About Little Bees
In 2024, Little Bees was established as a business by Brianna Ramsey, following three years of collaboration with Lacey Hemming at Apple Blossoms Forest School. Recognizing the value of providing more early childhood students access to a unique and enriching forest pre-school environment, the decision was made to open the west side sister school of Little Bees.
Bri's dedication to working and engaging with children has been longstanding. Prior to founding Little Bees, she initiated Ramsey Adventure Development in 2022, aiming to encourage outdoor exploration among children aged 1 to 11 through an after-school adventure program. Initially working as an "adventure nanny" for families in Anchorage following the pandemic-induced closure of many childcare services, Bri's primary objectives were to minimize screen time and maximize outdoor experiences.
Over the course of two years, Bri expanded her services to additional families and broadened the age range to include preschoolers through her involvement at Apple Blossoms Forest School. Ramsey Adventure Development focuses on educating children about safety and appreciation for the outdoors in Alaska, utilizing various activities such as hiking, biking, skiing, and ice skating to foster a deeper connection with nature.
With a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a minor in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Bri brings a solid academic foundation to her childcare endeavors. Her professional experience in childcare dates back to 2015, encompassing diverse roles from residential outdoor education programs in California to after-school programs in Anchorage.
Outside of her childcare responsibilities, Brianna enjoys exploring Alaska's trails and backcountry with her dog, Kai'a, engaging in activities like hiking, biking, skiing, and splitboarding. Her passion for adventure and commitment to nurturing children's appreciation for nature are evident in both her professional and personal pursuits.
Meet our Staff!
We are lucky enough to have an amazing co-teacher, Alyse, who gets to play and learn with us two days a week!
Alyse Maxwell, is a lifelong Alaskan who grew up near the Taku Lake and Campbell Creek Greenbelt, and now lives on the West side of Anchorage. As a twin mom, of boys named Clark and Lewis, she is passionate about creating a supportive community for families in Anchorage, and enjoys hiking, traveling, gardening, planning special events, home improvement projects, and jet boating to a family cabin on the 20 mile river, among other wild adventures.
Alyse earned a Bachelors of Arts, from University Alaska Anchorage in Environment & Society with a certificate in civic engagement. She went on to work as an environmental scientist and public involvement specialist for a multi discipline engineering firm, before returning to work for her family's General Construction Company. Currently she serves on the board for the Anchorage waterways council and Friends of Boyers Orchard and Greenhouse.
Alyse married her College sweetheart Jake, in Moab, Utah in 2018. With the onset of the Covid pandemic and birth of twins in July of 2020, she made the decision to become a stay at home mom. Affordable and enriching child care experiences is a primary focus, and she is excited to be co-teaching this year with Bri. You can join her on Thursdays from 3-4:30 at the Boyer's Orchard for Bunnies Book Club and other special events she hosts.
Meet our Class Pets!
At Little Bees Forest School and Ramsey Adventure Development, we love our animals! We have a dog, Kai'a ("K-ai-h-ee-ya"), who will occasionally join us in the school yard and on our nature walks. She is shy and prefers to observe the kids from a distance but is very patient and calm while kids get to walk her on leash if they wish. We also have two cats, Daisy and Lupine who both like to pass through our school yard and get belly rubs from the kids as well as parents! Next up we currently have four chickens that free-range our school yard. They are the "Spice Girls": Vanilla Bean, Basil, Dill and Nutmeg. The kids love to look for and collect our daily eggs. Lastly, we have a bee hive that lives on the roof of an out building on the school property. It is visible from the yard and we enjoy watching them come and go on the warm, sunny days!
