Who We Are
Our Mission
To connect homeschool families to nature and each other.Our Beginnings
Barefoot University was started by two moms looking for a community to walk alongside them and their kids' zeal for nature while navigating homeschooling, parenting, and life. Out of that, our purpose was created!
We started in 2019 and Barefoot University has been sprouting ever since. We are so happy more people have the opportunity to connect their family to nature.
Today, BU is a nationwide 501(c)3 registered non-profit and operates under those terms.
Our Team
Since its inception, Barefoot University has positively influenced hundreds of communities by enhancing children's confidence, promoting environmental stewardship, and strengthening family bonds through shared outdoor experiences.
Meet the dedicated team members who drive our mission forward:
Madeleine Braden
Founder →Madeleine is a homeschooling mom of one with multiple degrees. She is a certified holistic nutritionist with a specialty in urban farming and sustainability. Madeleine is passionate about homesteading and taking care of her animals. If she’s not at forest school, you can usually find her in the garden.
Amber Brown
Founder →Amber is a homeschooling mom of four. Her third ignited her passion for nature and was the inspiration behind starting a forest school. Amber has extensive business, sales, and marketing experience. She has started successful for-profit businesses and served on the board for several NPOs. She is passionate about Jesus and natural living. When she’s not at forest school, you can find her at the lake or in Kenya.
Kristin Greenlee
Grant Chair →Kristin volunteers to ensure Barefoot University meets its annual budget through grants, fundraising, and donations, filling gaps not covered by enrollment fees. She creates and oversees a plan to bridge the budgetary shortfall with the help of other volunteers. A mom of two Barefoot boys, Kristin has been involved with the Southlake, Texas group since its inception.
Emily Nott
Regional Rep →Emily is the regional leader rep for Virginia and North Carolina. She has served as a community leader since 2021 and managed the BU retail store prior to 2023. With a degree in public relations, she occasionally volunteers for non-profits. Her interests include natural parenting, traveling, medicinal plants, genealogy, British royal history, and political thrillers on Netflix. Emily, her husband, and their five children live on a sheep farm in central Virginia, also home to a cow, goat, chickens, and dogs.
Kristin Palen
Neurodiversity Support →Kristin Palen, OTR/L, co-leads the Kitty Hawk, NC Barefoot University Forest School. With over 20 years of pediatric occupational therapy experience, she owns Coastal Connections Pediatric Therapy in the Outer Banks, NC. Her practice offers outdoor nature-based therapy, enrichment classes, and coaching. Kristin uses a child-led, strength-based approach focusing on sensory integration and self-regulation. Being part of a neurodiverse family, Kristin enjoys supporting and coaching fellow neurodiverse families to accommodate the unique needs of their children.
Join Us
Discover more about our mission and how you can be a part of our journey. Whether you’re looking to join a community, lead a group, or give support, Barefoot University welcomes you.