Amanda Carney, Lead Teacher
“Growing up in Nebraska, being outside was always part of my childhood, and that has never left me.”
I earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and spent years in operations and logistics for startups in New York City and the Bay Area, working across industries from banking and fashion to hospitality and tech.
After my son was born I spent three years at home with him. That time deepened something that becoming a mother had already started in me: a serious curiosity about how children learn and grow.
Watching my son spend two years as a preschooler at BOPN made it clear that forest school was right for our family, and when it came time to go back to work, I knew I didn't want to return to spreadsheets and long hours at a computer. Teaching felt like the natural next step.
Over the past three years teaching with BOPN, I have been able to deepen and formalize that knowledge through credentialing. I hold a Child Development Associate credential and Lead Teacher certification in Infant/Toddler Care, a Teacher certification for preschool, and am currently working toward my Director I License.
Growing up in Nebraska, being outside was always part of my childhood, and that has never left me. Some of my favorite things to do in the forest are looking for bugs, collecting smooth barkless sticks, building forts, and just noticing nature. I also enjoy arts and crafts and nature photography.
