Get to Know our Staff!

About Forest Explorers Director Shannon Earle

Shannon has an MS in Natural Resources and Environment with a focus on Environmental Education (EE). She's been developing and teaching EE programs for over 25 years. Before starting Forest Explorers, she taught the Forest Kindergarten class outdoors year-round at the Audubon Nature Preschool. Her experience also includes eight years managing an education and training program for Conservation International, three years creating an EE program for the Monte Alto Forest Reserve in Costa Rica and a season as a park ranger in Canyonlands NP in Utah. She is also a children's author. Shannon loves any kind of adventure, camping, gardening, foraging, and storytelling. 

She is the proud winner of the 2022 Takoma Foundation Azalea Award for Youth Leader.

About Forest Explorers Teacher Amelia McLaughlin

Amelia, a Takoma Park native and graduate of Sandy Spring Friends School, holds a B.A. in history and political science from Guildford College, a teaching certificate in early childhood education from Montgomery College, as well as a 200 RYT from Radiant Child Yoga. She has spent the last seventeen summers at a play-based, anti-oppression, outdoor summer camp, first as a camper, then a counselor and finally as a co-director for five summers. Amelia has spent the last seven years as a Nature Preschool teacher and On-Site Director at Audubon Nature Preschool, and continues to work with both ANS and her former camp on committees dedicated to examining DEAI practices. Amelia enjoys board games, exploring museums, watching documentaries, hanging with her cat named Tofu and finding new spots to hike in the DMV!