Our Team | Nature's Den

OUR NATURE'S DEN TEAM

Management & Administration

ALEX SHERIE

Founder & Forest School Director

Alex is the founder of Nature's Den, a qualified Early Childhood Educator with over 12 years of experience working in the education sector.

Alex has always believed that some of the most important learning doesn’t happen inside four walls. It happens outside - climbing trees, building huts, lighting fires, exploring creeks, and learning how to navigate the world with confidence.

After seeing how many children were missing out on these experiences, Alex created Nature’s Den with one simple goal: to reconnect children with nature and help them grow into confident, resilient, well-grounded humans.

Alex now leads the development of Nature’s Den programmes, partnerships with schools and early childhood centres.

His vision is to see more children across New Zealand grow up with the confidence, resilience, and lifelong connection to nature that experiences like Nature’s Den provide.

DANI SHERIE

Founder & Accounts

Alex’s wife Dani is the admin guru at Nature's Den. She assists Alex with the admin side of the business, while also working part-time in a managerial role and full-time parenting their two daughters.

Dani has a 4-year Bachelor of Management Studies majoring in Marketing under her belt. She has worked in a variety of administrative and marketing roles over the past 10 years, which has helped to expand her knowledge on how to run a successful business. She also has experience with children, having worked on-and-off as a babysitter and nanny in her younger years.

Dani believes strongly in the importance of nature-based learning and developing strong individual relationships.

KAREN BOWDEN

Holiday Programme Coordinator

Karen has joined Nature’s Den to help ensure our holiday programme runs smoothly while supporting Alex and Dani behind the scenes.

A busy mum of three (plus two much-loved fur babies), Karen brings her caring nature, organisational skills, and positive energy to our team.

Qualified Educators

KELLY BROWN

Qualified Educator - Little Shoal Bay

Kelly is an experienced teacher, who plays a vital role in 3 of our programmes and brings an incredible passion for teaching. She thrives on those authentic moments of discovery and self-growth, feeling privileged to be part of such amazing learning experiences each week.

Outside of Nature’s Den, Kelly works as a relief teacher in a variety of public and private schools, kindergartens, and ECE centres.

With over 20 years of teaching experience in Early Childhood Education, including leadership and management roles for the past 7 years, Kelly believes children learn best through play and hands-on, real-world experiences.

In her spare time, you can find Kelly walking her dog, hitting the gym, or on the softball field. She’s always excited for the adventures that each week at Nature’s Den brings!

DEIRDRE CARRAHER

Qualified Educator - Brookby

Deirdre is one of our amazing educators who has been with us from the very start. She can be found teaching at our Brookby programme.

Deirdre is a qualified and registered primary school teacher who also has a Diploma in Outdoor Recreation Leadership. She worked in the outdoor industry for almost 7 years before studying to be a teacher, which she has been for 15 years now.

The combination of these qualifications and experiences have shown Deirdre the importance of experiential learning. She believes the outdoors and child-led exploration have so much to teach us about the skills we need to live our best lives. Through nature we can learn our strengths, develop our weaknesses, grow through social interactions and strengthen our core values.

Deirdre has two young children. Since having children of her own she has become even more inspired to see an increase in the opportunities students have to include nature, outdoor and environmental education in their learning journey.

LISA HUNTLEY

Qualified Educator - Churchill Park

Lisa is one of our passionate educators who can be found at our Churchill Park programme. She is a primary school teacher with almost 20 years of experience, and throughout her career has worked in a number of different teaching roles.

Lisa currently works part time as a specialist STEAM teacher at Stonefields School in Auckland. She believes that STEAM reinforces creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and character development, as these vital skills enable children to solve problems and encourage them to become future innovators. Lisa is also a big believer in hands-on learning, and allowing children the freedom to take risks, build resilience and imagine possibilites.

She has two young children, and since becoming a mum, has realised the importance of providing our tamariki with opportunities to immerse themselves in the wonders of nature as this fosters childrens' intellectual, emotional, social and physical development.

Other Educators

LILY ALLEN

Educator - Churchill Park

Description coming soon!

PALOMA PIERSON

Educator - Ambury Farm

Paloma brings warmth, creativity, and a deep sense of curiosity to every day at Nature’s Den. With a background in nannying and as a qualified scuba diving instructor, she has spent years guiding people, both young and old, through discovery, play, and confidence-building in the natural world.

She loves supporting tamariki as they explore, experiment, and grow in their own unique ways, helping them develop a lifelong connection with nature and themselves. Paloma believes the best learning happens when we slow down, follow children’s lead, and embrace the magic of the outdoors.

Outside of Nature’s Den, Paloma can often be found by the water, painting, adventuring with friends, or dreaming up creative projects. Her joyful presence and calm approach make her a treasured part of the team.

NOAH RIGGS

Educator - Churchill Park

Known as "Uncle Noah", Noah first joined us as a whānau helper and now plays a key role in supporting Lisa and the team at Churchill Park.

Noah has a natural connection with tamariki, bringing joy, fun, and energy to every session. His presence is a huge asset to our Churchill Park programme, and we feel truly lucky to have him on board!

Outside of Nature’s Den, Noah and his siblings run their own barbershop, @bentleysbarbers887, and he also serves as a mentor to many rangatahi in his wider whānau.