Wild chiLD’s Founder & Executive Director:

Rosie Lynch

Rosie is a mother of two toddlers and busily working nonprofit professional, as well as a writer, activist, and teacher. She’s a lifelong lover of nature, animals, babies, baby animals, learning, and you named it – museums! She has previously worked or interned at museums dedicated to history, geology, art, and global development. Rosie is also drawn to mindfulness, holistic health, world travel, archaeology, evolutionary biology, and environmental sustainability. She is channeling her eclectic interests and passion to improve life for local families with young children into the creation of Wild Child: Museum & Menagerie. Inspired by her background in anthropology, Rosie is drawing on her Master’s in Applied Community Development to make this magic happen, and she is so grateful for all the support!

Her favorite animal is the pygmy marmoset, littlest among all the primates, although elephants are a close second to her heart!

Wild chiLD’s PROGRAM DIRECTOR:

Laurie LANDY Lynch

Laurie, who is Rosie’s mother, brings three decades of expertise as a mother, educator, and now, outstanding grandmother! Her accomplishments include experience studying holistic modalities and working as a licensed massage therapist, becoming a Registered Dietician, running her own daycare after she became a mother to two girls, and earning her Master’s Degree in and teaching Family & Consumer Science (formerly Home Economics) to High Schoolers for 18 years before retiring to care for her grandchildren full-time. She also spent 9 years teaching Sunday School, 6 years leading Girl Scouts, as well as planning parties galore. She will bring all this to the table in overseeing Wild Child’s children’s offerings and ensuring all of our tiny guests get the best care possible. Her favorite animals are dogs & cats!

Menagerie manager:

Heather smith

Heather is a mother of 3 girls: a four year-old, and 11-year-old, as well as a stepdaughter who landed her in her early Grandma-era with two beautiful grand babies. As if that’s not enough, she loves and cares for her pit bull, ball python, an Amazon parrot, and now her daughter’s three sheep .  Heather has 20 plus years of career experience in the Veterinary field, and has a well established base of pet-sitting clients.  While working in the vet field, Heather volunteered as an EMT and went on to earn her Associate’s degree in Medical Science as a Paramedic. Prior to moving to the mountains, Heather set out on a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. She unfortunately  broke her foot 500 miles in, making her journey last from Georgia to Virginia.   She is also an auxiliary member at the VFW, where her husband is the Vice Commander, raising money and providing for local veterans in Harrisonburg.  She is an artisan and loves to nurture a sense of adventure in her children. Something she truly enjoys is wildlife rehabilitation and her experience ranges from baby bunnies to raccoons, opossums, aquatic turtles, birds, fawns, and her favorite, squirrels.  (Her four year old bottle-baby, Jon Henry, still hangs around and resides wild and free in her yard, twitching his tail in acknowledgment when she calls his name.)

Wild Child Guide:

Cailyn McMillan

Cailyn is a warm and wonderful young woman. She is a rising senior and recently completed Triplett Tech’s 10-month Early Childhood Education program. During her time at Triplett, she taught developmentally appropriate lessons for children 3 and 4 years old, and ensuring the facility, equipment and toys were clean and safe at all times. She lives with her mom, dad, grandma, brother, sister, and nephew. They also have three dogs and five cats. She enjoys spending time with her family and pets, hanging out with friends, and walking through nature to relax, take pictures, and collect rocks. Her favorite animal is the lion!

Wild Child Guide:

Siena mason

Siena is passionate about nurturing young children. She is a rising Senior and recently completed Triplett Tech’s 10-month Early Childhood Education training program. During her time at Triplett, she was responsible for developing and implementing age-appropriate curriculum, supervising children’s activities, maintaining a safe and clean environment. She is drawn to Wild Child’s commitment to helping children to have a closer relationship and appreciation of nature. Siena loves to swim and paint. You’ll probably find her at the Woodstock Pool this summer at her other part-time job. Both of her parents work in education, her mom as a now principal of an elementary school, and my dad as a history teacher. They are what sparked her own interest in education and working with kids, and inspires her to hopefully make as great an impact as they have had on young lives. Her favorite animal is the crow because of how intelligent and beautiful they are.

Wild Child Guide:

LINSEY SMITH

Linsey was born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley. Ever since a young age she has always loved playing and being around children. Her grandmother and mother owned a daycare when Linsey was a child, which inspired her love for working with kids. She graduated from Laurel Ridge Community College in 2021 with an Associates of Arts & Science. That same year she was blessed with an adorable niece who called her “Linny” for a while and in 2023 she was blessed with a nephew. Linsey enjoys reading, going on walks, and spending time with her family, especially her niece and nephew. Linsey was originally a Wild Child volunteer during the 2025 Summer Camp season, loved it, and is grateful to have joined the team as a Wild Child Guide. Linsey loves all animals but if she had to pick a favorite…kittens, because they are so cuddly, cute, and soft.