FINCASTLE FARM SCHOOL STAFF

Interested in working with children on a working farm every week? Email Bekah for opportunities at bekah@valleyforestschool.com

ANN CHAPPELL MCALLISTER

Program Coordinator- Fincastle Farm School

Forest Name- Mrs. Salamander

Anne Chappell is a Botetourt native who has lived on a farm in since she was 5 years old. She grew up raising cows, horses, sheep, ducks, and chickens. She has a huge heart for working with children and connecting them to their natural environment- the outdoors. In her free time, she spends her days outdoors hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, kayaking, and fishing. In addition to managing her farm, teaching horseback riding lessons, and instructing for VFS, Ann Chappell is a pediatric nurse.

Contact Anne Chappell: annechappell@valleyforestschool.com

Caitlin Rogers

Lead Instructor- Fincastle

Forest Name- Mrs. Raven

Caitlin spent much of her life recreating in the foothills and mountains of Colorado. She has always been interested in the natural world and more holistic approaches to living, but in recent years has have spent more time in integrating those ideals with daily life. She gardens, forages, and enjoys living off the land. Her spare time is spent mountain biking, hiking, camping, SUP boarding, rafting/kayaking, baking, writing, taking photos, doing yoga, hula-hooping, and spending time with loved ones. She has been teaching with VFS since the Spring of ‘25. Caitlin is certified in child/adult CPR and Wilderness First Aid.

ASHLEY WHITSON

Lead Instructor- Fincastle

Forest Name: Mrs. Sunflower

Ashley grew up in Northern Virginia volunteering at 2 nature centers where she educated the public and cared for the animals housed there. She also rehabilitated injured and orphaned wildlife in her home. Ashley attended Virginia Tech and earned a BS in Animal Science and Biology and then went on to obtain a masters in Education at Hollins University.

Ashley has conducted Animal information classes, taught swim lessons and middle school science for a total of 28 years. She has been a resident of Botetourt County since 2009 where she lives in a log cabin with her husband, Sean, 4 kids, 3 dogs, 6 lizards, a snake, a tarantula, numerous chickens & ducks and an apiary full of honey bees.

Ashley enjoys hiking and kayaking, reading, & anything having to do with animals.

Ashley is also trained and certified in Wilderness First Aid.

Hannah Stephens

Lead Instructor- Catawba and Fincastle

Forest Name- Mrs. Snail

Hannah grew up on a small tobacco farm in Halifax, Virginia surrounded by chickens, guineas, and geese. She loves growing her food- including blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, beans, peas, and various cut flowers. Hannah also loves native plants and learning about how different plants work together to create vast ecosystems in even the smallest of spaces. She is working towards her VA naturalist certification in hopes to broaden those opportunities. From 2013-2018 she worked as a contact ranger for Staunton River State Park in Scottsburg, VA. There she managed the office and gift shop, but also led interpretive events for the visitors. She led guided hikes and canoe trips as well as did small crafts with the kids. Within this position she took care of many different kinds of wildlife and taught programs with wildlife ambassadors. Hannah is certified in child/adult CPR and Wilderness First Aid.

Richelle Christian

Lead Instructor- Fincastle

Forest Name- Mrs. Bullfrog

Richelle grew up in the Roanoke area hiking, fishing, kayaking, hunting, gardening, and raising chickens and other animals. Ever since she was a small child, she’s had a strong connection to the natural world around us, and prefer the peace and satisfaction that comes from being in nature over being indoors. She currently enjoys raising her own flock of chickens. Growing up, she was taught how to garden and still grows her own every year. In addition to chickens and gardening, she enjoys canning food and makes her own sourdough bread. Richelle is certified in child/adult CPR and Wilderness First Aid.

Katie McDaniel

Lead Instructor- Fincastle

Forest name- Mrs. Sungold

Katie grew up in Roanoke, VA. After exploring the country for years as a Traveling R.N. with her partner, they settled back home. When she isn't raising her 3 wild children, she loves growing and preserving food. She owns a small business selling all natural skincare products around the Valley and teaching others how to start their own gardens. She has a passion for the outdoors, music, long road trips, and helping to spark children's interests in gardening and knowing where their food comes from.

GABBIE RHODES

Lead Instructor- Fincastle

Forest Name- Mrs. Morel
In 2016, Gabbie Rhodes graduated from Emory & Henry College, where she participated as a trip leader for the Emory & Henry Outdoor Program. She led hikes and backpacking trips throughout Southwest Virginia. She absolutely loves being outside and exploring mountains with friends and family. For the last 4 years, Gabbie has been working with children as a a nanny and as a preschool teacher. Supporting children as they learn and grow is very rewarding to Gabbie and she as been a teacher with VFS since 2020.

HANNAH CLAROS

Lead Instructor- Catawba and Fincastle

Forest Name- Mrs. Chicory
Hannah has been working with children in a variety of educational settings for 10+ years. She has certifications in K-12 education in the state of VA, adult/child CPR, and Wilderness First Aid. Most of her childhood was spent on the back of a horse, and her love for the great outdoors grew from there. As a home educator of her two children, she enjoys combining her love of animals, foraging, and camping with an experiential based, child-lead educational model. Nothing brings her greater joy than seeing children forge relationships with each other and with nature in an unstructured environment. At Forest and Farm school, you’ll likely find her greeting the day and your student with a cup of chicory coffee in hand!

STACY VAUGHT

Lead Instructor- Fincastle and Catawba

Forest Name- Mrs. Cedar
After completing a Bachelor's degree in elementary education from Roanoke College, Stacy has been fortunate enough to work with children in some capacity for the past 17 years. Beginning her career in a regular classroom setting, Stacy soon became curious about alternative methods of education which led her across the country with her family on a big adventure to Washington state where she discovered her love for forest school. She can't wait to continue being a partner in pondering with children as they connect with the natural world at VFS. In her spare time, Stacy loves hiking, riding her bike, baking, adventuring to new places, reading, and writing children's books.

BEKAH QUIRIN

Executive Director

Forest Name- Mrs. Luna

Bekah started Valley Forest School in 2019 after developing a passion for immersing children of all ages in nature. Bekah has a bachelors degree in Outdoor Leadership from North Greenville University where she spent much of her time studying the psychology of children in the outdoors. Her desire to start a Forest School in America grew stronger after she and her husband spent 6 months thru hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2017 with their 1 year old daughter, Ellie. In 2018 they rode their bikes from Canada to Mexico. Bekah has been a Wilderness First Responder for 6 years. She has 13 years of outdoor guiding experience across the country serving youth to senior adults from the Carolinas, to the coast of Virginia, to the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Bekah has over 1,000 logged days and nights of backcountry travel, and more than 600 of those are with children.

Contact Bekah: bekah@valleyforestschool.com

Kim Butler

Lead Instructor- Fincastle

Forest Name- Mrs. Mint

Kim has always loved the outdoors and raised her children hiking, camping, skiing and working on her husbands family farm. She has spent most of her adult life working at preschools or in special education. Kim has a passion for old fashioned living and a natural life. She grew up spending summers with her Grandparents on their farm, helping with the daily chores with the animals. She is an avid gardener and canner. Last year she canned over 700 jars for her family mostly from her 1 acre garden. Kim is certified in child/adult CPR and Wilderness First Aid.