Roots & Wings Teachers
Bridgette Costa
(they/them)
(they/them)
Bridgette is an artist, educator, and lifelong learner. They hold a Master of Fine Arts degree from WSU and have since taught a wide range of ages, from college to preschool. Bridgette has a deep appreciation for the Palouse landscape and has worked on both environmental restoration and land-based artworks that honor the region.
Since living on the Palouse, they have been a dedicated community organizer, helping establish a mutual aid fund for local LGBTQ people in need. As a founding member of Roots & Wings, Bridgette is excited to share their passion for creativity and to learn alongside children with nature as the Teacher. They believe that guiding children through everyday practices of gratitude, joy, and curiosity are essential to the well-being of self and the world.
Bridgette currently teaches all program days per week, Monday through Thursday.
Since living on the Palouse, they have been a dedicated community organizer, helping establish a mutual aid fund for local LGBTQ people in need. As a founding member of Roots & Wings, Bridgette is excited to share their passion for creativity and to learn alongside children with nature as the Teacher. They believe that guiding children through everyday practices of gratitude, joy, and curiosity are essential to the well-being of self and the world.
Bridgette currently teaches all program days per week, Monday through Thursday.
Laurie Haener
(he/him)
(he/him)
Laurence Haener is an artist, earth worker, and outdoor educator. Born and raised in Idaho, he has roots in the high desert of Boise and the camas prairie of Grangeville. He holds a BFA from the University of Idaho and has been living on the Palouse since 2017, now residing in Moscow. He has worked in conservation and restoration across the region for six years, currently apprenticing at Deep Roots Farm to learn how to run a diversified vegetable farm of his own someday.
He has been involved in early education for the last four years through AmeriCorps opportunities in environmental outreach and outdoor preschool. His teaching style emphasizes children’s connections to nature through observation, collaboration, creativity, and reflection. He understands nature as the oldest teacher and loves to help students experience and give thanks for the abundance that surrounds them.
Laurie currently teaches two days per week, on Monday and Thursday.
Laura McGreevy
(she/her)
(she/her)
Laura McGreevy is a mom and a teacher. She grew up in the fir tree forests of Port Orchard, WA, and attended Western Washington University, receiving her BA in education with an additional major in psychology: human development and a minor in teaching English as a second language (TESOL). After leaving Bellingham, she and her then fiancé, now husband, traveled around the country for several months in a 1982 VW camper van in an attempt to experience where they wanted to put down roots, choosing the Palouse over a decade ago.
They have two little girls who are lucky enough to be nourished by the Roots and Wings community. Laura homeschools them, as well as co-teaching part-time at Roots & Wings. In her free time, you’d likely find her flocked by chickens and children at their country home, rafting with her family and friends, hiking around the area, or cozied up, knitting a copious amount of hats.
Laura currently teaches two days per week, on Wednesday and Thursday.
(she/her)
Ariel Johanson is a parent and teacher at Roots & Wings. She grew up on the west side of Portland, Oregon, riding horses and spending a lot of time outdoors. She attended Eastern Oregon University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. While living in Eastern Oregon, Ariel’s appreciation for the outdoors grew deeper. Ariel and her husband have lived in various places in the Northwest, but have found the Palouse to be their home.
In addition to teaching, she currently stays home with her two children, while also caring for three other children from the community during the week. She is passionate about cultivating a desire to be in nature from a young age. She encourages curiosity and wonder in her children and others by teaching them to explore the world around them. After co-leading a young children's nature storytime and playgroup last year, Ariel is excited to teach at Roots & Wings this year. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family, camping, biking or hiking, watercolor painting, hand-stitch embroidery, yoga, and reading.
Ariel currently teaches two days per week, on Monday and Wednesday.
Greg Freistadt
(he/him)
(he/him)
Growing up in Montana, Greg always had an appreciation for the natural world. Although focused on outdoor recreation, he developed a green thumb by helping his parents garden and landscape. Greg's love for travel has taken him around the world where in Southeast Asia he gained an appreciation for fresh, local foods and small farming. While pursuing a BS in natural resources from the University of Idaho ('10), he developed a passion for sustainable agriculture. As an intern at the WSU Organic Farm and working at a few other local farms he gained the knowledge to start his own farm and consulting business. Getting back to his love of outdoor recreation, survival skills, and building skills in the outdoors, Greg is happy to be a part of the Roots & Wings teaching staff.
Greg currently teaches one day per week, on Tuesday.
Greg currently teaches one day per week, on Tuesday.