The people beside them matter.
Children learn from more than lessons. They learn from the people who encourage them, challenge them, share what they know, and work alongside them.
Meet Jackie…
I'm Jackie, founder and lead Mentor at The Village Foundry. My path here has been shaped by a love of creating, years of homeschooling and learning alongside my own children, and a life increasingly centered around making, growing, caring for animals, and learning how much can be accomplished when you're willing to figure things out.
I believe children deserve adults who take their ideas seriously, trust them with meaningful responsibility, and give them enough room to discover what they can do for themselves. At the Foundry, my role isn't to have every answer. It's to work alongside children, share what I know, ask good questions, and help them develop the confidence to keep learning long after they leave here.
B.S. Fashion & Textile Technology
Bringing experience in textiles, sewing, design, construction, and creative problem-solving.
Certified Schoolyard Wildlife Educator — Project WILD
Supporting hands-on environmental education, observation, stewardship, and wildlife learning.
Homesteading & Animal Husbandry
Five years of experience with from-scratch cooking, food preservation, animal husbandry, and the everyday work of a small homestead.
Founder of Wildlings Farm + Folk
More than a year of producing and selling handmade baked goods and natural body care through our farmstand.
Homeschool Parent
Firsthand experience creating meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities while supporting children with different strengths, interests, and learning styles.
Meet Katelin…
I’m Katelin. A lifelong learner, creative, and mother who believes children learn best when they’re given the freedom to be curious, ask questions, get their hands messy, and experience the world around them.
My own journey into alternative education began through homeschooling and a desire to create something different—a space where children can explore their interests, develop confidence, connect with nature and one another, and simply be themselves. I’m especially passionate about art, creativity, nature-based learning, and creating experiences that invite children to see the world with wonder.
The Village Foundry grew from a shared belief that learning doesn’t have to fit inside a traditional classroom. It can happen through making, exploring, creating, wondering, and gathering together. I’m excited to help build a community where children and families feel known, supported, and inspired to learn alongside one another.
Environmental Education — Trout Lake Nature Center
Experience working in a nature-centered educational environment, helping children engage with wildlife, ecology, and the natural world through observation, exploration, and hands-on experiences.
Certified Schoolyard Wildlife Educator — Project WILD
Training in hands-on wildlife education that encourages children to observe closely, ask questions, understand ecosystems, and develop a sense of stewardship for the world around them.
Homeschooling & Alternative Education
Firsthand experience creating learning opportunities beyond the traditional classroom, allowing curiosity, exploration, creativity, and children’s individual interests to help guide the learning process.
Art & Creative Learning
A lifelong creative with a passion for giving children the freedom to experiment with materials, express their ideas, and develop confidence through making and creating.