Beth has spent her life immersed in the world of children, families, and education. After earning her BA in English Literature from UC Berkeley, she completed her Early Childhood Master Teacher/Site Supervisor credential through San Francisco City College. She spent much of her twenties teaching at a play-based preschool cooperative in San Francisco's Mission District, where she discovered that the most meaningful learning doesn't happen through curriculum alone; it grows from relationships. Those years shaped her enduring belief that children flourish when the adults around them feel supported, connected, and deeply seen.

Over the past seventeen years, Beth's work has taken many forms— as a teacher, mentor, program director, and founder— but the heart of it has remained the same. She is passionate about creating spaces where children can experience the freedom to play, wonder, take healthy risks, and develop confidence in themselves, while parents are met with an equal measure of understanding and compassion. She believes raising children was never meant to be a solitary endeavor and hopes to cultivate the kind of village where families feel held by community rather than overwhelmed by it.

A Thousand Mornings was born at the intersection of Beth's professional experience and her deepest convictions. Nature has long been the place she returns to when life feels noisy or disconnected, and she has witnessed again and again the remarkable capacity of wild places to soften nervous systems, awaken curiosity, and invite both children and adults back into relationship—with themselves, one another, and the living world. She believes education should nurture joy, resilience, emotional literacy, creativity, and a profound sense of belonging. More than preparing children for the future, she hopes to give them a childhood worth remembering.

Much of Beth's inspiration comes from being the mother of two spirited daughters, who remind her daily that childhood is meant to be messy, imaginative, adventurous, and wonderfully imperfect. They have spent countless hours climbing trees, tracking fairies, collecting treasures, and helping her remember that the most meaningful moments are often the simplest ones.

When she's not at forest school, you'll usually find Beth with a good book in hand, wandering a trail, camping, dancing, practicing Functional Patterns, exploring the endlessly fascinating world of nervous system regulation and holistic healing, or learning a little more about bushcraft and wilderness skills. She believes that curiosity, awe, and play aren't just for children; they're lifelong practices.

Katie is a Santa Barbara local, who has spent more than twenty years working with young children. After becoming a mother at the age of twenty, she discovered a passion for early childhood education and studied at Santa Barbara City College before beginning her career as a preschool teacher. Since then, she has dedicated herself to creating joyful, creative, and meaningful experiences for children and their families.

A lifelong lover of nature, Katie feels most at home outdoors. Whether she's collecting treasures on a walk, creating beautiful art from natural and thrifted materials, or dreaming up imaginative invitations to play, she has a remarkable ability to turn ordinary moments into something magical. Her creativity, patience, and steady presence help children feel safe to explore, create, and simply be themselves.

Katie has a gift for meeting children exactly where they are. She's known for her calm demeanor, easy smile, and willingness to jump into whatever adventure the day brings—whether that's climbing logs, making mud soup, reading stories, or comforting a child who needs a quiet moment. She believes childhood should be filled with wonder, connection, and plenty of time outdoors.

Katie has raised three of her own wonderful children, Jaidin, Annika, and Bear. She recently became a grandmother, a role she absolutely loves. Outside of forest school, you'll often find her thrifting, making art, tending her plants, or exploring the beautiful places she has called home her entire life.

As someone who has always felt most comfortable barefoot in the woods, Grace feels right at home at A Thousand Mornings. Grace is passionate about enjoying the simple pleasures presented by nature, and is grateful to spend each day doing so with preschoolers. Having grown up in a relatively rural area, Grace’s core memories consist of perching in pine tree branches, creating make-shift trails and hideouts in the woody acres of the backyard and, of course, building fairy homes. Grace is delighted to continue enjoying similar experiences with both the students and teachers of A Thousand Mornings.

Having worked with kids of many ages, the preschool years remain Grace’s favorite. She loves the raw emotions, and the perpetual “what” and “why” questions about the everyday things that adults have generally stopped thinking much about.

Outside of forest school, Grace can often be found wandering a trail, camping, or strolling the beach-always accompanied by her cattle dog sidekick, Clover.

Gretchen loves sharing her passion for the outdoors and has done so through many different avenues over the years. After graduating with a degree in Adventure Education, she became a backpacking guide. She worked in Yosemite for 7 summers sharing about the flora and fauna of the Sierras while equipping clients with the skills they needed to thrive in the Sierra Nevada backcountry. During these trips she utilized outdoor activities as catalysts for personal growth focusing on themes such as trust, communication, and leadership.

Gretchen realized that the reason she loved her guiding job was not just the beautiful landscapes (although it was a huge plus) but the people she was sharing it with. The rich diversity we see in nature is also represented in human beings. She celebrates differences, and sees them as ways to learn and connect with each other.

Gretchen has worked with children and adults of all ages. She has worked with 8 month olds up to 90 year olds. She believes that each of us has something to teach and share. She is very excited about working with preschoolers specifically because of their energy and curiosity.

Outside of work, Gretchen enjoys beekeeping, surfing, trying new recipes, taking public transportation, and swimming in whatever body of water she can!

Ally was born and raised in Northern California, where she experienced a magical childhood spent outdoors with her wild imagination. From building forts in her backyard to spending weeks at summer camp—where she eventually became a counselor—her love of nature began early.

She earned her degree in Environmental Studies from University of California, Santa Barbara and has a deep love for the ocean. After moving to Santa Barbara for school, she learned to surf, earned multiple PADI diving certifications, and has since spent as much time as possible in and on the water. She even spent a summer kayak guiding and leading snorkel tours at the Channel Islands National Park, an experience she describes as incredibly fun and rewarding.

One of Ally's greatest passions is travel. She believes that exploring the world is one of the most enriching, challenging, beautiful, and deeply human experiences. After graduating, she spent two months in Madagascar doing marine conservation work, where she helped plant and maintain artificial reefs and participated in sea turtle, fish, and coral data collection.

Working with children feels like a natural extension of all that she loves most—nurturing curiosity, encouraging wonder, and helping young people build a meaningful connection with the natural world. It is Ally's goal to teach others about the importance of our planet and how to protect it. Beyond her love for the natural world, she enjoys cooking and spending as much time as possible with her family and friends, who make her life so rich and colorful.

Brandy is a former ballet dancer turned musician with a deep love for the natural world and the quiet magic that lives within it. She has spent years living and working on homesteads, biodynamic farms, and regenerative land projects throughout South America and the United States, learning from the rhythms of the land and the people who care for it.

It was through this slower, more intentional way of living that Brandy discovered her love of working with children. She delights in bringing music, movement, creativity, and a sense of wonder into each day, inviting children to explore, imagine, and connect with the world around them. She believes that nature offers endless opportunities for curiosity, confidence, and joy, and she loves supporting children as they discover those gifts for themselves.

Brandy is grateful to be part of the A Thousand Mornings community and looks forward to spending time with your little ones.