Welcome to Wild & Rooted — a place built from generations of dirt-covered hands, salty air, muddy boots, and a deep love for the outdoors. Wild & Rooted began from a dream that had quietly been growing for years — the desire to give children the chance to slow down, explore nature, and experience the kind of childhood many of us were lucky enough to have. The kind filled with creek walks, climbing trees, catching frogs, gardening, building forts, asking questions, and learning through the natural world around us. My own journey into outdoor education began long before this camp ever existed. I studied Wildlife Conservation at the University of Delaware and spent years working within outdoor and environmental education programs in both Delaware and Maryland. Those experiences deepened my understanding of conservation, ecology, and the incredible impact nature has on children when they are given the freedom to truly connect with it.
The outdoors has always been woven into my family’s story. My parents were both involved in outdoor education, helping shape my appreciation for wildlife, conservation, and hands-on learning from an early age. My husband, Matt, grew up in a family that owned and operated a garden center for many years, where hard work, growing/ caring for the plants, and connecting with the community were simply part of everyday life.
Today, we are raising our three boys — Cullen, Hayes, and Stone — surrounded by many of those same values. Living near the beach here in coastal Delaware, our days are often spent outside: fishing, gardening, caring for animals, camping, exploring local ecosystems, and teaching our children to respect the world around them. While we deeply love coastal life, we also believe strongly in teaching the next generation the importance of protecting our land, preserving natural resources, and understanding that nature is not something separate from us — it is something we are responsible for caring for. Wild & Rooted was created to share that passion with other families.
Our goal is simple: to help children reconnect with the outdoors through hands-on experiences, nature play, creativity, exploration, conservation education, gardening, animal interaction, and meaningful outdoor adventures. We want children to leave feeling confident, capable, curious, muddy, inspired, and deeply connected to the natural world. Because childhood should still feel wild. And roots should grow deep.