About

Meet the person behind the muddy boots, lesson planning, and paint‑stained hands!

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” – Fred Rogers

Pari' on a wooded trail with kids, and Pari' reading a butterfly picture book to kids in a backyard Hi! I'm Pari'!

Your Class Leader & Founder

  • Grew up babysitting shy children who disliked other sitters
  • Professional nanny
  • After school sports coach (preschoolers to middle school)
  • Certified lifeguard & private swim instructor
  • Contributor to commercially sold practical skills curriculum
  • Education Manager, Marketing & HR Exec spearheading standardized training systems for several companies and brands
  • Homeschooling mama to three children in 5 years
  • Founded Backyard Classroom in 2022
  • Lifelong lover of animals, birdwatching, nature, hiking, and wading in creeks
  • Will always accept some organic dark coffee and/or dark chocolate or homemade sourdough

What We Do

Backyard Classroom is an outdoor learning program that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and connection through meaningful, hands-on experiences. We believe every child deserves the chance to discover that even the most ordinary spaces hold wonder when explored with care and curiosity. Our programming blends exploration, creativity, movement, and play—often incorporating science, art, and other subjects—to spark children’s natural desire to learn.

We serve families seeking an alternative to traditional indoor education, offering experiences that encourage children to look closer, dig deeper, and build confidence in their abilities. Through child-led discovery and joyful engagement with the world around them, participants form friendships, develop resilience, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning.

Backyard Classroom is for children who thrive when given the freedom to explore at their own pace—and for families who value community, connection, and learning that extends beyond four walls.

Kids digging and exploring together under the trees

Our Mission

Backyard Classroom nurtures curiosity, creativity, and connection through outdoor learning. By looking closer and digging deeper, children discover that even ordinary places hold wonder. Through exploration, creativity, movement, and play, they build friendships, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning—finding life's greatest lessons right where they are.

Three smiling kids lying together on a saucer swing

Our Vision

Our vision is a world where children grow up seeing every space as a classroom and every moment as an opportunity to learn. By fostering curiosity, confidence, and a sense of wonder, Backyard Classroom inspires lifelong learners who carry creativity, resilience, and a deep connection to their communities wherever they go.

“They’re not just playing in nature, they are: Learning, creating, sensing, believing, relaxing, exploring, observing, wondering, connecting, discovering, appreciating, understanding, experimenting…” – Penny Whitehouse