Our Mentors Make All the Difference!

Our teachers have decades of experience and are committed to helping kids flourish, mentally, emotionally and physically. Their love of the outdoors and their love of teaching is infectious.

​And it shows.

Jessica Labbe, she/her/hers

Program Ambassador,
​Owner of the Village Nest Cooperative

Jessica Labbe is a Forest Preschool Educator/Ambassador committed to environmental education and improving early childhood development through nature-based exploration.  She holds a BA in Early Child Education and worked with preschool-aged children in the outdoors for 15 + years before opening the Village Nest in 2020. 

​Jessica has a passion for inspiring imaginative play and is often telling stories about unicorns and mermaids.  

​During her time off you can find her on nature walks with her dog Kota, kayaking, enjoying the beach, camping, or somewhere in her garden.

Nora Happny, she/her/hers

Assistant Program & Marketing Ambassador

Nora Happny is an outdoor enthusiast who spent three years in Bergen, Norway studying forest preschools. Her Master’s thesis, “A Breath of Fresh Air” is one of the few qualitative studies of Norwegian preschools written in English. Prior to that she earned a BA in sociology and studio art from the College of the Holy Cross where she played Division one field hockey. For the past 15+ years Nora has taught preschool on both the East and West coasts as well as coached field hockey and lacrosse both locally and internationally.
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Nora loves how working at the Village Nest gives her a chance to share her knowledge of the Scandinavian "friluftsliv" way. She particularly enjoys seeing the children grow to appreciate and respect nature through all seasons especially while “Norwegian Napping” in hammocks with sleeping bags because it’s so hygge!

When not in the woods Nora promotes local artists and businesses through her marketing company Just Ask Nora. She lives in a converted school bus named Homer with her partner Alexander and his sweet dog.

Bash Dubois, he/they/them

Facilities Manager

Bash studied Natural Resources while living in Vermont and spent several years as a Direct Support Professional supporting individuals of all ages with developmental uniqueness in their homes and community.


Bash loves taking everyone out on all sorts of adventures and when there is snow on the ground he turns into a penguin – rolling and playing in the snow with the kids. He also loves cleaning up after all our mess, which comes is very handy in a forest school.


At home Bash loves riding bikes all day everyday (especially in “bad” weather), print making, and playing the drums.

Katie Clark, she/her/hers

Social Emotional Support Leader

Katie was born and raised in Maine, and currently resides in Kittery. In 2001, Katie graduated from R. W. Traip Academy. For 20 + years now, Katie has been working directly with animals, the elderly, young adults, and children. Incorporating a passion for all living things and enriching the lives of others along her way. Katie has worked in many environments and has “worn many different hats” (at times wearing multiple hats simultaneously).

Katie lives by the statement “It Takes A Village”, and is so glad to be part of  the family at Village Nest.  When she is in the classroom you will often find Katie fostering the growth of her student’s emotional intelligence. Katie finds a “learning moment” in all aspects of the day, and uses each moment to incorporate wholesome tools for understanding and managing emotions. 

Katie is grateful that she has such a wonderful work/life balance, and is able to go from mom to teacher, and back again without giving less of herself to either. Katie wears many hats (simultaneously) at home too, where she lives with her teenaged, triplet daughters, her fiance, Jeff, and their deaf dog, Max.

Caroline Compano, she/her/hers

Mentor in the PreK-1 Microschool Classroom

Caroline was born and raised in the area and spent most of her childhood playing outside at camps, before getting dual degrees in Economics and Environmental Studies. While studying, she spent most of her time working on a farm with children and livestock.

After graduating, she came back to the seacoast and found VNC. Caroline is passionate about the environment, learning/teaching, and being active; so naturally VNC is a perfect fit for her! She loves to learn all that she can and hopes to share that enthusiasm with others.
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When she’s not outside she’s probably playing with her crazy printed cat - Princess Zara, cycling, skiing, or exploring something new to her.

Bryana Amsden, she/her/hers

Mentor in the Wild Things Classroom

Bryana was born and raised in Maine with a degree in Environmental Science from Endicott College. She fell in love with outdoor education by interning at both the Hotchkiss School’s Environmental Summer Portals and at Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center. Since then, Bryana has spent time working in many different childcare settings, such as Mass Audubon Blue Hills and Mad Science summer camps, nannying, after school care, and in Special Education as an Educational Technician. 

Bryana is thrilled to be able to finally combine her education experience with the outdoors at VNC! She absolutely loves going on hikes with the kiddos, doing crafts, reading stories, and making them laugh!

In her spare time, she spends most of her time eating hummus and reading (or, more likely, watching The Office). She has also been dabbling in painting and hiking! Bryana lives with her partner, Alexander, their dog, Layla, and two cats, Dobby and Remy.

Hollis Woodward, he/him/his

Mentor in the Wild Things Classroom

​Born and raised in New England, Hollis is currently studying psychology and geography at the University of New Hampshire. He loves learning, creating, and exploring, and brings an odd collection of skills to The Nest. He has held a wide variety of jobs and volunteer positions over the years, including everything from retail and food service to firefighting, EMS, hazardous materials auditing, and of course, childcare. Each job and skill provides new opportunities for further learning - and now teaching!

Hollis best incorporates his love of creativity at work by building with the kids. From temporary forts to more permanent structures, he enjoys working with his hands to create new and challenging play opportunities. Often, the children pitch him their best ideas for fun and he does his best to bring their visions to life. He also has a penchant for organization and enjoys creating new spaces for everyone and everything. He's convinced wearing matching clothes helps!

​At home, Hollis enjoys working on his own projects including: ceramics, woodworking, resin casting, and jewlery making. Beyond that, most of his free time is spent with his overly energetic dog, Hopper and on weekends, they love to explore trails. Hopper runs to his little heart's content, while Hollis enjoys the relative peace and quiet. Once home, the pair loves to curl up and take it easy.

Julia Dalton, (she/her/hers)

Mentor in the Creepy Crawlies Classrom

Julia was raised in the coastal town of Falmouth, MA where her wild ways were nurtured through many years spent playing by the ocean. Enthusiastic about connecting children to the same nature-filled childhood she once had, she has worked at various different nature schools around New England over the past 7 years.

​She holds a BS in environmental conservation and sustainability with a concentration in environmental education and has completed a 27-month nature apprenticeship through the Wildwood Path. In addition to her education, Julia is Wilderness First Aid certified, has attended the Vermont Art of Mentoring for three years, and spent her college years leading hiking and backpacking trips in the White Mountains of NH.

At VNC Julia loves telling imaginative stories, singing, and watching the seasons change with the children. She is inspired by a young child’s sense of play and curiosity and loves to teach the power of empathy and slowing down. 

When not in the woods Julia also spends her time in the woods! She loves birding, woodworking, dancing, cross country skiing, gardening, singing, animal tracking, herbalism, hanging out with her ducks, and learning how to speak Scottish Gaelic.

Kyla Roselani, she/her/hers​

Mentor in the Creepy Crawlies Classroom

Kyla is a fun, outgoing and unique individual who has been working with kids in multiple settings. She has nannied for multiple families since she was a teenager and worked at the Child Development Center on the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for the past four years. She is always searching for new opportunities and decided to join the Village Nest Cooperative family in the winter of 2021.

Her passion lies in teaching kids through song, dance and games. She is always willing to try new things with her students and is always researching to find different activities.

​When she is not working you can find her singing at local karaoke bars, writing on her iPad or hanging out with her family and friends. She also works weekends at Torrid empowering plus size women as a sales associate.

Lauren Stirling, she/her/hers

Substitute Mentor

Lauren was born and raised in Portsmouth, NH where she spent most of her childhood playing and exploring in her mother’s gardens. She received a BA in Fine Arts and a teaching certificate before joining the Village Nest. 

​Lauren has a passion for teaching in nature with nature; getting messy, making mud pies, building forts every day is a new adventure. 

Outside of work Lauren enjoys being a new mom, spending time with her family, working on her art, camping, skiing, and trips to the beach.

Betsy Blaisdell Sheppard, she/her/hers

Program Enabler & 
​Preschool/Microschool Mom

Betsy holds a BS in Environmental Science and an MBA.  She has a 20+ year career in corporate environmental responsibility that supports the Village Nest’s mission to build a connection between nature and the next generation.  

Betsy ensures that all members of the Village Nest are fully supported with all the resources they need to thrive. Having two very happy kids in the preschool and microschool,  she is extremely proud of what we do and spends a large amount of time bragging about our program to anyone that will listen. 
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Betsy loves skiing, hiking, sailing, climbing and generally any outdoor activity with her husband, kids and dog “Pilot”.  

Julie Sheehan, she/her/hers

Health Care Consultant & Microschool Mom

Julie has a Bachelor of science in nursing and has been a nurse in the area for quite some time. She also has had her kids at some version of the outdoor school since 2017 and still remembers how it felt when she got the dreaded lengthy gear list after enrolling her son.

​Over the years she has learned how to dress her kids appropriately. Her outreach to new parents helps facilitate the transition process for parents and kids as well as recommend which brands are worth spending the extra money for!

Julie loves her family, Blaze hot yoga, skiing with her boys and being comfortable in all kinds of weather!