Pam Mandigo is an experienced forest school teacher with a deep love of the outdoors, especially the Blue Ridge Mountains. A former public school teacher, she felt conflicted being in the school system because it was so removed from the natural world– and so removed from what the best research tells us about child development. Kids (and adults) need more time outside, more time for free play, more mixed-age socialization, and more connection to their community. When her daughter was born, she began exploring alternatives to the traditional school system, because she believed children deserve so much more.

Pam lives in Culpeper with her husband and their daughter, plus 2 dogs and a flock of chickens. When she is not playing outside with her family, she loves to garden and… come to think of it, she’s always playing outside.

Colleagues, and the parents of her students, describe her as a gentle soul who loves kids and loves teaching. She’s laid back about most things, except your child’s safety: she is certified in CPR and Wilderness First Aid. So just in case something happens out there (nothing is going to happen out there, mom!), she knows what to do.