Meet Our Team
Why do we call our teachers, guides?
Your class guide is there to guide you through the rhythm of the class. They will listen to the rhythm of the children and adjust as needed. Giving children this experience of open plan and allowing them to follow their own curiosity is a powerful part of our programs. Our guides also bring their own unique expertise to your outdoor experience with nature!
Certified Outdoor Educator Level 1 & 2 + Nature School Director
Claudine, Founder & Outdoor Educator
I’m a mom of 3 kiddos, certified outdoor educator, community builder, and logistics magician! My love for the outdoors and passion for building communities inspired me to create classes that are 100% outdoors, all-weather, and focused on the interests of the children involved.
Making outdoor education accessible to all families has always been the top priority of my mission. Our support team and class guides are all passionate about this mission, and I am honored to have a team so dedicated to getting more children outdoors! Outdoor Play Connection brings the benefits of nature and community to families all over the region!
When I am not in the forest as a mentor or class guide, you’ll still find me adventuring outdoors with my kids. Doing so allows us to enjoy the benefits of nature and makes the days go by easier. My favorite outdoor activities are surfing, hiking, and camping.
Guides
Emma - Programming Director
Certified Outdoor Educator Level 1
I'm a homeschooling mom of two girls who loves to spend time outside rain or shine. I have been a member or leader in a variety of homeschooling co-ops over the years. I have worked with Claudine in a variety of roles for the past six years. When not spending time in the forest I am an avid reader and I love to crochet.
Meaghan
I’m a mom to two happy, woodland-loving kids. I'm a lifelong lover of wild places, having spent my childhood wandering the woods of western Pennsylvania. I have spent the last eleven years teaching my own children and children in our homeschool community the skills of foraging; flora, fungi and fauna identification; and herbalism. I'm also very interested the history of human relationships with particular plants and animals and I love to share those stories with the kids. I believe that spending time in wild places is fundamental to being happy, whole, and healthy.
Maria
Maria is a nature enthusiast who enjoys kayaking on local lakes, hugging trees, making nature art and more. One of her favorite activities is enjoying nature with her family and community. She is so excited to bring her love of nature in combination with her 22 yrs of experience as an educator and facilitator to Outdoor Play Connection Nature School.
Brittany
Brittany is a rewilding mom of three mud-loving kids. As a former English teacher with a Masters in Education, she has taught grades 6-12, run interdisciplinary enrichment programs for elementary and middle school students, and designed programming and professional development for schools across the country. Brittany now spends her time building systems of support to ensure that all young people have access to the things they need most—including community and time in nature.
Loren
Loren is a mother of two, an artist, yoga instructor and nature lover. She spent her young years homeschooled, barefoot and outdoors. From a young age, her mother imprinted on her our responsibility to be stewards of the rich natural world around us, to love it, know it and protect it. It brings Loren great joy to be able to guide little ones as they learn about and fall in love with nature themselves.
Certified Outdoor Educator Level 1
Certified Outdoor Educator Level 1
Mari - Programming Manager
I’m originally from Orange County, California; living in NJ for the past 17 years. I’m a mother of a 3 year old boy named Jack, and happily married to my eccentric husband Nick who I met in a mosh pit at a My Chemical Romance concert. I enjoy visiting theme parks with my family, traveling, trying new recipes, video games, and music. In addition, I’m bilingual- English/ Spanish. My favorite character is Ariel from the Little Mermaid, my favorite color is black and I cannot get enough of iced coffee. I can now proudly say I enjoy the great outdoors thanks to this wonderful community started by Claudine.
Jenna
I’m a mom of 3 who originally hails from Indiana. I grew up camping, fishing and hiking with my family and love to be outdoors and exploring nature. I recently moved from Brooklyn to New Jersey and really enjoy exploring new areas. I currently play on a softball and volleyball team and would you believe I was a part of a circus for 3 years when I was a child?
Alexandrie
As a child, I started exploring nature by hiking weekly in the mountainous regions of Haiti with my family and I knew once I became a mother, I would pass down my love of exploring to my children. I have a 5yo son and 3yo daughter with whom I've hiked with all of their lives. I love taking them on trails because their curiosity and creativity shine. I want to foster the love of nature to more children and this is why I'd like to teach outdoors.
My favorite activity aside from hiking is swimming. A fun fact is, I glambed in the Sahara desert with my two toddlers, We rode camels and we saw the milky way.
Support Team
Sam, OBM
Sam is our Online Business Manager and Systems Expert! She helps make everything run smoothly and efficiently. Sam joined OPC from the beginning of our classes launching, and is the backbone of making all the information you receive seamless. Her ability to make things efficient frees up time for us to focus on creating the best programs for you!
Sam lives in England and has 7 animals! They love being part of her business, especially appearing on zoom calls!
Systems, Automation Expert
Jennie, Website Manager
Otherwise known as the ‘Make-It-Happen-Mamita’, Jennie does everything under the sky you can list that involves website design, scheduling, graphic work and administrative tasks.
When she’s not busy with client work in her home office, you can find her barefoot in the grass, while chasing around her toddler, Labrador named Beau, and teenager in exuberant laughter.
Jennie loves deep and loves hard- the love for the work she does, mother earth, her clients and her family is infinite and it shows!
Design & Website Expert
Abbie, Virtual Assistant
Admin & Client Services Expert
Abbie works in the backend of our business to help OPC operate more efficiently and effectively. She takes care of an array of tasks, including managing our admin, project management, and helping to streamline the business.
Outside of work, she loves to hike, paddleboard, and travel with her husband and two dogs. Abbie lives in Nova Scotia, Canada but has been all over the world and most recently, spent 9 months last year travelling, van-life style, across the US!
