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FALL 2025/2026 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Ms. Kira
Co-Founder
Cedar Group Leader
Pine Group (OVA) Leader
Summer Camp
Greetings Friend!
My name is Kira, and I am so happy our paths have crossed. I am the director and lead teacher of Friend of the Woods Nature School, and my heart’s work is guiding kids to feel their sense of place in the natural world. Growing up, I always oriented myself by the trees, trails, and bodies of water around me. My home base was in Grand Haven, MI where I would spend hours exploring and fishing the bayous, inlets, and channels of the Grand River Basin. Climbing trees, spying on the creatures who made the land and water their home, and noticing how it felt to be more than just an observer to the natural world around me. To know and feel myself as an integral part of these ecosystems early on tangibly shaped the way I perceive the world.
When I turned 18 I ventured northward to the truly magical lands of Marquette, Michigan. I completed college at Northern Michigan University where I received my Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with minors in Science and Language Arts. In the midst of this time I also became a mother. Through these deeply transformational years I began orienting myself once again by the fierce waves of Lake Superior, the rushing waterfalls of the Dead River Basin, the resilient Red Cedars growing with climbing roots on cliffsides, the purposeful movements of Beavers and Pileated Woodpeckers, and the warmth of a loving and like-minded community. I once again, this time as an adult, found the peace of connection and fellowship with the natural world around me.
In the years following, I have lived all over the lower peninsula, in Grand Rapids, Lake Orion, and now in Waterford where I have been growing roots and finding my way as a teacher and guide. I have served in the roles of an Outdoor Education teacher at C.A Frost Environmental Science Academy, a Lead Teacher for children ages 2-5 at Heartfelt Impressions Learning Center, and a GSRP Preschool Teacher. I received my CDA in Early Childhood Development, I’ve been an animal handler at the Marquette Children’s Museum, and have taught workshops on Positive Parenting Solutions for Families. I am also a Certified Forest School Teacher. I am now the proud mum of two wild kiddos named Fynn (9) and Jovie (4) who continuously guide me to know and honor the curiosity, open heartedness, silliness, resilience, unconditional love, and uniqueness of children.
I spend most of my free time very actively; hiking, fishing, hunting, and foraging, tending my garden and chickens, skiing of all kinds, biking around town, climbing trees, and cruising on my longboard. My active lifestyle leads me to appreciate the slow quiet times as well. I love to read or listen to books, sing and dabble on the guitar and banjo, practice meditation, share a nourishing meal, and soak up the magic of a roaring fire.
All of these experiences have led me to become a passionate advocate for learning through exploration, play, risk-taking, and tangible experiences in a classroom that goes beyond traditional schooling. I believe that empowering children to take the lead in their own learning by following their curiosity and intuition builds their confidence and self-trust early on, and is one of the most critical skills they can develop. In a classroom without walls, i have witnessed that learning happens organically as children engage with the cycles and systems in the natural world. There is endless opportunity for asking questions, taking risks, and creating both physical and imaginary handiwork. In the outdoors, a greater sense of present-moment awareness is invoked when relating to the land, water, and living things around us. By acknowledging and celebrating our interconnectedness with the Earth, I hope to cultivate a generational change in loving and preserving it.
Ms. Jen
Co-Founder
Cedar Group Leader
Pine Group (OVA) Leader
Summer Camp
Hello :)
I’m Jen- Cofounder and Administrator here at Friend of the Woods Nature School. As a native Michigander, most of my fondest memories as a young child took place outside where I’d spend hours playing with my brother, cousins and neighbors… climbing the old apple tree, walking the dirt road foraging wild black raspberries with my mom, helping in the garden, playing in the neighbor’s cornfield, or camping with my family. As I grew older, I recall in my pre-teen and teenage years seeking restitution outside when I needed the calming embrace that Mother Nature provided.
Nowadays, some of my favorite things to do are gardening, foraging, hiking, yoga, crafting and spending time with my family, friends and especially my little sprouts- Emaline (4) and Nora (2). I’ve been fortunate to live in Alaska, Wisconsin, Southern California and also spent a season working at Yosemite National Park. I cherish the fond memories I have exploring those beautiful states and their majestic mountains but feel grateful to be raising children back in the Mitten with its four seasons, plentiful and diverse plant and animal species, ideal growing season and, of course, the Great Lakes!
I grew up, thankfully, before the time of addicting smartphones and social media. It was a time before you were able to choose anything you wanted on TV and therefore were forced to get creative and imaginative when the only thing on was football. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for the children of today. Our children will never know a time before an endless supply of indoor entertainment was available on multiples of screens around every corner. This realization really hit home when I became a mother. With a society that relies so heavily on technology and industry, more and more people are disconnecting with the natural world. I fear what it could look like for our children’s children if we don’t take a stand now. If we don’t remember our roots and plant them deeply in our children.
I’m so honored to share this passion and mission with Kira and to help reconnect our children with the Earth to encourage a more mindful and simpler way of life.
Ms. Nichole
Hickory Group Leader
Cedar & Walnut Group
Summer Camp
Nichole Crosson was born and raised in Michigan where she enjoyed summers on the great lakes and catching fireflies :) She worked at her first summer camp here in 2005, facilitating team building, low ropes, high ropes, and rock climbing with middle schoolers. Being in nature and processing as a team opened up the students in profound ways, and watching this changed Nichole's view of education forever.
At every school she has worked at since, Nichole developed nature connection and team building curriculum. Sometimes this looked like constructing shelters in the woods next to the school or flipping over rocks on the playground to study insects. Sometimes it looked like field guides in the classroom library or working as a team to crack a code during math time. She has taught in a variety of school settings in the past 15 years, from homeschool-partnership classes to Waldorf-inspired preschools. She has also worked all over the US, in England, and in Mexico!
Eventually Nichole's nature connection desire drew her to schools that were 100% outdoors. She worked at Earth Native Wilderness School in Austin, Texas for two years and created all their preschool and kindergarten programs. From 2016-2018 she was studying and teaching at Wilderness Awareness School in Washington state, going on survival trips and practicing coyote mentoring. 2019 -2024 was spent back in Texas with Wild Things ATX, a nature connection collective that offered adult naturalist and survival skills courses, teacher trainings, and wilderness elective classes at partnering schools.
Nichole is now back in Michigan to stay! When looking for an earth-based community of folks to learn with outside, she found Friend of the Woods. She is excited to be joining the team as an adult program instructor and Cedar instructor at our newest location!
Ms. Sam
Walnut Group
Pine Group (OVA)
Hey, I’m Sam!
My fondest childhood memories are of camping and enjoying the outdoors, but my real love began after college when I was introduced to backpacking in the mountains of West Virginia - being immersed in nature and stripped down to essentials taught me a lot about the strength of my mind and body and the interconnectedness of it all. I was immediately hooked and have since found a lot of solace getting out into wilderness.
I now have 3 girls: Kennedy (5), Emilia (5), and Juniper (3) - along with my husband, Adam, and dog, Gus, we love getting out on adventures. I also enjoy creating and admiring beautiful things, friendly debates about life and philosophy, and impromptu dance parties! I quit my corporate job without looking back to stay home and care for my kids when I became a mom. It has always been my goal to show them how beautiful this world is and empower them with the confidence to listen to their heart and lead with love. I believe giving kids space to experiment and explore first hand, on their own time is the best way for them to learn their bodies and how they fit into this world.
I’m so looking forward to getting to know your kids and share the magic of the woods!
Ms. Shawna
Walnut Group
Pine Group (OVA)
Summer Camp
Hello, name is Shawna!
I’m a proud single mom to my son, Greyson, who is five years old and my greatest adventure buddy. My heart’s work is guiding children to reconnect with the natural world—to discover their own rhythm in the forest, the dirt beneath their feet, and the life that surrounds them.
Growing up, I was always drawn to the quiet magic of the outdoors. Some of my fondest memories involve wandering through the woods, fishing at quiet lakes, catching frogs with my dad up north, camping under the stars, and discovering wildflowers tucked beneath trees. That love only grew stronger when I became a mother. Now, Greyson and I spend our days hiking local trails, foraging for mushrooms, berries and native plants, and taking our yearly trip to the Hocking Hills, where we immerse ourselves in the beauty of waterfalls, cliffs, and forest paths.
I have a deep love for camping—whether it’s pitching a tent beside a river, cooking over an open fire, or waking up to birdsong and crisp morning air. There’s something so grounding about slowing down and simply being in nature, and it’s a rhythm I love to share with children.
My path to forest school education has been shaped by many roles in child-focused work. I’ve supported children in foster care, worked alongside Child Protective Services, in a juvenile detention setting, and spent time as a nanny and preschool assistant. These experiences deepened my understanding of how powerful nature can be as a space for healing, growth, and joy—especially for children navigating complex emotions or circumstances.
I believe children are natural explorers and that the forest offers endless opportunities for them to wonder, create, take risks, and grow confident in who they are. I’m honored to be a guide along their journey, helping them build lasting connections with the Earth—and with themselves.
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