Marie O'Reilly, Nature Preschool Lead

Marie came to believe that the seeds for peaceful and sustainable societies can be sown in early childhood through play-based nature immersion—and the self-regulation, empathy, and creativity it promotes.

Marie O’Reilly joined the Boston Outdoor Preschool Network as a Lead Teacher in 2022. Marie’s journey to nature-based education began when she saw the transformative effect that BOPN had on her own two children. Her cautious older child became more resilient, confident in her body, and ready to take calculated risks. Her younger child’s social and cognitive skills expanded dramatically. Both experienced joy, wonder, and a place of calm every day.

After a decade working in international peacebuilding, Marie came to believe that the seeds for peaceful and sustainable societies can be sown in early childhood through play-based nature immersion—and the self-regulation, empathy, and creativity it promotes. She is committed to bringing social, emotional, and environmental connectivity to more children in the BOPN community and beyond.

Marie earned her Master’s in International Affairs at Columbia University and holds an MA in International Security and Conflict Resolution from Dublin City University. She has studied child development, early childhood curriculum, and child guidance and classroom management at Middlesex Community College. Marie previously taught elementary-aged children at the Centre for Talented Youth in Ireland and has guided adolescents at residential summer camps. She speaks German, French, and Irish. 

You can read more about Marie’s teaching philosophy here and adventures in her outdoor classroom here.