Community Partnerships

Program Design

Advisory Services

Professional Development

Speaking Engagements

Forest School Consulting

In a time when childhood is becoming increasingly structured and disconnected from nature, Carolyn Mulcahy helps communities create meaningful opportunities for people to connect, learn, and thrive outdoors.

Carolyn Mulcahy is a consultant and educator specializing in nature-based education, outdoor learning, and community-centered programming. She partners with municipalities, schools, and community organizations to design, implement, and strengthen nature-based initiatives that foster connection to the natural world while supporting the well-being of children, families, and communities.

Carolyn helps organizations, leaders, and educators develop a clear vision for outdoor learning through reflective practice, program development, and professional growth. As educational systems face increasing pressure to standardize learning, she supports practitioners in articulating the values, methods, and theoretical foundations that guide their work. She helps educators become skilled at documenting children's learning and communicating the educational value of child-centered, nature-rich environments.

Her consulting services include program design, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, implementation support, staff development, keynote presentations, conference workshops, and parent education.

Carolyn developed her approach through extensive experience as an outdoor educator in recreational, therapeutic, and educational settings, along with more than twenty years of leadership in early childhood education. She has directed schools, developed innovative programs, mentored educators, and led organizational change initiatives.

She earned a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education from San Francisco State University, where her thesis, Transforming Perspectives in Outdoor Education, explored how outdoor learning experiences influence educational practice and philosophy. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis in Positive Psychology and Mindfulness.

Carolyn holds a Child Development Program Director Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. She is a certified yoga teacher through Breathe For Change, a certified meditation teacher through the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, and a certified Forest Therapy Practitioner through Alma Oasis.

Ultimately, Carolyn's goal is to help communities cultivate a deeper sense of place, strengthen connections to the land, and foster a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship. She believes that when people experience wonder, belonging, and connection in nature, they are more likely to care for the land, contribute to their communities, and work toward a more sustainable future.