Heather Byczkowski, Teacher

Heather's journey as an educator has always been deeply intertwined with the natural world.

For the past five years, she has thrived as a preschool teacher, embracing the philosophy that children learn best through playful exploration of their surroundings.

When she discovered the Boston Outdoor Preschool Network (BOPN), she immediately felt a connection; she realized that BOPN was exactly the kind of environment she had been seeking—one that fully embraces nature-based, play-based education.

What drew Heather to BOPN was the authentic commitment to outdoor learning. The curriculum's focus on open-ended, reflective questions that encourage children to learn from their own experiences resonated deeply with her teaching philosophy. She was inspired by the idea of children being able to immerse themselves in nature every day, learning through direct interaction with the world around them. Heather is thrilled at the prospect of joining a community where the wonders of the natural world are integral to every aspect of the learning experience.

Heather's creative spirit shines through in her teaching, as she loves incorporating natural materials into her classroom activities. Whether it's mixing powdered paint with rainwater to create vibrant colors, crafting with sticks and leaves, or setting up plexiglass on rainy days for the children to observe worms up close, she finds endless inspiration in the outdoors. With her background in early childhood education and her passion for nature, Heather is eager to contribute her skills and enthusiasm to BOPN, where she knows she will continue to grow and inspire her students in the beauty of the natural world.