Meet Emily

Emily smiling in front of cherry blossom trees

Hi there!

It's nice to meet you!

My name is Emily Bell (my littlest friends typically call me "Emmo" or "Momo"), and I'm a local preschool teacher here in Arlington, VA. One of my favorite parts of my job is getting into the dirt with the kids! I’ve never met so many people who got excited about seeing a worm.

This project is inspired by my toddlers, who express immeasurable curiosity about the world around them. I seek to capitalize on delight and wonder inside and outside the classroom. The Nature Network is designed to extend this opportunity; every kid should be able to be fully immersed in the learning experience.

I was looking for a way to work with children outdoors as a full-time job, but many outdoor schools are still simply that--schools. As much as I love the school setting, I found myself missing something. With encouragement from some parents (both my own and my students'), I began brainstorming ideas of how I could combine my interest in child development with my love of nature, and the Nature Network was born!

nature enthusiast

Chasing Wonder

"Can we stop so I can look at that plant really quick?" is not an uncommon phrase in my vocabulary. (If I'm driving by myself, I just pull over.) I don't like to rush myself--I like to explore by touch and take pictures from multiple angles so I can remember the experience, and remember enough to do more research later on. More than one of my notebooks contain plant descriptions and rough diagrams. My phone camera mostly consists of bugs and flowers, and I have multiple full photo albums with pictures and plant specimens carefully gathered, pressed, preserved, and labeled. I'm driven by the knowledge that I will never see the full picture, I will never know all there is to know, but I will learn everything that I can. I've found beauty in slowing down and embracing the questions, and love to share that with others, especially in our fast-paced world.

passionate caretaker

Symbiosis

Symbiosis refers to the phenomenon in which two living things coexist and mutually benefit from the partnership. I try to care for other living organisms (plants, animals, and people) in this way. I marvel that I get to have the opportunity to be in relationship with them and in turn receive joy and physical or emotional support. I had the privilege of being a foster parent in a temporary, small-group-home setting, and though it is very different from being a teacher, I find there are similar elements behind the "why." I learned a lot about what it means to love others and support their growth. I've learned that strong connections and networks can build lasting growth and change. And I think in some ways, caring for our world isn't that different than caring for its inhabitants.

lifelong educator

Nature as a Classroom

There is so much to learn from nature. Not only can we incorporate basic concepts such as numbers, shapes, colors, and textures in addition to rote scientific anatomy and facts, the natural world is full of observable processes that demonstrate change over time. There are also philosophical meanings that can be drawn from nature, such as balance and patience.

I've known teaching will be my career, but I knew I wanted at least part of my teaching to take place in a nontraditional classroom--particularly somewhere in the open air.