Our Educators
Camano Forest School employs talented and experienced educators who work in tandem with parents to provide a safe, dynamic and educational environment.
Teacher Emma
Emma (she/her) got her formal start with environmental and outdoor education in 2019 as a Volunteer Specialist with EarthCorps. While serving in this year-long AmeriCorps role, she facilitated weekly service-based outdoor education experiences for school groups ranging from second grade through high school. Inspired by these volunteer events, Emma went on to work with Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center where she taught summer camp and led environmental education lessons on soil, wetlands, and forest habitats. Following Mercer Slough, Emma and her partner started a small vegetable farm on Camano Island. They hope to one day host a youth-centered gathering and creative space where kids can explore their dreams, cook and eat together, and engage in organizing and mentorship.
Emma hails from occupied Lenape land (Philadelphia) where she worked with kids in some capacity since she was a teen, whether babysitting or as a camp counselor. She self-designed her Bachelor's degree at the New School in Education, Gender, and Environment to explore the deep connection that runs between the three.
In her free time Emma can be found in the garden caring for baby plants, splashing in the Sound, riding her bike, or spending quality time with friends and family.
Emma brings two years of forest school experience with her from her time as a lead teacher at Springwood Forest School. She is currently enrolled in the Antioch University New England, Master of Education program for Nature Based Early Childhood Education.
Teacher Bhakti
Bhakti embarked on her educational journey as a Kindergarten Assistant teacher, at the very elementary school she once attended working with the kindergarten teacher she had when she was a student. She has since served as an aftercare leader, as a helper aiding neurodivergent preschool students in a typical classroom setting and as the yoga teacher at The Living Wisdom School in Lynnwood until the birth of her son Ezra in 2017. Most recently she served as a teacher's assistant and yoga teacher at Springwood Forest School. Bhakti’s bond with young children has always been profound, particularly in teaching yoga to kids, to help foster inner calmness and peace.
Outside our forest classroom Bhakti is a part of the Ananda meditation community where she received her yoga and meditation teacher training. She has also completed training as an end of life doula and volunteered in pediatric palliative care and hospice. She enjoys helping at the Camano Farm Ashram, especially making flower bouquets to sell at the local farmers markets. Additionally Bhakti enjoys Ayurvedic cooking and baking, photography, writing poetry, taking ice skating lessons with her 6 year old son Ezra, and studying and practicing somatic movement and healing.
Bhakti is grateful for the opportunity to share, spend time with, and nurture the children at Camano Forest School.