Kayla Phillips

3rd Grade Teacher

I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Sugar Maple Nature School team as a 3rd grade teacher! I am very passionate about environmental education and outdoor learning. With students, I strive to instill excitement for life-long learning and a sense of wonder and awe of the world around us. I hold strong in my duty as an educator to encourage the pursuit of curiosities and creativity as we engage in inquiry-based, experiential learning.

I am a graduate of UW-Madison with a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Environmental Studies. I have worked in various outdoor education positions in both Wisconsin and Wyoming, most recently as a Field Instructor with Teton Science Schools where I taught and explored with students in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Since returning to Wisconsin, I have worked as a substitute teacher where I gained valuable classroom experience teaching both general and special education students. These unique teaching experiences have shaped me into an educator that is excited to engage students in inquiry-based, outdoor learning at Sugar Maple Nature School.

My family fostered a love for nature very early on in my life as we spent time camping in Wisconsin State Parks, canoeing, hiking, and catching frogs at my grandparent’s property in Upper Michigan, and exploring National Parks and public lands! My favorite family trips were spent hiking in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado. In my free time, I enjoy birdwatching, hiking, reading, crocheting, downhill skiing, and of course planning my next trip to the mountains!