Calli Stipe

Early Childhood Development Educator, Certified Montessori Guide & Mama of two.

I am a Palouse native, a farmer's wife, cat mom, garden lover, nature lover and mom to two busy boys usually running feral around our farm. ;) 

I found my passion for working with young children early in life. I studied Early Childhood Development at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. During college is when I discovered the beauty of the Montessori method and when my passion and career in Montessori education began. My husband and I moved to Boise Idaho where I received my Montessori Teaching Certification through Caspari Montessori Institute. I then opened my own Montessori Preschool, called Little Farm Montessori in our home with a backyard farm. I loved seeing my little students blossom from a Montessori farm based program of just a few chickens and a small garden. This was a long time dream of mine and I loved every second of it! 

After starting our family, I stepped away from almost a decade of teaching in my own Preschool and other Montessori classrooms and began offering virtual support to parents wanting to implement Montessori at home. Little Farm Montessori became an online resource for parents wanting to learn more about Montessori at home and it still continues to offer that support to parents.

Then, we moved back to the Palouse in 2020 where we’ve found our forever home back here on the Palouse.

I grew up a “farm girl” (although, not a very tough one I still cry when predators get to my animals). I have felt personally the benefits of being around animals as a kid and so my heart has always been with a farm based program where children could be immersed in animals and agriculture. Since having my own children I’ve been investigating the world of outdoor learning, nature, forest and more on farm programs and I’ve become very passionate about the benefits these offer children especially in our modern world so disconnected from the wonders of nature. 

I’ve enjoyed starting a nature playgroup and summer camps here on the Palouse and connecting with so many like-minded parents. I’ve been in awe of children observing them exploring nature. I’ve always believed in nature education but somehow this playgroup brought that ah-hah moment for me, “What if a Montessori learning environment could be outdoors AND on a farm?!” This is the early childhood program that aligns with everything I believe early “education” should be. 

Thanks to brainstorming sessions with like-minded friends and to Black Ridge Farms for opening up their animal farm for us, my dream has come to fruition. Little Farm Nature School is opening this fall. My heart has been soaring! I can’t wait to meet you and your little ones on the farm this September!