About Us

We believe getting outside should be easy

Outdoor School Shop was founded by moms who know two things to be true: kids do best outside and getting them dressed for it shouldn’t feel confusing, overwhelming, or expensive.

We started by testing gear on our own kids in real conditions - rain, snow, mud, and long school days. What worked stayed. What didn’t, didn’t. That hands-on approach grew into Outdoor School Shop: a trusted resource for families who want outdoor time to feel simpler, not stressful. We began by helping outdoor school families find gear that could handle full days outside. That experience taught us something simple: when gear works for outdoor schools, it works for any kid who plays hard, learns outside, or just wants to stay warm and dry. Today, we help families of all kinds find gear that actually holds up.

Today, our focus is simple:

Curate and test gear that actually works, so families don’t have to wonder if it’s warm enough, waterproof enough, or going to last the season.
Support outdoor and nature-based schools with thoughtful bulk purchasing, helping programs plan around their budget, climate, age groups, and type of play - so kids are comfortable and schools can focus on learning, not logistics.

At our core, we exist to remove guesswork. We recommend fewer, better options based on a child’s age, activity level, and climate and pair them with clear, honest guidance. No overcomplicating. No unnecessary products.

We’re a small, women- and mom-founded business built on muddy boots, creek crossings, and rushed mornings that go better when the gear just works. Our goal is simple: help families spend less time worrying about what kids are wearing and more time watching them play, explore, and learn outside.

Meet the Team

Alyssa Marsh - Co-Founder & Bulk Purchasing Lead

Alyssa is a mom and longtime outdoor enthusiast with a background in apparel merchandising and marketing - and a genuine fascination with how fabrics actually perform in real life. She’s spent years evaluating apparel - how it’s made, how it performs, and what actually holds up over time.

Her turning point came when her son started forest school in Minnesota. Suddenly, gear wasn’t about style or trends, it was about staying warm, dry, and comfortable through long days outside. Finding reliable recommendations proved harder than expected, and too much of the guidance felt confusing, inconsistent, or incomplete.

Seeing that gap firsthand, Alyssa teamed up with others in the children’s apparel world to create a clearer, more trustworthy resource for outdoor school families. Outdoor School Shop launched in 2021 with a simple mission: make it easier for families to find gear that truly works for outdoor learning without the guesswork. Today, Alyssa still tests gear the same way she always has - by asking whether it would work for her own kids on a cold, wet school day.

Gina Johnson - Online Product Merchandiser

Gina wears many hats at Outdoor School Shop and she’s the reason things work the way they should.

She’s the connector between our products, systems, and people, making sure information stays accurate and up to date from the warehouse to the website. From product details and images to sizing, specifications, and organization, Gina’s behind-the-scenes work helps families shop with confidence and fewer questions.

Gina also handles all orders - from individual family purchases to bulk school orders. She makes sure orders are accurate, clearly communicated, and move smoothly from checkout to delivery, so families and schools know exactly what to expect.

Gina lives in Texas with her husband and three kids. When she’s not behind the scenes keeping ODSS running smoothly, she enjoys running, reading, and getting outside with her family.

Amanda Clary - Customer Experience Lead

Amanda leads all customer-facing operations at Outdoor School Shop and she’s the reason families and schools feel supported from first question to final delivery.

With over 20 years in retail, including roles at Kohl’s, Columbia Sportswear, and Silver Jeans Co., Amanda brings deep product knowledge and a practical, solutions-first approach to every interaction. She’s focused on helping people get clear answers quickly - and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Amanda oversees customer experience across the board, including questions, returns, product requests, reviews, referrals, and our Outdoor School Directory. She also manages the custom online shops created for school partners, ensuring they’re intuitive, accurate, and easy to use - so ordering is straightforward and stress-free.

Known for her thoughtful, detailed responses, Amanda is committed to finding the right answer - even when it takes extra digging. Her goal is simple: make sure every customer feels heard, supported, and confident in their decisions.

Amanda lives in the Chicago area with her husband and two young children. When she’s not helping families and schools navigate gear decisions, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, whether on neighborhood walks or at local parks.

Jenny Lonnstam - Social Media & Marketing Manager

Jenny is a native Swede living in Nashville with her husband, two kids, and multiple dogs. She grew up attending schools in Sweden where outdoor time was part of everyday learning, year-round, guided by the belief that “there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.”

After moving to the U.S., Jenny noticed a major difference in how much time kids spend outdoors. She quickly realized that access to reliable, climate-appropriate gear plays a huge role. Jenny is deeply passionate about helping families understand that good gear doesn’t have to be complicated or overpriced - and that it opens the door to more outdoor time for kids everywhere.