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 + Nature School Director
Lead Guide: Thursday Nature School
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.
Nature School Guides
Wednesday Nature School
Candice, Lead Guide & Program Director
I’m a homeschooling mom of a tween and teen with an MS in Education. I find great joy leading group hikes, working with littles at an outdoor camp, foraging and spending as much time as possible in the woods. When not in the woods, I can be found painting watercolors and dreaming about my next forest adventure.
Meaghan, Co-Guide
Wednesday Nature School
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.
Sunday & Tuesday Nature School
Maria, Co-Guide
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.
Sunday & Thursday Nature School
Brittany, Co-Guide
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.
Nature School
Loren, Guide in Training
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.
Outdoor Creators Guides
Emma - Lead Guide & Program Director
Monday & Wednesday Outdoor Creators
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.
Mari, Co- Guide
Monday & Wednesday Outdoor Creators
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.
Wednesday Outdoor Creators
Jenna, Alternate Co-Guide
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?
Support Team
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!
Sam, OBM & Project Manager
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 Expert
