Hello! I’m Amanda Bell, owner and director of Santa Cruz Forest School.   ​

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Having put my heart into our forest school program since 2016, I have seen how much the children love it, year after year.  Once parents realize how free play in nature is helping their children to thrive - physically, emotionally, and socially - they love it too!

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A natural storyteller, I find myself engaging joyfully with the children around picture books, oral stories, and spontaneous creativity.  I am also curious and have a knack for finding beautiful and interesting things in nature to share.

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​The continuation of learning that occurs naturally when you spend time outside is so valuable.  During our time together, we name trees, plants, animals, mushrooms and birds when we see them or hear them.  We explore tidepools, creeks, and rivers during field trips.  My naturalist knowledge has become strong with this practice, and I love to share it with the children.  

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I studied  Geology in college, touring natural spaces, learning natural history, and taking every field trip class offered.  I earned a B.S. from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a M.S. at the Ohio State University.

My sweet family and I moved to California from Columbus, Ohio in 2011.  Our kids are now in high school and college.  We live in Scotts Valley with our love dog named Princess Leia.