My passion for wellness and love of all things nature began as a child through experiences my parents created to help instill a respect and appreciation of the beauty and power of nature. We were shown how to really see the natural world, to truly notice things many people pass by daily without a glance- the power of a river and the precise path of the honey bee, and how they impacted our own lives in one way or another. I earned an AD in Child Development and became an early childhood teacher and spent many years sharing my love of nature with children of all ages, including my own three children. I worked to instill this same awe of nature in my children and students as they grew through the years by immersing them in activities and experiences with nature, like camping, hiking, collecting leaves or puddle jumping! I just loved watching their wonder as they watched their world change through the seasons! I also began to feel a strong passion for teaching health and wellness to both children and adults, and as my children grew this led to a decision to explore that direction in my career. I completed training for the position of Emergency Medical Dispatcher, and found joy in the rewarding feeling that came from helping others maneuver through difficult emergency situations successfully.  When this company moved its operations to Colorado, I remained in Wisconsin and took a position in the healthcare system, while returning to school to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in the Psychology of Health and Wellness . I continued in that direction by going on to become a certified Worksite Wellness Program Manager, subsequently taking on the role of the market manager of the Health and Wellness, Community Outreach & Education, and Volunteer programs. More recently, I moved into the role of Patient Experience Coordinator for our newest hospital in the same service market. My passion for helping both adults and children alike be proactive in managing their health continues, and I have gone on to complete certifications as a Nature Therapy Guide, Expressive Arts Facilitator, Aromatherapist, and most recently authored a children's book, What The Forest Knows, that helps children to understand the importance of nature and the lessons we can learn by being present and noticing what's around us.  

 

I am the proud parent of three grown children, two sons, and a daughter - who helped illustrate our children's book. I am a proud grandparent of twin grandsons and a granddaughter. My family is a constant source of joy and the key to my happiness! My husband and I live in SE Wisconsin and our family enjoys hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, cycling and traveling.

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​​- Laurie Couillard

Certified Wisconsin Master Naturalist

BS Psychology of Health & Wellness

A.A.S. Child Development

CWWPM- Certified Worksite Wellness Program Manager

Expressive Arts Facilitator

Nature Therapy Guide