Team EverWild

At EverWild, our 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio ensures a personalized, holistic learning experience. Our diverse team includes credentialed teachers, biologists, childcare specialists, wilderness guides, and more – all with extensive child-related experience and CPR/First Aid training. Come rain or shine, we prioritize role modeling kindness, curiosity, and optimism, grounded in an in-depth understanding of child development.

Erica Hermsen

  • Erica was born in Washington and from a young age, she loved spending time outside, exploring the forests, and discovering new adventures. Her love for nature continued to grow as she got older and she knew that she wanted to share this passion with others.

    After completing her BA in Environmental Education and MS in Conservation Biology, Erica set out to create a space where children could learn, grow, and play in the natural environment. She established EverWild Forest School in Boise, Idaho, where she serves as the executive director. Under Erica's leadership, EverWild Forest School has grown to become one of the largest and most successful forest schools in the country!

    In her free time, Erica can often be found exploring the area with her husband and two young girls, hiking, riding horses, painting, dancing, and singing.

    Email Erica

Ilyse Sakamoto

  • Ilyse grew up in Boise, and after studying Public and Community Service Studies in Rhode Island, she returned to her hometown with a refreshed sense of respect for the city. She served two terms with AmeriCorps through Bogus Basin's Mountain Discovery Camp and SnowSchool programs where she was introduced to environmental education.

    Ilyse went on to study Outdoor Education at The University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Upon her return home she once again joined Bogus Basin's outdoor education programs, eventually taking over and serving as the Outdoor Education Coordinator for five years.

    After starting her family in 2019, she became even more impassioned to share nature with her child and other children in her community. To do this, Ilyse manages EverWild’s scholarship program as well as admissions.

    Email Ilyse or call at (208) 996-3539

Taylor Payne

  • Growing up in Denver amongst the Rocky Mountains, Taylor has always been a lover of the outdoors. She graduated from college with a BA in Secondary Education and joined EverWild to be part of the movement to help shift perspectives from a test/achievement-driven society to one based in nurturing intrinsic motivation through empathy and mentorship. She has quickly become a beloved teacher through her natural ability to meet kids where they’re at. Her students love her ability to be both silly and a calm listener as she guides them through their learning journey. Taylor moved to Boise in 2015 and joined when EverWild started. When she's not teaching kids in the great outdoors, you can find her playing with her children, hiking in the mountains, or reading a good book.

    Email Taylor

Kari Martinez

  • Kari grew up in the Treasure Valley and has always loved being outdoors playing sports and exploring. Kari studies Art and Education at the College of Western Idaho, and continues to create meaningful pieces inspired by the natural wonders around her. Kari loves working with children and implementing alternative models of early education to nurture well-adapted and empathetic global citizens. Kari has experience in conventional academic-based childcare settings as well as those that implement an inquiry-led model. She enjoys implementing a gentle caregiving approach akin to Reggio Emilia and Magda Gerber philosophies.

Nick Bossert

  • Nick grew up in Salmon, Idaho enjoying the river and mountains of his hometown. His love for the outdoors didn’t end in his backyard though. Traveling the world to places like the South Pacific not only gave him an appreciation for other cultures, but a love for marine ecosystems and diving amongst them. After receiving degrees in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Nick began pursuing work in the outdoors including working for the Bureau of Land Management and more recently teaching environmental education at the Foothills Learning Center, Boise Urban Garden School, and virtual learning classes to the students of the Los Angeles Unified School District through the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Michelle Lobasso

  • Michelle grew up in Southern California, where family camping trips and backpacking the Sierra Nevada mountains instilled a love of nature. While earning her BA in Interpersonal Communications she studied abroad in Ireland at Trinity College, Dublin. She also worked with international students, as an English conversational partner, through her university’s American Language Program. Students enrolled in the program were able to practice their English with other undergraduates on campus, in an organic, unstructured format. After graduation, she became a flight attendant and has continued to enjoy her time in this career. An interest in an outdoor career sparked after completing the Wilderness Travel Course program, which offered formalized training for safety and preparedness in the backcountry. She is motivated by the belief in a holistic approach to learning that merges the classroom with nature. In her spare time she likes reading, DIY crafts, hot yoga, and going on outdoor adventures with her boyfriend and dog.

Adra Lobdell

  • Adra grew up in northeast Florida but headed west to the mountains after receiving her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Guilford College. She spent the next several years building trails and leading conservation corps, where she experienced firsthand the transformative power of spending time in nature. This inspired Adra to go back to school and receive her master's degree from the University of Idaho's McCall Outdoor Science School. She is excited to bring her passion and expertise to Everwild Forest School. When not teaching, you can typically find her exploring outside with her husband, dog, and two young sons.

Meghan Calley

  • Meghan grew up in Pocatello, Idaho where she enjoyed playing sports, spending time outside, and traveling to nearby states to experience all the great skiing around the area. After graduating high school, she attended North Idaho College to play college basketball and receive her Associate of Science in Psychology. In Coeur d’Alene, her love for the outdoors continued to be fulfilled with beautiful hikes and frequent paddleboarding out on the lake. While pursuing her psychology degree, Meghan had the opportunity to take a class about the health benefits of nature. Here, her fascination for the importance of connecting with nature and the environment sparked a passion in her and she knew she wanted to continue in that direction. She is currently attending Boise State University, working towards receiving a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies. In Meghan’s free time, she continues to love hiking, paddleboarding, and skiing, along with hanging out at coffee shops and reading.

Zoe Luke

  • Zoe has been working with kids since she was 18, varying in ages from 2 years old to as old as 17 years old in settings from babysitting, to conferences, to teaching outside, and indoors as a Montessori teacher.

    As an outdoor enthusiast she has always loved her local flora and fauna. When she stumbled across the forest school community last summer, she fell in love with the their values and got involved as quickly as she could.

    She is an avid trail runner, weight lifter, artist, musician, and overall silly goose. She has two beautiful daughters who she adores.

Mikaelly Dantas

  • Mikaelly grew up in Brazil, between the desert of the northwest coast and the beautiful tropical forest in Rio de Janeiro.

     When she was 15, she left home to live in a boarding school and left the country three years later to study abroad in Germany. Through deserts and snowstorms, Mikaelly was brought to the USA to study psychology at the College of Idaho.

     Now, she has been working with kids for the past year and worked in Sun Valley as a camp counselor for a summer program. She will join EverWild School to develop a similar program, but with a different adventure.

McKenzie Serna

  • McKenzie was born and raised here in Idaho where she found a love for the outdoors at a young age. Her love for education began when she was 17 years old. She worked at a daycare for 2 years while in high school. After high school she earned her associates degree in elementary education from the College of Western Idaho. From there, she has continued her education at Boise State University, where she is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in elementary education. McKenzie looks forward to expanding her teaching journey while being at Everwild Forest School! In her free time she loves to go hiking, biking, paddle boarding , and she enjoys exploring new areas around Idaho.

Aaron Senderowicz

  • Aaron grew up playing in the foothills and mountains of Boise and all around Idaho. Working in various parts of the outdoor industry, he developed a passion for sharing the outdoors with others. Some of his favorite activities are running, cycling, rock climbing, skiing and playing music. He loves working with kids and plans to attend Boise State in 2025 to study social work and child development.

Lauresta Welty

  • Lauresta has been working in Environmental Education since the fall of 2016. She was part of the team that started the Outdoor Preschool program at the Foothills Learning Center and taught Outdoor Preschool there for 6 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies at a small college in northern Indiana, where she also worked at the local Environmental Learning Center, Merry Lea. Lauresta is a Boise native and often spends time in the beautiful nature areas found here. She is passionate about nature and teaching students about the natural world around them. Unstructured time outdoors is also very important to her. When students have nature as their playground, and they learn a natural respect for the outdoors, they are more likely to be involved as adults in advocating for environmental policies to better the future. Lauresta is married, has two children, and also a cat and a dog. Her favorite animals are the big wild cats, especially the cougar and the cheetah. She loves birding, mountain biking, camping, and backpacking. 

Jessica McFarlane

  • Jess grew up on the shores of Lake Washington north of Seattle, and spent her childhood swimming, biking, skiing and exploring the PacNW. She earned her BA in English (Writing Concentration) at Western Washington University in Bellingham. After 20 years in business administration, Jess ventured into nonprofit development, fundraising, and special events planning, most recently working at the Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association (IOGA) & the Idaho Conservation League (ICL). 


    Jess loves yoga, hiking & walking, travel & exploring new places, skiing, outdoor concerts, swimming, road & river trips, reading in cozy places, and spending time outdoors with family and friends!

    Jess has 3 children, ages 22, 18, and 15 years old, and is happiest when the family is outside together, exploring and enjoying the natural world. She is honored to work at EverWild and support children's innate curiosity and enthusiasm with experiential learning and adventures in natural settings in the beautiful Treasure Valley!

Caroline Haack

  • Caroline grew up in upstate Corning, New York, generally surrounded by the attitude that winters were for staying inside & hunkering down. Her outlook on the cold months & ‘bad weather’ totally shifted after ski instructing in eastern Idaho & getting lost on quiet, powder-filled trails, reminiscent of Narnia. She’s currently a senior Environmental Science major at Boise State interested in urban planning / walkable cities & the mental health benefits of reconnecting to nature. Outside of schoolwork, she loves to bike as her main form of transportation, walk dogs (especially golden retrievers), run, climb, & help organize events for Backcountry Squatters, a women & non-binary outdoors club. 

    Caroline is constantly thinking about how her college education can be better designed for each student and hopes to bring that mindset into her EverWild classes!

Sage Watson

  • Sage is a passionate teacher who brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to every adventure. Growing up in the picturesque Pacific Northwest, Sage developed a deep appreciation for the natural world, exploring its lush forests, rugged coastlines, and majestic mountains from a young age. This early connection to nature sparked a lifelong love for outdoor activities and environmental stewardship.

    After completing her Environmental studies degree at Boise State, Sage set out to see the world, traveling extensively and experiencing diverse landscapes and cultures. These global adventures enriched her understanding of different ecosystems and outdoor practices, from the tropical rainforests of South America to the deserts of Northern Africa.

    Combining a solid foundation in environmental science with a global perspective, Sage now dedicates their career to educating others about the wonders of the natural world. She inspires others to explore, protect, and cherish our planet's incredible outdoor spaces.

Amy Petersen

  • Amy was born and raised in Idaho. For college, she ventured west to attend Western Oregon University. Having grown up in a family of teachers, Amy had always known she wanted to be a teacher! At WOU she obtained her Bachelors degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education followed by a Masters Degree in Information Technology for Education. 

    Amy taught for 7 years in Oregon. During this time she also completed her National Board Certification. She loved teaching and learning from her students! After having kids, Amy decided to move back to the Boise area to be closer to family. 

    She now enjoys working part time at Rediscovered Books and spending time outdoors with her two boys, husband, and dog DirtyBear. 

Caik Silva

  • Caik Silva was born and raised in Brazil, where he developed a love for soccer that eventually brought him to the U.S. on a scholarship. He's now studying Business and Spanish at the College of Idaho, driven by a passion for understanding different cultures and learning the ins and outs of the business world. This past summer, Caik worked as a camp counselor, where he helped kids from various cultural backgrounds navigate their education in the U.S. He found this experience incredibly rewarding, reinforcing his love for teaching and working with others. When he's not studying or mentoring, Caik is likely enjoying music, playing soccer, or spending time outdoors. Whether it's hiking, camping, or just being in nature, he thrives in the open air and finds it the perfect balance to his busy life.

Lizzy Meisenbacher

  • Lizzy grew up in the mountains of western North Carolina.  As a young teen she channeled her love of winter sports into coaching young skiers and snowboarders at her local ski area.  From tiny tots to teens, she shared technical skills, perseverance, patience, and confidence building for those under her wing.  After graduating high school, Lizzy worked as a camp counselor in Colorado.  Her nurturing support and fun-loving attitude helped her campers create life-long memories.  She also spent the past winter earning her certifications instructing at Copper Mountain.  Her love of the west coast mountains kept her exploring Colorado and its neighboring states, landing her in Idaho where she now resides as she completes her B.A. in Psychology.

Danielle Quast

  • Danielle was born and raised in Boise, ID. She has been teaching preschool for the last 2 years while working to finish her bachelor's degree in Educational Studies through Western Governor's University. She believes in letting kids learn through exploration and experiences, while being there to guide them toward new discoveries and a desire to learn. Her favorite outdoor past times are paddle boarding, running, dog walking and biking with her son and husband.

Emma Mackrill

  • Emma was born in Washington, and grew up in Oregon where she first developed her love of camping, hiking, and spending time outdoors. She earned her BS in Art Studies and her MS in Special Education from Portland State University before spending a few years working as a SPED teacher. After living and teaching (and doing a great deal of hill walking) in Edinburgh, Scotland, she and her husband moved to Boise. Emma can often be found hiking in the foothills with her toddler and enjoys traveling, baking cakes, and learning to play the fiddle. She is looking forward to bringing her teaching experience and love for children and nature to Everwild Forest School!