Rachel Parker found her purpose in ‘doing education differently’. She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in Early Childhood Special Education and worked with preschoolers with severe developmental delays before becoming certified as a Forest School teacher. Her vision for a nature preschool began with a small garden, children playing in the forest, and evening walks with a neighbor.

She worked in classrooms with children with severe disabilities for eight years and was burntout by the lack of growth in schools, heavy curriculum pushdown, and the mountain of paperwork she was required to complete as a special education teacher.  So, she and another teacher began a small classroom garden. With the success of the garden and the enthusiasm and learning by the kids,  Rachel knew that she wanted to continue this momentum and introduce children to outdoor play-based learning. She then found a YouTube video of children playing in a forest as part of a forest kindergarten program and began researching how to do the same in Arkansas.

Rachel discussed her lack of ability to find an organization to support her plan for a nature preschool with a neighbor during their evening walks with their toddlers. This neighbor, Emily English, thought of Ferncliff and brought the idea to her next think-tank meeting at Ferncliff.

“Within two days of their meeting, David Gill called me to discuss the nature school idea and said ‘Let’s do it!’ That was eight and half years ago,” said Rachel. “We focus on mindfulness, curiosity, asking questions bigger than ourselves, and caring for creatures and nature.” said Rachel, “which perfectly aligns with the values of Ferncliff and what they were already doing.” Rachel serves as the director of the Ferncliff Nature Preschool, the first licensed nature preschool program in Arkansas.

Since Rachel opened the program in the fall of 2016, she has led more than 185 students ages 3-5 in learning and playing in the natural world. In May, she was named the Outstanding Environmental Educator of 2024 for Formal Education by the Arkansas Environmental Education Association.

As a pioneer of nature-based learning in Arkansas, Rachel has tirelessly advocated for this type of education model. Her commitment to ‘doing education differently’ can be seen through the expansion of nature-based programs, the growth of the Ferncliff Nature Preschool, and her dedication to her students.

Click here to learn more about the Ferncliff Nature Preschool.