Ashley

Erdely

Educator & Nature Enthusiast

Children’s Author

Travels from: Portland, OR

“Ashley transforms a room into a rich, explorative space!” — Danny Cosgrove, Executive Director of the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center

Ashley Erdely is a published author, educator, and passionate nature enthusiast who grew up on a 130-acre llama ranch in Northern Michigan, where childhood meant camping trips, national park adventures, and the occasional llama as a best friend. Those early experiences shaped her lifelong mission: helping children build meaningful connections with the natural world. In 2005, that mission brought her west to the Pacific Northwest.

There, she co-created a thriving 6th-grade outdoor school program for Hood River County Schools in Oregon. After a decade in the classroom, she transitioned to freelance education—co-founding a local Forest Free School for preschoolers, developing curriculum for an environmental education school and homeschool groups, and becoming a specialist in dyslexia. Though no longer classroom-based, she stays connected to kids through a free college essay coaching workshop she runs every summer for juniors in her community.

Ashley has just wrapped up her first book tour, brimming with gratitude for the experience, and is now turning her attention to a new writing project. She’ll continue to offer book signings, wildflower events, and hands-on workshops for kids and caregivers—always finding new ways to share her love of native plants, storytelling, and outdoor exploration with young learners.

She lives in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area in White Salmon, Washington, with her husband, daughter, and (unofficially) 750 species of wildflowers. You can usually find her outside—digging for worms in the garden, leading nature workshops for curious kids, or raft-camping on one of the region’s many wild rivers.

Ashley's Featured Titles

Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest For Kids (A Timber Press Field Guide)

Timber Press |

October 14, 2025

Children’s

For the next generation of wildflower hunters, this fun and fact-filled guide helps children learn about and love the region’s most common blooms.

Featuring over 50 wildflower species commonly spotted in the Pacific Northwest, this dynamic and engaging guide is targeted toward readers between 8-12 years old. Brimming with accessible science and keys to identifying each flower, it also highlights the interesting, unusual, and entertaining facts about wildflowers and their pollinators that kids love. Written and designed by teachers for kids, this is the perfect tool for the classroom and the perfect companion on the trail. Likely a young reader’s first field guide, Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest for Kids will spark a young person’s interest in wildflowers and the wider world around them.

Creative Nonfiction, Environmental Concerns, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers, Natural World, Nonfiction

Meet the Wildflowers

Meet and explore native wildflowers of your region of the Pacific Northwest; why they’re fun and why they matter.

How Wildflowers "TALK"

Discover how wildflowers “talk” (even without mouths!) and take a playful look at plant-pollinator teamwork.

Write Like a Naturalist

Learn to transform observation into vivid nonfiction; plus a behind-the-scenes look at publishing and how to be an author.

From Idea to Book

Go behind the scenes of nonfiction publishing from spark to publication. Brainstorm, map ideas, and begin creating your own book concept.

Little Legs, Big Adventures

Discover simple ways to support child-led nature play with tools and inspiration to turn everyday outdoor moments into meaningful connections.

Power to the Pollinators

It’s impossible to learn about wildflowers without exploring their pollinators. This hands-on and engaging workshop highlights and celebrates pollinators and their powerful role they play in a wildflower’s life.

All talks can be customized for different age groups

Coming Soon!

“Ashley Erdely’s book “Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest for kids” is an excellent addition to the region’s collection of field guides. The book’s unique focus on making the content accessible to children helps it to stand out from similar offerings. The photos of the 50+ commonly encountered species included in the book are outstanding and are a tremendous help with identification. Organizing the book by flower color also helps with matching up plants observed with the plant profiles provided. I thoroughly enjoyed the profiles, and I say that as someone who already knows these plants. This is a wonderful guide to inspire the next generation of natural historians and botanists.” — David Giblin, University of Washington Herbarium

“Birds of the Pacific Northwest by Tom Myers and Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest by Ashley Erdley are exceptional field guides that align beautifully with the interpretive vision of Oregon State Parks. Both books serve as highly valuable outdoor education tools, helping visitors deepen their connection to place through accessible, science-based information. The engaging layout, clear organization, and thoughtful design make them approachable for beginners while still meaningful for seasoned naturalists. I see these guides as powerful companions for discovery in the field and lasting resources beyond the park visit.” — Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

“Ashley transforms a room into a rich, explorative space!” — Danny Cosgrove, Education Director, Columbia Gorge Discovery Center

“I would recommend Ashley’s writing workshops to any and every teacher. I have worked with her throughout the past several years on different projects. She recognizes and values the needs of diverse learners in the classroom and she honors every student’s voice in a beautiful way. Each student creates a piece of writing for which they feel proud and excited. She’s a talented writer and educator!” — Becky Williams, Artist-in-Residency Program, 2022 & Author-in-Residency Program, 2024

“Having Ashley guest-teach was an incredible experience—engaging, insightful, and truly inspiring. Ashley brings a unique energy and depth of knowledge that captivated the class and elevated the learning environment in a remarkable way.” — Maggie Roediger, Author-in-Residency Program, 2025

“We were so lucky to have Ashley Erdely work with our 3rd graders! She was engaging, patient, and inspired our students to see themselves as creative thinkers and writers. Her lessons were thoughtfully tailored to connect with what we were studying, making the experience both meaningful and memorable.” — Jill Chance, Author-in-Residency Program, 2025

“Ashley Erdely shares her passion for wildflowers and writing in equal measure! She designs engaging lessons that really appeal to third-graders, and is able to reach a wide variety of learners. My students have been fortunate to work with Ms. Erdely to learn about pollinators, research native plants, explore persuasive writing and poetry, and write a wildflower guidebook – all activities she planned and delivered were enthusiastically received!” — Ericka Miller, Artist-in-Residency Program, 2023 & Author-in-Residency Program, 2025

Ashley’s Events Page

Kids’ Wildflower Art Contest

Pollinator Scavenger Hunt in COLOR

Wildflowers EDUCATORS GUIDE