At 3 trees we are passionate about building a Forest Homeschool community with children and families in the Wicklow area. We provide Forest Homeschool programmes throughout the year, from a number of different locations, and aim to bring the best in Nature Mentoring to families with children of all ages.
3 trees is a collaboration between Wicklow Forest School Leaders, Marc Barker and Amber Godwin. We are both fully trained Forest school leaders, Garda vetted and REC3 first aid certified. We are grateful to work with other incredible Forest School leaders and assistant leaders. Each Leader brings with them their own diverse backgrounds, skills and a wealth of experience working with children and the natural environment.
See below for more information on each of our Leaders.
Marc Barker
Co-founder and Forest School leader
Marc is an ecologist, educator, wilderness skills instructor, forester, and father of two little girls. He is a Certified Forest School Leader and the Sole Trader of NatureConnect, an organisation designed to grow the roots of community, connection, regenerative culture and environmental stewardship for a flourishing future.
Growing up in a family of storytellers, telling tales has always come naturally, and he applies lessons and learning through the lens of story - from different sources in folklore, mythology, and oral storytellers alive today. Marc sees story as a catalyst for connection to PLACE and heritage.
Amber Godwin
Co-founder and Forest School Leader
Amber Godwin is a qualified Forest School leader with a passion for being outdoors and for working with children. Amber was running Arts and Crafts classes for many years before she discovered Forest School. She now combines the two passions by including lots of crafting using natural materials in her outdoor sessions.
Amber is also a parent of a home educated child, which provides a different perspective on education. The need for outdoor learning and nature connection for everyone, especially our young people, has become apparent in recent years. Amber is excited to be involved in the 3 trees collaboration, in order to facilitate these learning opportunities for families in the Wicklow area.
Amber completed her Level 3 (UK) Forest School training in 2018, and runs Barefoot and Wild forest and nature school.
Gráinne O'Brien
Gráinne O'Brien qualified as a Forest School Leader in 2022 but she has many years' experience of exploring, playing and working outdoors with young people. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural world and understands the importance of letting children connect with nature on their own terms and exploring it at their own pace. As a parent of two daughters, she has become even more aware of the importance of free, unhurried play in the outdoors. Grainne is a keen climber and is very much at home in the hills, at the crags (and in the trees of course). She also recently completed a Wildflower Identification course through Sligo IT and is looking forward to continuing to expand her Forest School knowledge and skills with 3 trees.
Maya Morgan-Smith
Maya Morgan-Smith is an assistant mentor who's been working with Three Trees since she was a teenager. She attended Wicklow Democratic School where she gained a passion for alternative education and the outdoors. Under the guidance of Amber and Marc throughout the years she's been able to hone her skills and deepen her connection to nature. Maya is a musician and artist who enjoys blending her passions and love of nature with art. She is also very enthusiastic about native animals, birds and plants, as well as foraging and forest cooking which she loves to bring to the sessions.