Team EverWild

Our talented team of educators brings deep experience working with children, along with full background checks and current CPR/First Aid certification. Rain or shine, they model kindness, curiosity, and optimism while drawing on a strong foundation in child development to support each student’s growth and wellbeing.

A woman leading a storytelling session for children outdoors near a stream, with children sitting on rocks, some listening and others pointing or watching the trees.

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

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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

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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 teaching for EverWild, working part time at Rediscovered Books, and spending time outdoors with her two boys, husband, and dog DirtyBear.
Email Amy or call at (208) 398-3313

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Alexis Stiles

Alexis grew up in Central NY in a rural area with lots of farmland and forests. Throughout her childhood, she spent lots of time exploring in nature and playing sports. She attended college receiving a BS in Recreation Management with a Minor in Outdoor Education and Interpretation. Alexis has enjoyed traveling in the states and also abroad.

She has a background in childcare and a deep love for the outdoors. Whether it’s hiking, nature crafts, or leading team-building games, she’s passionate about helping kids build confidence and curiosity through outdoor experiences. In her free time, Alexis enjoys activities such as hiking, kayaking, camping, riding dirt bike, skiing, and finding the perfect hammock spot to read.

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Jessica Rice

Jessica is a proud mom of two adventurous boys who are homeschooled. As a military family originally from Pennsylvania, they’ve embraced the incredible opportunity to live in Spain, New Mexico, Germany, and now Idaho! Each new adventure has allowed Jessica to connect with amazing kids and nurture their love for learning in unique ways.
From skiing down snowy slopes to hiking through lush trails and enjoying sun-soaked picnics, Jessica believes that every moment can be a lesson. She studied elementary education at New Mexico State University, her passion for teaching shines through her years of shaping young minds—both in the classroom and outdoors.
Whether it's exploring the woods or engaging in hands-on activities, she truly believes that the best lessons happen outside the classroom. She’s dedicated to blending education with nature, creating memorable experiences that inspire curiosity and creativity.

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Anika Freer

Anika was born in Flagstaff, Arizona and moved to Idaho when she was little. She grew up in a small forest town for 4 years and then moved to a suburban town. She currently is enrolled at Boise State for Environmental Studies. She loves everything outdoors and hopes to have her future career be working in nature. Some of her favorite outdoor activities are hiking, wake surfing and snowboarding!

Aris Neumann

Aris was born and raised in Idaho with a passion for the outdoors! She grew up horseback riding, long distance running, and camping. She has a strong love for animals and you can often find her hiking the foothills with her dog, or roadtripping around the northwest.
She has a background in child development and a passion for learning and teaching alongside the outdoors!

Join Our Team!

We’re always looking for fun, passionate people who love nature just as much as they love helping children learn and grow. Search our Jobs page for current openings, or send your resume and a letter of inquiry to Amy@OutdoorLearningAlliance.org to be considered for future positions.

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