Hi there!
My name is Rachel and my family and I live in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. We love to swim in the lakes, walk through the forest, and marvel at the many waterfalls in our area!
Dr. Rachel Tidd is the author of Wild Learning: Practical Ideas to Bring Teaching Outdoors and the creator of the popular Wild Math® and Wild Reading® curricula series. Rachel’s two children, Finn and Taro, were her first inspiration to teach math and reading outdoors.
Before starting Wild Learning®, Rachel taught as an elementary special education teacher and homeschooled her own children through the sixth grade. In the fall of 2026, she will be joining the faculty at SUNY Empire State University as an assistant professor of early childhood education and special education.
Rachel holds a doctorate in sustainability education with a focus on Literacy K-12 and a master’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Bank Street College of Education. She holds five teaching certificates in early childhood, elementary, special education, and literacy K-12.
Her research explored how a place-based, integrated language arts and science/sustainability curriculum can help children recognize the connections between people and nature and develop the skills needed to care for their world. In spring 2025, she developed a model unit and conducted an educational intervention in seven upper-elementary classrooms across Canada. As part of this work, she developed a framework for integrating sustainability and critical literacy, which was published in the journal Innovations in Sustainability Education. The model unit, Who Speaks for the Trees, is available for purchase in the shop.
She designs every Wild Learning® resource to spark curiosity, make learning meaningful, and help children build a deep understanding and connection to the world around them.
She enjoys quiet walks in nature, reading good books, making baskets, traveling, and drinking strong coffee. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook @discoverwildlearning.
Would you like Rachel to give a presentation, keynote, or professional development session at your school or organization? Contact us if you are interested in partnering with us for consulting, research, and collaborations! Learn more here.
Send an email to support@discoverwildlearning.com
Photo: Sara Tro www.saratrophoto.com
