MEet our CNS Guides

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. 

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.

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.

Ms. Gabby has been a guide at CNS since 2023, exploring and adventuring with children ages 3–10. By the end of 2025, she will be a certified Level 3 Forest School Practitioner. She graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Natural Resource Conservation, combining her academic background with her passion for hands-on outdoor learning. Originally from New York City, Gabby found her heart in the mountains of Colorado, where hiking, biking, climbing, and camping became part of her everyday life. With a lifelong background in swim coaching and caregiving, and she finds deep joy in helping kids grow their confidence, resilience, and connection with the natural world.

Krista grew up around the Great Lakes of Michigan, and as a young adult, camping and backpacking trips sparked a deep connection with nature. In college, she moved to Arizona, where she explored the southwest and completed her degree.  Krista’s love for traveling has taken her through Mexico, Southeast Asia, Western Europe and especially Germany, where she worked as an elementary teacher and administrator at a bilingual school for five years. She settled here in Colorado, in 2013, and lives with her husband and two boys. She fell in love with children’s nature programs as a Tinkergarten Leader, where she also completed additional training in early childhood development. She subsequently created and led her own outdoor, play-based preschool program (2018-2020), and nature-based homeschool enrichment program (2021-2022). Her boys have been in forest school for the last six years, and their experience inspired her to complete a Forest School Practitioner Qualification (2024-2025). Krista has been a homeschooling Mama for over seven years, but is ready and excited to take on a new adventure as a Forest School Guide with Colorado Nature School!

Bryony recently relocated from Texas to Colorado in December 2024. With a life full of travel—born in England, raised in Virginia, two years spent in Australia, and 14 years in Texas—she has developed a deep love for nature, animals, and a strong respect for the environment and everything it provides.

Her passion for animals and ecosystems led her to pursue a degree in Natural Resources Management with a concentration in Wildlife Biology at Texas Tech University, where she graduated in 2021. It was through her environmental and ecology courses that she truly found her calling.

Throughout college, she worked as a nanny, finding joy in the curiosity and energy of children. That same love for animals and kids guided her professional path—first through an internship at a big cat sanctuary in North Carolina, followed by another at the Dallas Zoo, where she worked with carnivores like lions, tigers, cheetahs, and African painted dogs. She began her career as a zoologist at the Dallas Zoo in 2021, spending three unforgettable years there—primarily in the Children’s Zoo, where she connected with young visitors every day. She strongly believes that fostering a connection with nature from a young age can have a lasting, positive impact and loves sharing her passion and excitement with future generations.

Kamebry is a Hoosier who always knew she would head for the mountains someday. She grew up climbing trees, creek stomping, and building forts with her outdoor educator parents in the woods of southern Indiana. She has always felt most like herself in nature and decided to pursue both her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Environmental Sustainability at Indiana University to learn how to encourage others to take care of our natural world. After a summer spent teaching children how to backpack, rock climb, and whitewater kayak in the national forests of Virginia, she discovered that nothing brings her more joy than watching a child’s face light up in the outdoors. Kamebry has also spent time in more traditional settings as a substitute teacher and a bilingual classroom aid, but is most excited about joining Colorado Nature School this summer. She can’t wait to play and learn alongside your children! In her free time, Kamebry loves to backpack with her fiancé, read in her hammock, and watch her dog Cricket get the zoomies on hikes.

Olivia was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Set for a new adventure, she moved to Colorado to attend Colorado State University and see what the "mainland" had to offer. She discovered a love for the mountains, skiing, mountain biking, fly fishing and hiking! Ms. Olivia has been a Guide at Colorado Nature School since its conception in 2020. She was ecstatic to find a Forest School straight out of college after graduating with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and a focus in Human Development & Family Studies. She holds a Colorado State Teaching License, a Large Center Director Qualification and Level 3 Forest School Certification. She is especially passionate about her student's social-emotional development, risk-taking skills, and abilities in interpersonal conflict resolution. Olivia has transitioned from Preschool Guide to Family Liaison, welcoming new families into the program as well as assisting our current forest school families. She is also leading The Inchworms child & caregiver group as she totes around her young son, Bodhi with her these days!