Founder and Mentor

Jean Lomino holds a Ph.D. in Leadership with an emphasis in Environmental Education. She was a classroom teacher for 20 years, and since 2000 she has been an adjunct professor for a Master’s Degree program in Outdoor Teacher Education. Jean served as Executive Director of Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center in Chattanooga TN from 2005-2013. In 2015 she co-founded Wauhatchie School, the first forest kindergarten in the state of Tennessee which in the past five years has grown to include four forest school sites in the Chattanooga area with an enrollment of 160 students. Jean is also founder and lead trainer of the Forest School Teacher Institute and has trained over 300 forest school teachers from the US, Canada, China, Korea and South Africa, including two months working with teachers at No Boundaries Forest Kindergarten in Guangzhou, China. In 2018 she collaborated with Dr. Jiyoun Shin, Vice-Chair of the Korean Forest Kindergarten Association, to conduct research concerning Character Development in Forest Kindergarten. Jean presented at the 2019 International Symposium of Forest Kindergartens in Seoul, South Korea and virtually 2021. She continues to be a global speaker/advocate for forest school.

Director and Lead Facilitator

Stephanie earned her Associate of Science degree with a focus on education. Her ideas about innovative, quality education have developed through her experiences as a mother to three children: her eldest daughter graduated from public education and is discovering her career path, her younger daughter started in public school and graduated a homeschooler, and her youngest son was unschooled and now, as a teenager attends an alternative nature school. She has worked in numerous office settings and management positions and is co-owner of an online business. Her passion for connecting children with nature developed over her time working at Wauhatchie School as part of the admin team and preschool teacher, and managing the Forest School Teacher Institute. Her time spent teaching at Forest Schools has led her to create a space for students who struggle to find their place.

She recently earned a Certificate of Completion with the Outdoor Learning School & Store: Naturally Inclusive - Engaging Children of All Abilities Outdoors.

Facilitator and Lead Volunteer

Jessica holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and is passionate about nurturing children’s growth and learning. She is certified as a Forest School Teacher through the Forest School Teacher Institute (FSTI) and has also completed the Director Training program offered by FSTI. Jessica's diverse teaching experience includes working as a reading interventionist in public schools, homeschooling her own children, and applying her skills and enthusiasm as a dedicated teacher at the Nature Kin Farm and Forest School. Her deep commitment to fostering curiosity, creativity, and a connection to nature is central to her work.