Kelly Villarruel
Reaching Nature Connection Conference Faculty
Kelly (she/her) grew up in Santa Barbara, CA and developed an intimate knowledge and love of the area while roaming the land throughout her childhood. Kelly has 23 years of experience in the field of early childhood education, working in preschool and home day care settings as well as wilderness and nature immersion programs. Kelly holds a degree in Environmental Horticulture with an emphasis on restoration and regeneration. Kelly is the lead mentor for Wilderness Youth Project’s preschool program, Chickadees, where she shares her remarkable skills as both a naturalist and early childhood educator with her community. She uses her awareness, knowledge, and experience to guide scores of young ones into a deep and lasting relationship with the natural world, all while mentoring numerous staff and volunteers each year.
Kelly is a co-founder of the annual Reaching Nature Connection Conference and the co-founder of The Academy of Forest Kindergarten Teachers. She lives in the beautiful Santa Barbara mountains, where she can be found communing with her neighbor, “Old One Eye” the one-eyed raccoon, and brewing elderberry wine. Kelly is a mother of three and the proud grandmother of a new baby boy.
