When I think about childhood, I think about muddy shoes, imagination, open space, and endless hours outside.

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I created Snails & Turkey Tails to give kids opportunities to slow down, explore, create, take risks, and experience the kind of connected childhood that happens naturally outside. Childhood today looks very different than it did when I was growing up, and I wanted to create a space where children could climb, dig, build, imagine, wonder, and simply have room to be themselves.

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During my childhood  in Illinois, most of life happened outside. We rode bikes for hours, played in creeks, built forts, invented games, and stayed outdoors in every season. Some of my happiest memories were spent on my grandparents’ farm, running through fields, playing with barn cats, helping in the garden, and exploring from morning until dark. Those experiences taught me independence, creativity, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for nature and community.

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My path working with children started early. As a teenager in Girl Scouts, I organized a neighborhood summer camp in my backyard and discovered how much I loved creating experiences for children. That passion stayed with me throughout my life. I studied art and design in school and later in life, at 50, I went back to school to study early childhood education. Over the years, I’ve led classes, camps, and educational programs throughout the Bay Area, including with the Bay Area Discovery Museum, WildCare, Explorit Science Center, The Davis Art Center, and local schools and community programs. My work has always centered around hands-on learning, creativity, nature, and helping children build confidence through real experiences.

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I’m also a mother, and now that my daughter has flown the nest, I’ve found myself returning to a lifelong dream of working more deeply in early childhood education. Snails & Turkey Tails brings together so many things I care about: nature, creativity, community, childhood, and meaningful connection.

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At Snails & Turkey Tails, children are encouraged to explore the outdoors through play, art, movement, curiosity, and discovery. Whether we’re looking for insects, creating with natural materials, building forts, or simply noticing the changing seasons, the goal is not perfection or performance — it’s connection, confidence, and joy.

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I believe children learn best when they feel safe, engaged, and free to explore the world around them. My hope is that every child who spends time here leaves feeling curious, capable, and more connected to nature, to others, and to themselves.

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I look forward to meeting you and your family!