Educator Spotlight: Kelli, Teaching Assistant @ Illahee

Our time in the forest has been flying by incredibly fast! As someone who does not particularly enjoy the cold, dark, and dreary feeling that tends to creep in during winter days; it has truly been a gift to have spent so much time enjoying being outside, and taking in all the evergreen life still thriving around us. Thanks to the warmth of tea, cocoa, hot water bottles, and many, many layers, we’ve also managed to stay plenty toasty!

​Coming back from such a long period of being away, warm and cozy inside for break, it was also incredibly heartwarming to see our group find a new way to gel together after such a big period of change and time apart. While we worked on saying hello and goodbye to classmates, we also started bird watching, and it felt like the perfect community and solo activity for everyone to ease back into their own rhythm of this quiet season. It feels like success every time I see the kids lay back and look to the sky in their own moment of calm.

This year has really shown there is much to see at any time of year for those who take time to look. Between seeing the sea lions catching a salmon breakfast, bald eagles nesting, and  regularly checking on a special secret mushroom growing in the base of a tree, no day is ever the same outside. I can’t wait to see what new life we notice with the observation skills we’ve grown.

In this last breath before spring arrives, I am filled with the hope to plan for my garden. With the returning sunlight and signs of growth that I see every day--in the kids and the world outside my door--I am beaming with excitement to continue to learn and share about local, native plants during lessons in March and onward!