Lynnwood

Gabby has been working in outdoor education for 6.5 years.  She has taught all ages through BSA scout programs. During her time with BSA she has taught wilderness survival, first aid, hiking, leather work, composite materials/arts and crafts, knots, and rock climbing. In addition to her Texas BSA certification as a High Ropes/COPE director, Gabby has spent time traveling to different states sharing her outdoor skills with Scouts BSA National Camp School.

Gabby has a great love for the outdoors and creating safe spaces for kids to be themselves while learning about all that nature has to offer. Gabby started her outdoor education career as a childcare assistant for ages 0-8 at Forest Home in CA. She then continued on to become a lifeguard,counselor, and commissioner of a camp in Lake Arrowhead CA. In 2021-2022, Gabby taught with Magnolia at the Pine Ridge campus in Edmonds. In 2022-2023, Gabby had the opportunity to visit over 16 different countries while working abroad with Disney in Europe. She is extremely excited to return to Magnolia and can’t wait to see what great things this year will hold!

She spends her time hiking, painting, reading, and visiting the occasional cat cafe! Gabby is excited to explore and learn with the wonderful kids at Magnolia Forest Preschool.

Abbi graduated from the University of Washington with her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Family Studies, Teaching and Learning in 2023. She has taught in classrooms with children from zero to twelve and provided in-home childcare for numerous families. She is also a freelance writer, working towards a future where she writes and illustrates children's stories. Abbi is eager to step outside the walls of the traditional classroom and join the Magnolia team in the forest this school year!

Growing up as a Girl Scout, the outdoors are a place where Abbi feels she's done some of her most meaningful learning. From building fairy houses out of twigs to investigating various fruits and bugs, she has felt the freedom that being within nature can give a child. Abbi has remained connected to the outdoors through biking, swimming, hiking, and many moments of mindfulness.

At UW, Abbi learned the value of high-quality early learning and shifted her views on the traditional classroom setting. She's gotten to understand the benefits of play-based, child-led learning environments from textbooks and professors, making her more ready than ever to feel the magic for herself. This school year Abbi is dedicated to helping students to see each other as sources of knowledge, use their creativity as solutions, and develop relationships with nature built on respect.

Luci grew up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, spending as much time outdoors as possible and frequently embarking on road trips across the neighboring states. Her passion for nurturing young minds began at an early age when she started babysitting and was captivated by observing children develop problem-solving skills through play.

Luci’s teaching journey began at an indoor/outdoor program, where she firsthand witnessed the cognitive, social, and physical benefits of engaging with nature through open play. This experience set her on a dedicated path to seek out opportunities that empower children to build essential social and emotional skills, preparing them to handle life’s surprises with confidence.

In her personal time, Luci is still a fan of exploring what nature has to offer. She fills her home with plants and enjoys immersing herself in the beauty of the natural world. Luci is thrilled to join the Magnolia family, where she sees a shared commitment to empowering both teachers and students to embody the values that foster children's success. She is eager to contribute her enthusiasm and expertise to create enriching and memorable experiences for all her students.

Amy has been passionate about childcare and the natural world for over a decade, and is thrilled to be joining the Magnolia team. Her experience has led her to work with children in many different settings, including nurseries, schools, private homes, summer camps, and a variety of outdoor environments.
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In 2022, Amy completed her Bachelor’s in Psychology specializing in child and adolescent development. Through her research, she found that time spent playing and exploring the outdoors positively impacted cognitive, social, emotional, and motor skills in children.

Eager to learn more and feed her passion for the natural world, Amy was drawn to continue her education at the Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall, WA where she spent two years immersed in nature engaging with both adult and youth programs. She completed her Nature Instructor Training in June of 2023, and is excited to be moving forward with a career at Magnolia that aligns so deeply with her own passions and values.

Markella grew up in Greece, in a Greek-American family and is the youngest of five children.
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She studied early childhood education at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. She learned how to utilize multiple means in childhood education, including sociology, shadow theater, music, psychology and the arts. She has over 10 years of experience working with children and through her work has come to realize the importance of play as an integral part in children’s learning process.
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After years of exploring different educational approaches, Markella is now looking forward to expanding beyond the walls of a classroom and becoming part of an educational environment that involves more time in nature. She believes that this will give her the opportunity to unfold her full potential as an early childhood educator. She is excited to move to the United States, to become part of the Magnolia Forest Preschool community and share her passion for learning in collaboration with like-minded individuals!
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In her free time Markella enjoys traveling, camping, being in nature, swimming, seeing friends, cooking and engaging in various forms of art.

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Adriaan was born in California, but was raised in Spokane, Washington. There he spent his
summers at the YMCA Camp Reed as a camper, eventually working there as a counselor for a
few summers. He then attended the University of Washington at Bothell and received a B.A. in
Environmental Studies in 2020. During and after college, he worked in the food service industry.
After quitting his job to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2023, he sought a new career path
that would be fulfilling and maybe even fun. He hopes to eventually return to school to pursue a
degree in education to eventually become a traditional teacher.
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Adriaan is excited to begin his new phase in life by teaching young learners to appreciate and
enjoy nature! While not at Magnolia, he enjoys cycling in the forest, making pasta, and listening
to new music.