Sarah Doyle
Co-Director
I am thrilled to be returning to Forest Friends this year and so lucky to be working with the Forest Friends team. I have enjoyed seeing our Forest Friends flourish in this amazing place and look forward to this school year. My role is to support the families, the teachers, and our Forest Friends.
I grew up in New England, lived in Phoenix, AZ for many years, and returned to New England 15 years ago to raise my family. I live in Winchester with my partner and three children.
I am the Education Director at Wright-Locke Farm and an adjunct professor of Education and Sociology at several area universities. In some form, I have been an educator for 25 years because I always love to learn!
Megan Recupero
Co-Director
Monday-Thursday Co-Teacher
After teaching 3rd grade (indoors) for 11 years, Megan transitioned to teaching children ages 18 months to age 8 outdoors and writing curriculum for Tinkergarten. Megan also taught STEM and robotics classes for kids PreK- 8th grade and science preschool. She holds a M. Ed in Elementary Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA and a B.A. in English from Middlebury College. Her time with Tinkergarten and teaching preschool contributed to her philosophy that young children learn best through a play-based approach that allows them to guide their learning with support from teachers and the environment. This is her 2nd year as a teaching Forest Friends.
Growing up in Vermont nurtured Megan’s love for spending time outdoors and on farms. She lives in Arlington with husband and two sons. Her favorite outdoor activities include cross-country skiing, sailing, paddling, and gardening.
Rachel Curtin
Friday Co-Teacher
I’m so happy to be returning to Forest Friends for another school year! I love working throughout the New England seasons in this uniquely beautiful place. I find it gratifying to watch young children grow throughout the school year as hikers and gardeners, thinkers and communicators, animal caretakers and explorers of nature. One of my favorite things about Forest Friends is our daily hike to our forest classroom– we always find something new along the way: owls, tractors, wild strawberries, frogs, animal scat, mushrooms, cocoons – every day is an adventure!!
Originally from New Hampshire, I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 14 years where I worked as a first grade and ESL teacher in urban public schools before returning home to New England and shifting towards nature-based, play-based education. In addition to teaching at Forest Friends, I help to run the education programming at nearby Lexington Community Farm. I live in Arlington with my husband and two young daughters.
Lauren Winterer
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday Co-Teacher
Lauren Winterer is an avid outdoorswoman. She has a BS in Natural Resources Management and Engineering with a concentration in Environmental Conservation and Fisheries & Wildlife Management, and an MS in Secondary Science Education with a concentration in Biology. She has over 10 years in nature-based / outdoor education and has worked at Wright-Locke Farm leading program-based lessons since 2020.
She is a Winchester mom of two little girls. She has a deep connection and appreciation for the natural world and has dedicated her life to teaching others how they too can have the same love and respect for our planet. Lauren loves singing, dancing, and playing. She believes that the best way to teach children is to play and explore in the outdoors.
Lauren is also the Enrichment Coordinator for Wright-Locke Farm where she coordinates curriculum support for surrounding schools and programs.
Lynne Cogswell
Monday and Wednesday Co-Teacher
An outdoor enthusiast, Lynne has always incorporated nature and environmental awareness into her classroom curriculum.
She has experience teaching within a variety of settings to children of all ages. Lynne believes that play is powerful and beneficial to children’s development. She facilitates activities for discovery and making connections through play.
Lynne has a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and has worked in Preschools, Elementary Schools, Mass Audubon and currently at Wright-Locke as an educator with the preschool and elementary programs. She looks forward to her first year as a Forest Friends teacher.
Lynne lives in Arlington with her husband, dog and daughter who is attending college. Her favorite place to escape to on the weekends is York Maine, where you can find her walking the beach.
Sarah Phoenix
Forest Friends Fellow
Sarah joins Forest Friends as a parent alumni and advocate of nature-based play and learning. Her family has been part of Forest Friends since its inception, and she is enthusiastic to support the program and the amazing opportunities it provides. Sarah will be with Forest Friends on Thursdays, and sometimes Fridays.
Sarah’s love of nature started with her own childhood of exploring and learning from the conservation land and farms she grew up around. As a parent, she has devoted her time to exploring the outdoors with her two daughters and integrating nature-based learning into their lives.
Sarah enjoys road and mountain biking, swimming, skiing, hiking, tennis, yoga, and spending time with her family. She also coaches soccer and cross country skiing, holds a B.S. from the University of Vermont (UVM), and lives in Arlington, MA.