Meet the Teachers
Ashley Karell (she/her)
Ashley Karell is an Oakland-based lover of music, dance, and being in the water, and is a mother to a 13 year old child. Ashley has been teaching young children in a variety of indoor and outdoor learning environments for over 15 years, with this 2022-2023 school year being her 8th year as a forest school teacher in the Bay Area.
There are two questions that Ashley strives to create answers for through her parenting and teaching practice: “How might we provide a childhood education that is centered around safety, love, freedom, and strong connection with our natural world?” And also, “How can families feel their efforts are supported through family centered care in an affirming child-led natural environment?” Ashley says, “I feel honored to be part of the network of care for our children, both during our forest school days, and also as a community member.”
I am passionate about creating family centered spaces that celebrate the unique gifts of each member within our learning community. And I am SUPER passionate about increasing accessibility of learning outside for more children and educators.” Ashley also works with the California Association of Forest Schools and the Merritt College Student advisory to support her goals of increasing accessibility of for more children and families.
Founder and Lead Teacher
Allison Gracia (they/them)
Hi I’m Allison Gracia! Originally from Southern California, I made my way to the East Bay for school and stayed for the community, beautiful environment and vibrant culture. I consider myself to be deeply loyal, a lover of this earth, and overall a very silly goose. I began my teaching journey after graduating college in 2022.
When looking for work that focused on building community and fostering a connection with the outdoors- I became a forest school teacher. I hope to continue facilitating relationships between young children and themselves, their natural environment and their peers. Relationship building is at the core of my teaching practice and rooted in reciprocity; forest school gives us the space to not only learn and grow with our environment but also our children.
When I am not teaching and hanging out with tiny humans I enjoy reading, swimming in large bodies of water, eating good food and spending time with loved ones.
Teacher
