Eric is a lifelong lover of all things nature.  He grew up in the forests of Kentucky and has lived in Colorado for the last 12 years.  Being a multi-instrumentalist, he loves to incorporate music into our learning, starting with basic rhythms.  While obtaining his graduate degree in early childhood education, he became fascinated with and wrote many articles on the benefits of outdoor learning, particularly in the primary years. Creating his own forest school was a dream of his for many years, and in 2019 he was ecstatic to watch that dream come true.  When not at school you can find he and his son Solstice exploring the forests of Colorado, climbing at CityROCK, or playing a concert in the Colorado springs area.  

Marilyn went to college to become a veterinarian. After receiving her Animal Sciences degree at the University of Arizona, she realized she had a connection not only with animals, but with children as well. She returned to school and earned a master’s in Special Education with an emphasis in Behavior Management. She was hired as a center based Special Education teacher working with elementary kids who were diagnosed with Emotional Disabilities in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Her love for the mountains drew her to Colorado where she was hired as a Special Education Preschool Teacher.  She finished her endorsement in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education.  After 10 years of teaching preschool in District 20 she joined Wonders of Nature as our co-teacher.  "I have seen the tremendous impact that being outdoors provides for children. Forest Schooled children are brilliant, resilient, risk takers and comprehend at a level that is beyond what students within a classroom setting can achieve. I feel blessed to be a part of Wonders of Nature Forest School. Though they refer to me as teacher, it is truly the children who continue to teach me."

From an early age, Caryn has always been a natural explorer, whether it was finding her way around the forests and meadows around her childhood home in Michigan, or navigating her way through the various terrains of North America. She loves weaving curiosity and imagination into every day, and fosters a strong connection to the rhythms, seasons, and cycles of nature. As a singer, songwriter, and poet, she is passionate about bringing the language arts, music, and singing into the learning environment. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Boston College, her educational journey has taken her through many different career fields over the past 14 years, centered around the power of communication and interpersonal skills, particularly deep listening, inquisition, and connection. Through many years as a swim coach and teacher, she loved being able to see firsthand children’s growth and progress through learning. As a teacher with Wonders of Nature, she loves that she gets to combine all of her passions and experience to help grow young explorers, and to continue to learn alongside the children. Outside of school, she loves to sing, write, hike, go on road trips, and be an auntie to her nieces and nephew.

Caitlin has two daughters, Rhylin (5) and Tiyandza (3). Rhylin has been attending Wonders of Nature since 2022 and Tiyandza has made her debut this summer. Caitlin started researching outdoor schools when they moved to Colorado; Wonders of Nature was the perfect fit. "I love it so much and can’t wait to teach here too!"

  Caitlin began her teaching journey in 2013 with an Elementary Education degree from Luther College. She student taught in Chicago Public Schools in a first-grade and sixth-grade classroom. She then applied her educational background teaching for a non-profit called Cooking Matters. Following this adventure, Caitlin decided to delve into the Montessori world. She received her Early Childhood training and taught the primary age (2.5-6 years). In 2019, Rhylin was born and Caitlin stepped back from teaching to be home more often. 

"I’m excited to apply my Montessori background in the context of Forest School. Between researching early childhood and raising my kids, I see time outside as one of the most crucial points for their development. Being outside really covers the bases for sensory, emotional regulation, gross motor, fine motor, and just general play. It is the perfect opportunity to guide children in their learning about themselves and their world." Outside of school, you might catch Caitlin on a trail hiking or inside of a local coffee shop. "Looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesdays this year!"