Outdoor Education Programs for Children in VA and SC
PALMYRA STAFF
Interested in working with children outdoors every week on the Palmyra VFS team? Email Bekah for opportunities at bekah@valleyforestschool.com
REGAN ADAMS
Program Coordinator- Palmyra
Administrative Assistant
Forest Name- Mrs. Huckleberry
Regan came to VFS first as a parent of a VFS student and has been hooked ever since! She got her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Longwood University and spent five years in public education classrooms before making the transition to stay at home with her daughter. Her love of the outdoors has always been present, but it was really ignited when she moved to Alaska for her husband's first Air Force assignment. Regan is passionate not only about her own childrens' love of learning and love of the outdoors, but also sharing that with her students. When she isn't spending time outside with her family, she loves to learn new things, like spoon-carving, paper-making, or quilting! Regan is certified in Wilderness First And and adult/child CPR.
CAITLIN BIAS
Lead Instructor- Palmyra
Forest Name- Mrs. Rock
A born and raised West Virginian. Caitlin’s childhood exposed her to fishing, foraging, hunting, and other forms of seasonal outdoor recreation. Privileged to travel the continental United States in her adolescence, Caitlin was in awe of the landscape’s variety and vastness. These journeys and their cherished memories led her to receive a Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Resources from West Virginia University. Caitlin finds the wonders of nature to be self humbling and appreciates its’ “fly by the seat of your pants” detours.
Her background with youth includes prolonged internships with BOPARC in Morgantown, West Virginia where she designed and implemented nature education and recreational activities for camps, as well as partnering locally with FYSA to coach seasonally. Caitlin’s most rewarding job has been homeschooling her daughter.
Caitlin enjoys exploring with her husband, kiddo, and Australian Shepherds. These adventures usually include fauna and flora identification (“Mom, can I eat this?”), frequent fishing line repairs, and the occasional lost ore. True to her Mountaineer roots, Caitlin often has pepperoni rolls and a surplus of baked goods on hand. She adamantly believes dirty feet and tangly hair are a sign of a good day.
Caitlin is trained in Wilderness First Aid and CPR.
MADDIE VOLLMER
Lead Instructor- Palmyra
Forest Name- Mrs. Willow
Maddie was raised in Palmyra, Virgnia, and she has always loved the farm life. She grew up horseback riding and tending to a variety of farm animals including chickens, goats, donkeys, bunnies to name a few. Getting married young and building a family here was absolute blessing, because she can continue to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle. She and her husband Nate have two beautiful girls, Sadie and Delaney, ages 5 and 3. Maddie has a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from Liberty University, and loves connecting with people through any and all creative means. She has been teaching art for kindergarten through high school at a homeschooling co-op for 3 years now, and she finds so much joy in seeing her students’ imagination come to life. Many times she will take her students outside with their sketchbooks to capture the beauty of nature. From a young age, fitness has always been a huge part of her life as well. Maddie is passionate about running, road cycling, and hiking! To her, it is always refreshing and rewarding to spend time breathing in the fresh air and connecting with nature by exercising outside.
BEKAH QUIRIN
Executive Director
Forest Name- Mrs. Luna
Bekah started Valley Forest School in 2019 after developing a passion for immersing children of all ages in nature. Bekah has a bachelors degree in Outdoor Leadership from North Greenville University where she spent much of her time studying the psychology of children in the outdoors. Her desire to start a Forest School in America grew stronger after she and her husband spent 6 months thru hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2017 with their 1 year old daughter, Ellie. In 2018 they rode their bikes from Canada to Mexico. Bekah has been a Wilderness First Responder for 6 years. She has 13 years of outdoor guiding experience across the country serving youth to senior adults from the Carolinas, to the coast of Virginia, to the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Bekah has over 1,000 logged days and nights of backcountry travel, and more than 600 of those are with children.
Contact Bekah: bekah@valleyforestschool.com
DERRICK QUIRIN
Director of Operations
Forest Name- Mountain Goat
Derrick grew up in the Blue Ridge mountains where his love for the outdoors was fostered by his parents from a young age. From hiking to mountain biking to sailing, he gained thousands of hours of experience outdoors before reaching the age of 10! His passion for guiding children outdoors comes from his own experiences outdoors as a child. He graduated in 2014 from North Greenville University with a degree in Outdoor Leadership. His direct observations of the benefits of immersing children outdoors grew strong when he thru hiked the Appalachian Trail and rode his bike from Canada to Mexico with his family. He has 13 years of experience working across America as a summer camp counselor, mountaineering/rafting/climbing guide, and was the Outdoor Adventure Manager for all of The Cliffs locations in the Carolinas. He has been a Wilderness First Responder for 6 years.
Contact Derrick: derrick@valleyforestschool.com