Mr. Brett

Brett knew he wanted to be a teacher since he was very young.  After receiving a teaching degree from Appalachian State University, in Boone, North Carolina, Brett spent the next few years in the Peace Corps in South Africa. It was there, while living in a small village next to the Kruger National Park, that Brett fell in love with nature-based learning.  Brett returned to the States to teach in North Carolina, was a park ranger at Grand Canyon National Park, then made a home for himself in Colorado.  Brett earned his Master's degree in Early Childhood Administration, Leadership & Policy and in 2017 co-founded The Nursery School, a forest preschool in Denver. Now based in Golden, Brett is eager to bring this all-outdoor learning approach to more families. With this vision, Brett started Colorado Nature School and is looking forward to connecting more young children with nature through authentic early learning experiences outdoors. Brett loves skiing, camping, canoeing, and any outdoor activity with his wife, son, and their young and energetic English Lab. 

Even in her home state of Connecticut, Corin has always had a deep appreciation for the great outdoors. Growing up, she was an avid hiker, camper, and enjoyed fishing with her father. She studied at the University of Michigan where she obtained a degree in education. After graduation, she drove across the country to Colorado, which has always been a dream of hers. She had hopes to pursue a career that would bring her closer to her passions in nature and working with children. During her first year in Colorado, Corin gained great experience in a traditional school setting teaching 7th grade math in Aurora. Upon discovering Colorado Nature School, Corin knew that it was the place for her! With an overarching goal of leading Junior Ranger programs in a National Park, she knew that this would be a great step in the right direction. She is excited to share her passions for exploration, conservation, and learning alongside the children of CNS. Outside of education, Corin enjoys spending time hiking and camping in the parks, searching for wildflowers and wildlife, and hanging out with her awesome roommates.

Heather grew up in the Santa Monica Mountains of Topanga, California, enthralled with the natural beauty of the California coast. Her adventures have taken her across the country and back, living in Nashville, Tennessee for her undergraduate degree (a BS in Biology) and in Washington, D.C. for her graduate degree (a PhD in Animal Science). Heather spent a decade working for a conservation biology nonprofit in D.C., before moving to Golden, Colorado, which she has been happy to call home since 2012. She loves getting outdoors whenever possible, on adventures like white water canoeing and rock climbing, exploring the wilderness via hiking and backpacking, or deep, play-based learning with her two children in Colorado’s many parks. Heather developed a love for education while co-leading an outdoor education program during college and educating visitors as a keeper at the Nashville Zoo. She spent much of her kids’ early years engaged in a local Forest School program, and most recently was found world-schooling them in Sydney, Australia. Heather wants to spread her passion to the next generation through Colorado Nature School, using the Forest School setting to help students develop confidence, self-reliance, and a love and respect for the natural world through outdoor learning experiences.

Sarah is a Colorado native who grew up hiking and backpacking with her naturalist parents as soon as she could walk. Itching to explore parts unknown, she attended Boston University and worked as an EMT in the city, before returning to her beloved Rocky Mountains to begin a career in out-of-classroom education. Sarah went on to earn a Masters Degree in Museum and Field Studies with a specialization in Education from CU Boulder and has more than 10 years of experience as an outdoor guide and environmental educator. Sarah is passionate about the importance of helping kids connect to their natural surroundings and the benefits of spending time outdoors in the development of healthier, happier, more engaged global citizens. When she’s not teaching or tending her garden and small flock of chickens, Sarah loves to travel and enjoy nature with her husband and two kids, or just lace up her running shoes and hit the trail. 

Gabby has two passions, the outdoors and working with children. She moved to Colorado back in 2022 in search of outdoor adventure after college. She got her degree in Natural Resource Conservation with a specialty in Ecotourism. It is her belief that the best way to protect the environment is to deepen people's connection with nature so they will be more inclined to protect it themselves. Gabby also swam competitively at the University of Florida, was an All-American, and Olympic Trials Qualifier. For most of her life she has worked with children in a swim setting. Gabby has experience working with a wide range of children in the pool from ages 6 months to 18 years of age, novice swimmers and elite athletes, and children with mental and physical disabilities. She has always been surrounded by children and education through her huge family, which is very important to her, with 16 younger cousins and teachers for aunts and uncles. She has volunteered with organizations such as Kids in the Woods and CO Special Olympics. Gabby will be splitting her time between being a Guide at CNS and an assistant coach at the Colorado School of Mines just down the mountain. "The more I'm playing and exploring outside the better!", says Gabby. She is very enthusiastic about holistic teaching in an outdoor setting and getting to learn with the kids along the way, "as we are always learning", she comments.

Annie was born and raised in a small town outside of Kansas City, Missouri where her main source of entertainment was the forest surrounding her family’s home. She fell in love with nature from a very early age and was determined to gain all of the knowledge she could. Annie received her B.S in biology with an emphasis in wildlife ecology and conservation from Northwest Missouri State University. During college she worked as a guide taking people of all ages horseback riding and on backcountry camping trips in North Park, Colorado. It was here that she discovered her love of naturalist teaching. Being able to see not only children but adults get excited to learn about nature made her excited about teaching it. After working in Colorado and visiting here every Thanksgiving to see her family, she knew it would be a perfect fit. Once she discovered Colorado Nature School, Annie knew this would be a great opportunity to further her naturalist teaching skill sets and spark new interest in the younger generations. In her free time she and her partner can be found hiking, camping, reading, cooking, or playing with their 2 cats. 

Growing up in San Diego, California, Hannah developed a deep passion for wildlife and conservation from an early age. With the Pacific coastline and diverse ecosystems as her playground, she spent much of her childhood exploring nature and fostering a love for animals. This passion led her to pursue an Associate of Science in Exotic Animal Training and Management from Moorpark College, a path that allowed her to turn her love for wildlife into a meaningful career. Before moving to Colorado, Hannah worked at the renowned San Diego Zoo as an educator, where she had the unique opportunity to bring live animals into classrooms, inspiring students to care about wildlife conservation. Her work at the zoo not only deepened her understanding of animal behavior and conservation efforts but also solidified her desire to share the wonders of the natural world with others, especially children. Drawn by Colorado's stunning landscapes and the opportunity to further connect children with nature, Hannah is thrilled to join the team at Colorado Nature School. She believes that spending time outdoors is crucial for developing well-rounded, environmentally conscious individuals and is eager to inspire a new generation of nature enthusiasts. When she's not teaching, you can find Hannah exploring Colorado’s trails with her dog Butters, observing wildlife, and continuing her lifelong journey of learning about the natural world.