Our Mission

Firefly Forest School provides meaningful and immersive nature-based learning experiences for the children of Southeast Michigan through enrichment programming at nature preserves in the metro Detroit area.

We believe that childhood is a time of exploration, discovery, curiosity, and wonder, and that there is no better classroom than the natural world.

We believe that a good enrichment program is a space for families to build community, for children to ignite their sense of wonder and love of learning, and for all of us to help in creating a better world for the next generation.

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Our Staff

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Bailey Lininger, Director

Bailey is the director and owner of Firefly Forest School, and connecting children to nature is her life’s work. Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Bailey has been playing in the creeks and forests of this area since she was a little kid herself! Bailey has over fifteen years of experience in childcare and ten years of experience in experiential, environmental, and early childhood education. She holds a Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Washington and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Environmental Humanities from Whitman College. She has worked as a Lead Preschool Teacher at Small Wonders School, a Camp Director at Tamarack Camps, an Educator at IslandWood, and most recently as the Program Coordinator at Detroit Audubon. Bailey holds a Wilderness First Responder certification from the National Outdoor Leadership School and has maintained this certification for over ten years, in addition to Infant, Child, and Adult CPR/AED. She is an active member of the Michigan Association of Environmental and Outdoor Education and the North American Association for Environmental Education. When she isn’t playing outside, Bailey likes to cook, bake, garden, and sew. She lives in an old green farmhouse in Ferndale with her husband, two sons, and dog.

 
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Erin Margolis, Assistant Director

Erin is a true explorer and a lover of all things outdoors. She grew up camping, horseback riding and playing outside in all seasons. From swimming in lakes to playing in the snow she learned quickly of her passion for the outdoors and her desire to share that passion with others. Erin continues to find her greatest joy outside, and you will likely find her snowboarding, hiking a trail, or rock climbing. Graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in elementary education has brought Erin into many classrooms, but she has always felt that she wanted to expand her classroom to the world around us. Erin has been with Firefly Forest School since the start in 2019!


 

Loralee Grace,
Fox & Chickadee Class Teacher

Loralee has over 15 years of varied childcare experience and a lifelong connection with the outdoors. She grew up camping extensively across America, started babysitting at age 11, and went on to nanny part-time, including Art Tutoring students in New Zealand during one of many lives abroad. Being a triple water sign she is an especially nurturing, genuinely sweet human, offering kind words and encouragement to your littles. Her spirit is overjoyed ushering your little ones through the Firefly Forest School experience! Outside the forest school Loralee is a full-time freelance artist and film production designer! In her free time, she enjoys going to art openings, ice skating, roller skating, and spending time with her fluffy cat named Squish.

 

Ashley Damaske,
Chickadee Class Teacher

Ashley finds endless inspiration and joy in working with children and she feels most at home outside in nature. As a lifelong learner herself, she is continuously curious about the natural world, and eager to explore. Graduating from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education has led her to work as a Lead preschool teacher in a Reggio-inspired public school program, a Waldorf parent-child educator and her most gratifying venture, raising her two beautiful children (one of which is a Firefly Grad!)

Some of Ashley’s favorite past times are visiting parks and restaurants in the Detroit area, spending time in the backyard with her husband and kids, listening to podcasts, tending to her greenhouse plants and book club reading.

 

Katy Schoetzow,
Coyote & Hawk Class Teacher

When Katy was in fourth grade she wanted to live in a tree house when she grew up. She still wants that. But for now she’ll settle for spending as much time outside as possible. In addition to learning alongside the little ones at Firefly, Katy is a Master Teaching Artist for Detroit Wolf Trap, Treasurer of The Ringwald Theatre in Ferndale, and mother of three.

 

Emily Rock,
Chickadee & Fox Class Teacher

Coming from a Reggio Emilia Forest School in Southern California, Emily has spent the last two years leading classes at lagoons, beaches, and park preservations throughout San Diego. She has 9 years of experience in various forms of informal education from before/after school programs, daycare/preschools, day camps, as well as residential camps in Julian, California. She holds a degree in English Literature from Cal Poly Pomona. Learning through play is a lifestyle that Emily enthusiastically embraces, and in her free time she enjoys painting, baking, and playing her ukulele.