Meet the Women Behind
St. Francis Nature Academy
SFNA is owned and operated by a mother-daughter duo, Anne & Kristen. The property that is home to SFNA has been in our family since the 1960s. We know and love these woods!
Hi, I'm Kristen.
I am a co-founder and Program Director of St. Francis Nature Academy. I am a Smithville/Bastrop native and was raised on the very property that is now home to SFNA. My love for nature began here during my childhood. I have many fond memories of catching grasshoppers, going on nature walks, searching for arrowheads, riding horses, and making mud pies. I was actively involved in the local Smithville 4-H Club for nine years, where I learned firsthand the value of responsibility, hard work, and caring for animals and the land.
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I bring many years of experience working with children and families in a variety of educational, coaching, and mentoring roles. I have served as a youth basketball and cheerleading coach, an after-school counselor for elementary-aged students, a Sunday School teacher, and a counselor at an overnight summer camp in the Texas Hill Country. I also previously worked for more than a decade as a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, guiding families through pregnancy, birth preparation, breastfeeding, and early parenting.
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Safety and well-being are always priorities in our program. I am trained in adult and pediatric CPR, first aid, and choking response. I hold three college degrees and have completed coursework in developmental psychology, human growth and development, pedagogy, and pediatric healthcare. However, raising and parenting my own daughter has been the most meaningful and influential preparation for this role.​
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The idea for SFNA grew out of a personal need in my own family. My husband and I needed a place for our child to go during the day to learn, be safe, and have meaningful social interactions while allowing Mom and Dad time to focus on our professional endeavors. After being home all day every day for the first 4 years of her life, traditional preschool was a non-starter for our daughter. A local outdoor school became our solution for a while. Our whole family loved it—Mom, Dad, and kiddo! The only problem was we needed more! Two days a week was not enough for us. SFNA allows families the flexibility of having the option to send their child to our program between 1 and 5 days a week*, whatever best meets their needs! So, if you're a stay-at-home mama who wants to send your child to the program 1-2 days a week just to get a breather, we're here for you! Or, if you're a working mama who needs to send your child to SFNA every day of the workweek, we've got your back! Stay-at-home and working dads, we see you, too!
​*Our program officially began on March 2, 2026. We're still trying to grow! During this first Spring Session (March-May 2026), we will only be open 3 days per week: Mon, Tue, Thurs. You may choose 1-3 days per week.
Summer 2026, we will be open 4 days per week: Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri. You may choose 1-4 days per week.
Fall 2026 & Spring 2027 will offer programming M-F. You may choose 1-5 days per week. ​
About Anne.
Anne is a co-founder of St. Francis Nature Academy. A nature lover from the start, she has lived and played in the Whispering Pines that are home to St. Francis Nature Academy since the mid-1970s. Her favorite memories involve racing through the woods on horseback in her teens and milking cows with her mother and siblings. Anne has two adult daughters and one granddaughter. She guided both of her daughters through various 4-H projects for 15 years during their childhoods, including livestock, family and consumer sciences, nutrition, crafts, and leadership. She enjoys being outside with her animals and working in her garden. Anne has spent nearly two decades working with children and youth in Bastrop and Travis Counties, with a emphasis on philanthropy and volunteering in the local community.
Are you interested in joining our team?
If the community expresses enough interest in this program, we will need to hire additional staff!
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If you love the great outdoors and working with children, please send a letter of interest and your resume to stfrancisnatureacademy@gmail.com
A background check will be performed as part of the application process.
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These positions will start August 2026. Working conditions include guiding and mentoring 3-8-year-old children for at least 5 hours a day in an fully outdoor environment (hot days and cold days). You can expect between $12 to $20+ per hour. Flexible hours: you can work 1-5 days per week.
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