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Dr. Rachel A. Larimore is an educator, consultant, speaker, researcher, and author. Her work focuses on the intentional integration of nature to support young children’s holistic development by learning with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. She has written multiple books including Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool, Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning, and Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-based Classrooms in Pre-k Through 3rd Grade. Rachel is the founder and Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning, an organization focused on helping early childhood educators start nature-based schools or add nature-based approaches into their existing program. Prior to founding Samara, she spent more than a decade starting and directing one of the first nature-based preschools in the United States.

Dr. Rachel A. Larimore is an educator, speaker, consultant, and author of four books including Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool, Preschool Beyond Walls: Blending Early Childhood Education and Nature-Based Learning, and Evaluating Natureness: Measuring the Quality of Nature-based Classrooms in Pre-k Through 3rd Grade. Her passion, expertise, and work focuses on the intentional integration of nature to support young children’s holistic development by learning with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives.Through Samara Early Learning, she helps early childhood educators start nature-based schools or add nature-based approaches into their existing programs. 

Prior to establishing Samara Early Learning, Rachel founded one of the nation’s earliest nature-based preschools at Chippewa Nature Center (CNC) in Midland, MI. The creation of the preschool in 2007 was part of her 15-year tenure as the Director of Education. She continued as the director of the program until 2016 when, at her departure, the program served 140 children each year through public and private funding sources. In her tenure at CNC she also co-chaired the Nature Center’s $6 million capital expansion project, which was completed in 2010. The expansion included an approximately 5,000 square foot LEED Gold Certified preschool building. During her time at CNC, Rachel led the creation of a partnership with Bullock Creek Schools to create a nature-based kindergarten and first grade within the public school system.

Rachel serves on the advisory board of the Natural Start Alliance, a professional association supporting nature-based educators. She also served on the committee to write the Natural Start Alliance’s Nature-Based Preschool Professional Practice Guidebook, a book which describes how nature-based educators can offer programs that are safe, effective, and inclusive. 

Rachel earned her Ph.D. at Michigan State University’s Department of Teacher Education; her M.A. in Park and Recreation Administration from Central Michigan University; and her B.S. in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism, with an emphasis in interpretation, from Colorado State University.

Rachel has been recognized for her work by various organizations including the National Association for Interpretation Region 4’s in 2012 with the “Master Interpretive Manager” recognition; First State Bank’s “RUBY Award” in 2013 for professionals under the age of 40; and Exchange Magazine in 2015 with the “Promising Early Care and Education Leader” award. 

*Chief Visionary because someone in the organization must stay focused on the overall purpose, or the WHY, of the work being done.

Dr. Rachel Larimore is an educator, speaker, consultant, and author. Her work focuses on the intentional integration of nature to support young children’s holistic development by learning with nature to expand their worlds and live rich, full lives. As the Chief Visionary of Samara Early Learning, she helps educators looking to establish nature-based schools or add nature-based approaches in their existing program. Rachel’s passion for and approach to early childhood education is largely inspired by her own childhood playing in the woods on her family farm in Central Illinois. Of course, that was a few years ago as she’s spent nearly 30 years working in environmental and nature-based education. This includes starting and, for more than ten years, directing one of the earliest nature-based preschools in the U.S. If you haven't yet, be sure to check out Rachel’s books including Establishing a Nature-Based Preschool; Preschool Beyond Walls; and her most recent–Evaluating Natureness.