Welcome to BeeHive Land-Based Learning Center

I graduated from Chico State with a BA in Child Development and began working at Chico State campus in their child development lab, with preschoolers and college students. I loved working with both age groups. During my time there I received a MA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks, with a focus on Community Building. That program taught me that I did not like working for an institute that lost focus on caring for the children and students. I quit my job and wrote a grant that supported a non-profit, GRUB, Growing Resourcefully Unity Bellies. I co-taught the preschool garden project at 10 preschools around the Chico area. I have a love for teaching, children, nature, wonder and connecting. I have homeschooled my three children through their education with much support from my partner Tim. I believe that supporting a love for learning is the base that must be laid first. Children remind me to laugh and be silly and pay attention to the little things.

As a student of the seeds and the cycles of the land and the body, I am overjoyed to bring my gifts to the Beehive to learn alongside the students as we discover ourselves through our peers and the world around us! I have been stewarding land and seeds in the community for the past seven years, with a focus on growing community access to land through urban-rural collaboration. With the Beehive, I bring my experience of community building, cyclic life design, council process, and the joy of tending land in commons! I have worked in various farm and wilderness settings with youth and feel so grateful to be living and working at Landwell, and supporting the land in welcoming more and more people into relationship with the trees and waters and creatures of this place. I am excited to support the children of the Beehive in connecting to their dreams and passions, discovering the wisdom of their bodies, and learning how to communicate their needs and wishes with respect to their human and non human kin.

Jen Jones is a mother of two who has spent the last 5 years homeschooling her children. She has a passion for navigating various learning styles which has driven her research for project based and self directed learning. She is inspired by the minds and writings of Susan Wise Bauer, Kim John Payne, Peter Gray and Ainsley Arment. Jen values meeting children where they are in their learning, and hopes to create an engaged, interest based learning environment for each child.

Jen attended San Francisco State University where she received a B.A. in Political Science and a Certificate in Conflict Resolution. She is also certified as a Mediator through the Nonprofit Community Boards in San Francisco.

Side projects for Jen include running a handmade crochet business and working part time at Trader Joe's. Jen lives in Sebastopol with her husband, two children and feline familiar Lu.

I grew up in Sonoma County and was a Waldorf student for 12 years. I graduated from the University of California, Davis with a bachelor's degree in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, with a focus on fish biology. I was involved in research, lab and field based, while I was in college. I love science and inspiring others to see the beauty of the world. Seeing a child light up while learning about science is the best thing I get to see!

I grew up on an off-grid sheep ranch, and I recently moved back. I built my own place where I live with my dog and chickens. Outside of BeeHive, I am primarily working on the ranch. I am passionate about raising my own food and I love to cook. I often do cooking projects with my students.

I had a hard time combining my life experience on a ranch, with my love for academics. I found a sweet spot with teaching at BeeHive. I get to share my love of academics, while fostering a deep connection with the land we live on. I focus on instilling a love for learning in my classroom. I want my students to be able to find something they are passionate about and chase it.