Natalie O’Brien, Intern

Natalie loves to work alongside children while they learn key skills in their early years, while supporting them in any way she can along the way. 

Nature is a sanctuary for Natalie, having been raised in the depths of the generation that is becoming increasingly more reliant on technology. Throughout her life so far, she has found herself retreating to nature for solace, spending summers on the beach, falls embracing the beauty of the foliage on the trees, winter playing in the snow despite her age, and spring admiring the signs of new life in the blooming plants and returning wildlife. 

In one of her first formal experiences working with children, she was given the nickname of “The Baby Whisperer” for her ability to connect with the children in a meaningful way and guide them through various challenges they may face. She has always loved working with children, but it wasn’t until recently that she realized she wanted to pursue early education more formally. This past summer, she worked as a camp counselor at the Wellfleet Bay Nature Camp, where she officially realized her passion for early education. She loves to work alongside children while they learn key skills in their early years, while supporting them in any way she can along the way. 

She is currently doing a gap year to explore career paths and engage more deeply with her passions for the environment and early education. Along with that, she has been participating in lots of nature-based activities, such as camping, hiking, ice fishing, dog sledding, and cross-country skiing. Highlights from those experiences in her gap year so far include embarking on a 5-day canoe trip of the St. Croix River on the United States-Canada border, where she had the opportunity to leave technology behind and fully embrace what nature has to offer. 

When she is not at the Wellesley location substituting, or at the Milton location, Natalie can be found crocheting, exercising, or going on nature-based mindfulness walks. 

Natalie is thrilled to be doing an internship at the Boston Outdoor Preschool Network and can’t wait for what the rest of her time at BOPN brings.