Owner & Director

Charissa Waters

Charissa is the director of Fern Gully Forest School and has been in the environmental education and conservation field for over 13 years. Charissa has led groups of all ages on ecological restoration projects, tree planting work parties,  and worked with elementary school groups to design and install native plant gardens at their schools. She especially enjoys educating children on the elements of wildlife habitat and identifying native plants and their edible and medicinal uses. Her mission is to provide learning opportunities for children that cultivates critical life skills, fosters a sense of belonging and life-long relationships with the natural world, and that builds their resilience by connecting them with the Earth’s plentiful food, medicine, beauty and wisdom.

Specialty Teacher

Amy Flynn

Amy's background is in Holistic Education, Nutrition, and Health, which gives her a unique perspective when working with children. She is a trained Certified Health Coach as well as a Yoga, Tai chi, and Dance teacher. Amy’s dual art/science degree from The Evergreen State College set the foundation for her love of nature and outdoor education. Her time spent at The Olympia Community School, The Waldorf School, Head Start's Bi-Lingual Preschool, and many other Outdoor Preschools and Camps along the way, shaped the way she works with children.  Her role as the Director of the before and after school program at Lincoln Elementary gave her the foundation and understanding of the necessary ingredients needed for a successful, thriving program. She values learning through play and focuses on social and emotional intelligence as well as team building and leadership skills. 

Nature Creativity Teacher

Ellice Cryder

Ellice is a recent graduate of The Evergreen State College. She has 5 years of experience caring for children of all ages and is passionate about fostering nurturing learning environments for young folks. During her time at Evergreen, Ellice studied culturally responsible and holistic education methods. She also studied art therapy methods which she strives to utilize in planning creative activities with her students. Ellice grew up in the PNW and spent a significant amount of time exploring the natural world as a child. She believes that children who are encouraged to be creative and develop a loving relationship with nature will grow a strong sense of identity and self-worth.

Specialty Teacher

Greg Voelker

Greg has his Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. He's a certified Storm Water Steward and Agri-preneur Business Training Graduate. He served as a board member for the Native Plant Salvage Foundation and is a long-time volunteer for Wild Grief, facilitating peer groups for children and adults who are grieving a death by creating the space for sharing, connection, and healing in nature. He has also been a teacher’s assistant in preschool, 1st and 2nd grade. Greg is safety-oriented, loves to play, gets on the level with kids, and has a caring, compassionate attitude with a natural ability to help kids better understand themselves and work through their big emotions.

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