Who We Are
Our Work
We envision a future where nature is woven into childhood to spark learning, joy, and connection—to one another and the natural world.
We’re on a mission to expand access to frequent, high-quality nature experiences for students in Boston.
This spring, we're bringing 90 Boston Public School pre-K students from their classrooms to local nature spots once per week for 6-12 weeks.
Our Team
Marie O’Reilly
Co-Founder
After a decade working to advance international peace, Marie saw a need to intervene earlier and closer to home. As her children flourished with formative experiences in nature, Marie realized its power to foster self-regulation, empathy, and creative thinking—seeds for peaceful, thriving societies.
At Think Outside, Marie creates pathways to playful, nature-based learning. She builds partnerships with school communities and leads educational programs, weaving vision, strategy, and action to support joyful learning outdoors.
Previously, Marie served as Senior Advisor and Lead Teacher at the Boston Outdoor Preschool Network, where she taught nature-preschool classes and oversaw the network’s largest outdoor preschool at Harvard’s Arboretum. She also led partnerships with public schools, developing Forest Days programs to grow equitable access to nature-based education.
Marie holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, an MA from Dublin City University, and a BA from Trinity College Dublin.
Email: marie.oreilly[at]think-outside.org
Ben Strauss
Co-Founder
Ben’s journey to nature-based education began when he saw the transformative effect it had on his two children. Observing their joyful, nourishing experiences at outdoor preschool led to his passionate belief that all children would benefit from high-quality nature education.
At Think Outside, Ben serves as an educator, nurturing students' joy and learning in nature. He also wears a number of hats for Think Outside related to strategy, development, and operations, helping to further the organization's impact for students and school communities.
Ben is formerly a management consultant including at The Bridgespan Group, where he advised nonprofits on issues related to strategic planning, impact analysis, and change management.
Ben holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and a BA in Mathematics from Tufts University.
Email: ben.strauss[at]think-outside.org