experience in 2016. Over the years, she served as lead teacher, administrative director, and most recently, program director. In the fall of 2024, she stepped back from her leadership role to spend more time with her two young daughters, while remaining closely connected to the community she loves. Sarah holds an M.Ed. in Environmental Education from Western Washington University and a Forest Kindergarten Teaching Certificate. With over a decade of experience in outdoor education, she remains deeply passionate about the mission of Olympic Nature Experience.

Laura is an operations manager for CrossFit, Level 3 Trainer, recipe creator, outdoor enthusiast, wife, and mama. In 2020, after 1.5 years living nomadically in their converted van, Laura, her husband, Rusty, and their then 3-year-old daughter, Evie, put down roots in Port Angeles. They soon found Olympic Nature Experience, and now, almost 6 years later, Evie is entering Way of the Woods, and little sis, Indie, is thriving in Early Learning. Laura is thrilled to join the Board as a grateful ONE parent and passionate believer in the power of nature as the BEST classroom for all kiddos.

Kelly lives with her family in the Olympic foothills, where a flock of chickens, a big garden, and trails through the surrounding forest provide most of the daily curriculum. After teaching overseas for many years, she started her own marketing company in 2016 and now works as a videographer while she and her husband homeschool their two children.

Her kids joined Olympic Nature Experience in 2023, and quickly developed skills that will serve them the rest of their lives. Age-appropriate survival skills, like carrying their own hiking gear and knowing how to use it. Later, knife skills and fire making. Not to mention the lifelong skills of resilience to endure any weather and a deep knowledge of local flora and fauna. After witnessing firsthand the impact this type of education can have on a child, she joined the board to help ensure ONE’s programming continues to get more kids outside.

As a child, I moved to the Olympic Peninsula From Nevada and fell madly in love with the mountains over the years. I care strongly for the land and our environment, and I find solace in the Olympics, where I have spent many years hiking and backpacking. Being active is a way of life for me, and I have a deep passion for trail running and racing. When I am not running and wandering the mountains, I can be found tending to the garden, and playing with my family and dog.

I have an educational background in Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health, and a working background in Food Management, and Sales Consulting. Currently I have stepped back from the workforce, and am now focusing on caregiving family, and raising a wonderful little girl with my husband. I learned of ONE many years ago and knew that if I ever had a child, they would HAVE to attend such a marvelous place. Nature is the best way to grow, learn and connect. Our daughter has been at ONE since she was newly walking – and watching her thrive and root herself has been absolutely incredible!

As the parent of an ONE student, I am so grateful to be a board member and to be a part of this nourishing education.

 

 

Bryan spent the first few decades of his life on the east coast before deciding to move to the Olympic Peninsula in 2018 with his wife. He has two children; the eldest of which is an enthusiastic Olympic Nature Experience student. Bryan works professionally as an employee benefits consultant. He has a life-long love of board sports, enjoys gardening with his family and taking advantage of all the amazing nature the Olympic Peninsula has to offer.