Celesta Smith
Executive Director
Celesta brings a deep passion for nature-based outdoor learning to her role, believing that every child and family should have access to the transformative power of nature. Over the past seven years, she has dedicated herself to elementary education through various roles, including volunteering, substitute teaching, and supporting innovative outdoor learning programs.
As a Certified K-12 Mindfulness Educator, Celesta has taught mindfulness practices to students and teachers in the Tacoma School District, fostering emotional well-being and resilience. Her involvement in her children’s school led her to champion an outdoor learning program that utilized the vast natural spaces of Point Defiance Park, further solidifying her commitment to experiential, nature-based education.
Celesta’s professional expertise includes fundraising, marketing and communications, event planning, and both non-profit and for-profit bookkeeping—skills she uses to strengthen and support the Barnacles & Bees community.
Celesta, her husband Derek, and their two sons, Rowan and Wyatt, live in Tacoma, where they actively engage with their community. Together, they love exploring the Salish Sea’s rich landscapes through swimming, hiking, and scuba diving. Growing up on the Oregon Coast, Celesta’s happy place remains with her feet in the sand and the ocean breeze on her face, inspiring her lifelong connection to the natural world.
She is thrilled to bring her passion and experience to Barnacles & Bees, helping to create opportunities for families to connect, learn, and grow through nature.
As a Certified K-12 Mindfulness Educator, Celesta has taught mindfulness practices to students and teachers in the Tacoma School District, fostering emotional well-being and resilience. Her involvement in her children’s school led her to champion an outdoor learning program that utilized the vast natural spaces of Point Defiance Park, further solidifying her commitment to experiential, nature-based education.
Celesta’s professional expertise includes fundraising, marketing and communications, event planning, and both non-profit and for-profit bookkeeping—skills she uses to strengthen and support the Barnacles & Bees community.
Celesta, her husband Derek, and their two sons, Rowan and Wyatt, live in Tacoma, where they actively engage with their community. Together, they love exploring the Salish Sea’s rich landscapes through swimming, hiking, and scuba diving. Growing up on the Oregon Coast, Celesta’s happy place remains with her feet in the sand and the ocean breeze on her face, inspiring her lifelong connection to the natural world.
She is thrilled to bring her passion and experience to Barnacles & Bees, helping to create opportunities for families to connect, learn, and grow through nature.