Hey there, I'm Kelsey!

I co-founded KOOP Adventure Play in 2015 and have been the Executive Director since 2017, leading in play, playwork, and community care.

TL;DR:

I'm a playworker, trainer, speaker, advocate for children, and believe that each and every one of us, no matter our age, need time, space, and permission to play! 

I discovered playwork in 2015 after years of homeschooling my child had taught me about the power of play and self-direction. Playwork gave me a professional language and lens with which to view children's play, changing the way I viewed children and how I interact with them. 

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After years of daily playwork practice and team leadership, I began sharing what I had learned and about the spaces for play I had been co-creating with children. I began speaking, training, and producing aptly-named gatherings: Prioritizing Play Conferences.

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Upon seeing the major changes for children and people amid the pandemic, I entered grad school for my Master's in Counseling. I'm attending part-time so that I can continue my daily playwork, as well as raising my own teenager. It's been an amazing experience of linking playwork to a person-centered approach in counseling, deepening my experience with the power of play & relationships, and diving into topics I am drawn to as a result of my work: trauma, play, and how a deeply caring person can help.

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Folks often ask what happens next once I graduate from this program (maybe fall 2024, I'm taking my time!), and the truth is that I don't know fully. I know that play is the pursuit of my lifetime and that the radical love that has always guided my work with children, families, and communities only deepens the more I learn, grow, and practice new ways of extending care. I believe I'll always be compelled to share these gifts that I continue to learn through daily practice and continued education as I offer training, consultation, and new ways of healing through play.