At Sprouts, my family — Daniel (Ranger Dan), our own little explorer Oliver, and I — truly believe in a simple, powerful idea: it's time to reclaim childhood and reconnect with nature. For me, (hi, I’m Chelsea) that belief is rooted deep in my own memories. Moving to Eastern NC at ten from upstate New York, I fell in love with the crisp fall weather, the thrill of getting wonderfully lost in the woods, the simple joy of making "leaf soup," the sweet scent of honeysuckle, and endless miles on my bike. Simple pleasures that shaped my wildest dreams.

Daniel, my incredible partner and our Program Lead, Ranger Dan, brings his own rich connection and extensive expertise to this preschool program. Growing up in the NC foothills of Yadkinville, he made a habit of collecting all kinds of fascinating wildlife from the creek by his father's house. His childhood was filled with hiking to local waterfalls and tubing down the river, experiences that led him to pursue a Parks & Recreation degree from ECU. Since then, his career has been dedicated to sharing his profound love for the outdoors with others, working at beloved Triangle institutions like the Museum of Natural Sciences, Lake Johnson, Jordan Lake, the Town of Fuquay-Varina (where his "Ranger Dan" persona truly began!), and the City of Raleigh. Environmental education is truly the sound of his beating heart—we learn something new from him every single day—why fireflies light up to the names of every bug and plant we spot out in the wild.

As Co-Founder of Sprouts and former Cabin Counselor at 4-H Camp Sertoma , I've been pouring my heart into creating everything from the ground up: concept and mission statement, shaping our marketing, and personally reaching out to families like yours. By day, I'm a copywriter, but Sprouts feels like a forgotten childhood dream come true, a chance to build the kind of magical learning environment I always wished for.

And then there's our 5-year-old, Oliver, who embodies everything Sprouts stands for. He absolutely lights up playing with water (especially dancing in the rain!), wandering off on backyard treasure hunts, and transforming a dead tree stump into a magical fairy garden to call his own.

Our philosophy is simple: learning shouldn't feel like work. When paired with play, the wonders of nature, and an experienced guide like Ranger Dan, it can be truly magical. We're here to help your child grow wild and free, just as they're meant to be.