Adrianne (she/her) is a white settler of Norwegian, English, and Scottish heritage, her last name means “small” in Gaelic. She grew up on Treaty 6 territory, home of the nêhiyawak (Plains Cree) and homeland of the Métis nation in Saskatoon, and now lives as an uninvited guest on the unceded lands of the W̱SÁNEĆ and Lekwungen/Songhees peoples. Camping in Saskatchewan and living on Vancouver Island has deeply shaped her, and she is committed to decolonizing her practice, building reciprocal relationships, and connecting learners with the land, more-than-human beings, and each other through experiential, hands-on learning.
Adrianne works as an educator with over 10 years of teaching experience, much of it in forest school and blended online learning in the Greater Victoria, BC area. She began her teaching career in Saskatchewan with grade 1 and 3/4 classrooms, then moved to Vancouver Island in 2016 to co-create the Oak and Orca Bioregional School Forest School (K–9). She later co-founded two Heartwood Learning Communities—Westshore Outdoor (K–5) and Colquitz Outdoor (grades 4–9)—offering nature-connected learning for home learners through the Comox School District SD71 since 2020 and 2022. Before teaching, she was National Program Director for Little Green Thumbs and coached competitive gymnastics (she still loves cartwheels, especially outdoors).
She holds a B.Sc. in Land Use and Environmental Studies and a B.Ed. in Elementary Education from the University of Saskatchewan, a Graduate Certificate in Environmental Education and Communication from Royal Roads University, and is completing a Teacher Librarian Certificate at Queen’s University. She has also done the in-person training with the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada’s Forest School Educator Course, Certificate in Ecological Education (Certee), and many other nature-connection programs.
Alison Leslie began her teaching career at a small rural school in Surrey, B.C., where she discovered her passion for integrating the natural world into her students' daily curriculum. This initial experience ignited her interest in ecological education, leading her to pursue further studies. In 2019, Alison completed her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Ecological Education through the lens of Indigenous Perspectives. Alison has had the opportunity to be the Vice-Principal for an outdoor learning program in Surrey, B.C. before making the move and taking a Principal role in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. In becoming a school leader, Alison has enjoyed working and collaborating with educators, local environmental/agricultural organizations and indigenous knowledge holders to create rich land-based programing to the students as well as encouraging and inspiring staff to weave this important learning into their own teaching practices.
My name is Arija, and I’m an educator, storyteller, and lifelong learner with a deep-rooted connection to the outdoors, shaped by my upbringing in Whitehorse, Yukon.
I own and operate Out and About Forest and Nature School, located in Petawawa and Foresters Falls. With over 20 years of experience as a snowboard instructor and outdoor educator across Canada and beyond, I’ve developed a strong understanding of how nature supports holistic development and the human nervous system.
I hold a degree from the University of Ottawa, an Early Childhood Education diploma from Algonquin College, and Forest School Practitioner certification through the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada, alongside safety training in Wilderness First Aid and Swift Water Rescue.
My work with children, youth, adults, and individuals with special needs has strengthened my commitment to inclusive, nature-based education, helping others build confidence, resilience, and skills in risky play. Now based in Petawawa, I continue to explore outdoor education, child development, and neuroscience while supporting educators, families, and communities in fostering meaningful connections with the land.
Becky (she/her/elle) is the founder of Rewilding Education, a Farm and Forest School program dedicated to fostering connections between children, youth, and families and the natural world. Becky recognizes that she works, plays and lives on the traditional territories of the Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Anishinaabe Peoples within the area covered by the Williams Treaties of 1923. Committed to reconciliation, she engages in unlearning, reflecting, and collaborating with Indigenous communities to honour their knowledge, sovereignty, and cultures. With gratitude for the Land’s gifts, she strives to nurture and protect its natural beauty for future generations through meaningful and reciprocal actions.
Becky's educational philosophy emphasizes experiential, outdoor learning, sustainable and regenerative food growing practices, and nurturing curiosity through hands-on, child-led experiences. As an Ontario Certified Teacher, Becky integrates her curriculum expertise into play-based learning, pulling inspiration from educational philosophies such as Waldorf, Reggio Emilia and Forest and Nature School approaches. Her passion for sustainability and community engagement drives her commitment to mentoring educators in developing innovative, nature-based learning practices that promote children’s holistic development. Becky’s connection to nature began in the forests, farms, and wetlands of Simcoe County, grew through summers exploring the Rockies, and deepened during her teaching experience in Mongolia, where she embraced the nomadic culture’s trust in natural, child-centered learning. Now, as an entrepreneur, teacher and homeschooling mother of two, Becky infuses joyful, play-based learning into everyday life, inspiring lifelong curiosity in her children and her broader community. Her mission is to help inspire the rewilding of education in our world to a place where children spend more time outside than inside.
I live, work and play on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg People/ Je vis, travaille et joue sur le territoire traditionnel et non cédé du peuple Algonquin Anishinabeg.
I have a passion for teaching outdoors! Prior to working in the field of Education I worked in Therapeutic Recreation for the City of Ottawa. En tant qu’enseignante d’éducation physique et de santé à l’école CHEO d’Ottawa, ma pratique s’est considérablement développée. CHEO School students have complex medical needs, they attend our kindergarten program while receiving therapy (physio, speech and occupational). During my years at CHEO School, I have steadily increased the number of hours our students spend learning outdoors. We use various outdoor areas located on the Hospital Campus, including the Outdoor Classroom, which I began creating shortly before the pandemic from a rubbled storage area. Je suis un ardent défenseur de l’inclusion et du besoin pour tous les enfants d’apprendre et de jouer dans la nature. J’ai deux merveilleux enfants adultes qui aiment encore jouer avec des grenouilles et des serpents et faire de merveilleuses randonnées pour trouver des cascades secrètes!
Cass works within the Lake Simcoe watershed, which has been inhabited by Indigenous Peoples since creation; recognizing the Williams Treaties First Nations, including the Chippewas of Georgina Island, Rama, Beausoleil, the Mississaugas of Alderville, Curve Lake, Hiawatha, the Credit and Scugog Island, as well as the Huron Wendat and the Metis Nation of Ontario, Region 7.
Cassandra is the Education Program Specialist for the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, an OCT, certified Forest School Practitioner, wife, and mom of three kids. She works primarily at an outdoor education centre providing nature-based experiences for early learners, and students from kindergarten to grade 12. She has worked extensively with the local school boards to champion outdoor learning, teacher professional development to support outdoor and environmental education, and community partners in working to create more opportunities to take learners of all ages outside. She lives in Ontario, and when she isn't working enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time with her family.
Je suis une enseignante de maternelle/jardin nouvellement retraitée. J’ai toujours intégré la nature dans mes pratiques pédagogiques. Pour moi, chaque moment passé dehors représente une occasion d’apprendre, d’observer et de développer de nouvelles habiletés. Mon approche valorise l’enquête menée par les élèves, la connexion avec l’environnement, ainsi que le développement social et émotionnel des jeunes enfants.
My name is Colleen Kiselyk, and I am privileged to walk, live, and learn on the unceded traditional lands in Treaty 8 territory in North Central Alberta (Lone Pine, AB), the ancestral home of the Woodland Cree, ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ ᐊᐢᑭᕀ Nêhiyaw-Askiy (Plains Cree), Michif Piyii (Métis), and the Iyahe Nakonmakoce (Stoney). I have completed my Master’s in Outdoor Learning Across the Curriculum with Acadia University in Nova Scotia, a journey that has deepened and enriched my passion for learning with and from the land.
I am currently teaching Kindergarten in Fort Assiniboine, AB, where I joyfully explore outdoor learning with my youngest students. I also continue to work as a teacher leader and the Alberta Team Lead with Let's Talk Science.
Outdoor Learning is at the heart of everything I do—I love helping children step outside into the world’s best and biggest classroom.
My husband and I run our own business, where we introduce and expand the learning of all ages in canoeing, river tripping, winter camping, bushcraft, snowshoe trekking, and outdoor learning (www.naturealiveadventures.com
I am also a mom to five girls, two stepsons, two sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, AND a grandma to four granddaughters and one grandson—and, of course, slave to six cats!
Crystal Roberts lives and works on the unceded, unsurrendered land of the Wolastoquey people, otherwise known as Minto, New Brunswick. She is the Experiential Learning Lead at the NB Department of Education, and is leading the movement towards integrated outdoor learning at all levels. Crystal is a student in the StFX M.Ed program, doing her thesis on the intersection of French Immersion programs and outdoor learning for educators, hoping to break down barriers for all. She is the 2024 Canadian Wildlife Educator of the Year, and has a side gig as a regional figure skating coach in her local rink.
When she’s not working, she can be found hiking, gardening, or hunting for mushrooms with her kids.
David is currently a facilitator with the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Wild Schools Program and the BC Teachers' Federation Teacher Inquiry Program, teaches grade 4/5 in North Vancouver and consults with the Yukon Association of Education Professionals. Previously, he was a Faculty Associate in SFU’s Advanced Professional Studies; focused on Nature, place-Based, Inquiry and Experiential Learning. Translating research into practice, he co-developed and implemented the Healthy Buddies program (BC Children's Hospital) in BC, NWT, Alberta and Manitoba. David trained with the University of Berkeley Beetles Program (https://beetlesproject.org/) and finds great joy creating learning opportunities outside the walls of the school; using the communities “as the textbook”. His advocacy is captured in a 2108 TEDx presentation: https://www.
I acknowledge that I am on the traditional territory of Treaty 3, home to the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. I am committed to building healthy communities and reaffirming our collective responsibility to maintain a loving and respectful relationship with the land.
My name is Elisabeth Han, and I am a passionate and dedicated Early Years facilitator. I am committed to inquiry-based explorations in nature, encouraging children to embrace their curiosity. I foster rich, experiential learning, support age-appropriate ecological literacy, and promote healthy living by connecting children with nature. I am dedicated to making the world a safer place where people can be their true selves, with respect for rights, recognition of individuality, and celebration of each person for who they are.
Gina Marucci (she/her) is an experienced educator in her 21st year with the York Region District School Board, ON. She lives and works on the lands of the First Nations of the Williams Treaties, which includes the Mississaugas of Alderville, Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Scugog Island and the Chippewas of Beausoliel, Rama, and Georgina Island.
She currently teaches Science to students from Kindergarten to Grade 3, where she weaves outdoor learning, inquiry, and land-based experiences into daily instruction. Over the course of her career, Gina has held several roles, including Outdoor Education Resource Teacher, Outdoor Environmental Education Consultant, and seconded teacher with the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation.
Her work is grounded in fostering meaningful connections between children, community, and the land, and in creating rich learning opportunities that honour diverse ways of knowing.
Heidi is an Outdoor Place-based Learning Teacher at the Cheakamus Center which is the Outdoor School Program for North Vancouver School District. She is also an Outdoor Learning Teacher Mentor in her district and on the Exec for EEPSA. Heidi has extensive experience teaching outdoor learning and is happy to support teachers and share ideas and resources.
Janice Hagan (she/her) has extensive experience teaching and leading K–6 education in diverse settings, ranging from public to international schools. Her career has taken her into classrooms and leadership roles that span cultures, communities, and educational systems, giving her a unique perspective on what truly helps students thrive. Over the years, she has developed a strong specialization in early learning, supporting diverse needs, and fostering language development. A passionate advocate for movement-based learning, Janice integrates physical engagement into lessons to create dynamic, inclusive environments where all students can experience success. She also contributes actively to educational teams and professional networks, sharing her expertise through collaboration, mentoring, and professional learning to empower every learner.
I am joining you from the Treaty Seven Land of Moh'kinstsis. I use my five senses to acknowledge and respect the land. I notice. I wonder. I am curious about.
Jennifer Engbrecht is of settler and Red River Métis heritage (and a citizen of the Manitoba Métis Federation) living on Treaty 1 Territory. She has had an interest in the environment, and infusing nature and science into music classes for many years. Jennifer has had many years of experience in all seasons with engaging students with the land around them through music and the arts, as well as using the arts as inspiration for how to communicate to the hearts of others. Music and the arts have a way of sharing from deep within; a wonderful way to create rich learning to connecting with, and in turn, helping, our earth. Jennifer is a member of the executive of Educators for Climate Action Manitoba, who provide professional development each year to inspire other Manitoban teachers to bring nature and sustainability to their schools. Jennifer is also a Project Wet facilitator, and has certification as a Forest Bathing Practitioner.
Jennifer has had the honour of leading several well-received sessions for the Take Me Outside Conference in Banff in 2024 and 2025, as well as presenting as a music/arts session for Learning for a Sustainable Future. In 2024-2025, Jennifer was thrilled to lead students in nature experiences that resulted in the creation of a river soundscape that was presented at the UNESCO Celebration at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in May 2025.
Jennifer is currently working on a book about infusing music and the arts into outdoor learning.
Website engbrecht.weebly.com
My name is Jennifer Gruno, and I spent my early childhood on a self-sustaining 10-acre farm in Kemptville, Ontario on the unceded, and unsurrendered territory of the Anishinabek. There I had very formative experiences running wild and climbing trees. My family then moved to T’Sou-ke nation lands in Sooke on Vancouver Island when I was 8 and years later, I became a high school teacher on those lands. I taught secondary English and Physical and Health Education in School District 62 for 11 years before coming to academia. I have done all three of my degrees (BEd, MA, and PhD) at the University of Victoria on the beautiful, traditional lands of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) Peoples. I am now an Assistant Teaching Professor in the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education. My teaching and research aims are
to foster young people’s nature literacy through regular participation in nature-based physical activity. My goal is to support pre-service and in-service teachers in fostering this connectedness and delivering a wholistic and meaningful curriculum with their students. I feel developing a deep connection with nature is a way to grow our capacity as people, and as
educators, to face the climate emergency.
I live, play, teach, and learn on the ancestral lands of the Ute people. They have been the stewards of this land for generations. I pay respect to their history, culture, and ongoing presence of this land. I continue to be inspired by their deep connection to the land. Their history begins here, in Western Colorado, as they have no migration story. I remember the Mountain Utes of the Shining Mountains as I connect with the land and water, so full of life.
Joy has been the building block of Jodi Simpson’s teaching career of 23 years. She currently teaches kindergarten. She has also taught preschool, first grade, and second grade. She is the author of the Circle-Time Poetry series, published by Scholastic in 2005, as well as, Read Snack & Learn With Favorite Picture Books in 2004. Sharing ideas and activities with other teachers helps her grow as a mentor teacher for many student teachers. She also worked with a team of author-collaborators for her school district’s curriculum. Her teaching journey includes being the recipient of the North Fork Teacher of the Year 2014 and Colorado Teacher of the Year Finalist 2017. Currently, she is a part of a nature-based learning cohort of teachers that supports other educators in teaching students outdoors.
She is excited to inspire others to experience the rewards of connecting children with the natural world. Language arts, social studies, children’s play and curiosity, along with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) are many pathways to falling in love with learning and seeing how we are connected to one another in this beautiful world.
I believe that nature has the power to transform how children learn and how educators teach. My journey began in China, where I helped lead national initiatives in nature and forest education, supporting schools and teachers in creating outdoor spaces that ignited curiosity, confidence, and a sense of wonder in young learners. After moving to the United States, I continued this mission through Montessori education, nature-based curriculum design, and community outdoor programs, always guided by the belief that every child deserves meaningful time outdoors.
As an Assistant Cubmaster and a graduate of Wood Badge, BALOO, and IOLS training, I have embraced hands-on outdoor leadership—camping, knots, navigation, outdoor cooking, and first aid—which has deepened my commitment to empowering others. These experiences remind me every day that outdoor learning is not just a teaching method, but a pathway to resilience, joy, and connection.
As a mentor, I hope to inspire educators to step outside with confidence, to see the potential in every natural space, and to experience the magic that happens when we allow children to learn from the world around them.
I am an immigrant settler and uninvited guest living and teaching on the ancestral, traditional, unsurrendered territory of the Musqueam people at the mouth of stal̕əw̓, what we call the Fraser River, where Coast Salish people have participated in their seasonal rounds for thousands of years. Immersing myself in Truth and Reconciliation has opened up ways of knowing and seeing the natural world that are uplifting, validating, and humbling. In particular, I enjoy acknowledging the land and territory, in different ways and words, wherever I find myself.
I have always found comfort, curiosity, and learning outdoors, so taking my students outside just comes naturally. Before retiring from teaching elementary school children as a Learning Resource Teacher and as an intermediate Classroom Teacher, I developed curriculum connections to outdoor education as well as explored outdoor education as curriculum, always in collaborative partnerships with other educators. Currently semi-retired, I continue to take students outside whenever possible, to mentor teachers to find their place in an outdoor classroom, and to heighten my engagement with the natural world through such activities and pastimes as nature journals, land art, and cold water swimming.
Kate (they/she) is an environmental education professional currently residing in Southern California. Over the last 15+ years, Kate has worn many hats within the education, and exotic animal care field. From Interpretive Guide to Education Coordinator to Director of Education, Kate has a deep understanding of the skills needed to connect audiences of all ages to nature. Kate has held positions within many prestigious conservation organizations in the Southern California area such as the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Sea Life Aquarium, SeaWorld San Diego, Birch Aquarium, Fleet Science Center, and more. Most recently, Kate has taken on a new venture as the Director of their very own outdoor education organization San Diego Earth Explorers, primarily focused on providing environmental education to homeschool students of all ages across San Diego County. Additionally, Kate and her partner work closely with non-profit organizations such as the Sierra Club Seal Society to design and lead their education and outreach programming.
This past summer Kate designed and coordinated programming concerning the conservation of local marine habitats to the entire San Diego Public Library system called Explore the Shore! primarily focused on the current human/wildlife conflict of pinniped species in the La Jolla Shores. Outside of environmental education, Kate is an experienced wildlife caretaker and has worked with a variety of species from around the world such as: marine mammals, terrestrial wildlife, reptiles, exotic birds, raptors, primates, canids, and more. Recently, she has become increasingly involved in the field of wildlife rehab, providing rehabilitative care for sick and injured seals and sea lions in Laguna Beach, as well as local terrestrial species at a secondary facility in Ramona.
Kate is currently attending Oregon State University's Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Science program focusing on Marine Ecology, as well as Education. Kate has been a Certified Interpretive Guide by the National Association of Interpretation since 2017, which she believes has greatly helped her in her success within the field, and has enjoyed sharing the tools learned from this certification with other EE's.
Throughout their career they have taken great passion and concern in providing training and mentorship to their teams and volunteers, ensuring that the next generation of environmental educators feel confident and excited for their role in connecting their communities to the natural world around them. Kate is passionate about designing sound curriculum, the art of interpretation, creating equitable and inclusive conservation education programming, adapting current programming to meet the needs of their communities, and most importantly striving to connect youth of all ages to the wonders of the wild.
Kimberlly Walters (she//her) lives on Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq people and part of the Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy). As an Acadian and European settler, she is committed to moving beyond land acknowledgment and engaging in the ongoing work of decolonizing her own understanding—and that of her students and children. She thrives to honour this place by learning from Mi'kmaw culture and language and by integrating community connections and Indigenous pedagogy into her teaching.
Her practice is also shaped by her years in Tetlit Zheh and Inuvik, the homelands of the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit peoples, where she learned deeply from Elders, colleagues, and students. Now a public school teacher and mother of three, Kimberlly continues to learn and feels most at home near water or among the trees.
I respectfully acknowledge that the land on which I live, teach, and play is the traditional territory of the WSÁNEĆ (Saanich), Lkwungen (Songhees), and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) peoples.
I’m so grateful to be joining such a special community this year and stepping into the role of Mentor. My day-to-day work truly feels like a gift — filled with laughter, song, muddy hands, and moments of wonder as I learn and grow alongside children and teachers on the land we share.
As the Director of Seedlings Forest School and as a Junior Kindergarten teacher, I see myself as a teacher, an advocate, and an author. My deepest passion lies in exploring the beautiful, brave world of risky play — where curiosity meets courage and children discover who they are through movement, challenge, and joy.
I believe that “every child deserves a champion — an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists they become the best they can possibly be.”
I am a Settler of European ancestry who currently resides on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓ əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I am passionate about Outdoor and Experiential education, and about finding ways to work towards reconciliation through my teaching and my own relationships.
Since 2013, I have worked at Stratford Hall, a K-12 International Baccalaureate School in Vancouver, BC, and I have taught MYP Spanish, Individuals and Societies, and DP Geography and History. Most recently, I also developed my own MYP Design course, Community and Climate Action, which aims to engage my learners with local solutions to climate issues. I am also currently teaching Outdoor and Experiential Education in Grades 9-10, as well as with Grades K-3 at my school.
I have also worked in an elementary forest school classroom, and in 2024, I completed the "Four Seasons of Reconciliation" e-course from the Reconciliation Education and Outdoor Learning network. I am excited to learn and share with everyone in the program this year.
Lori Ann connects with the sacred permeating all of nature through curious attunement with her senses. Her teachers include wild plants, poetry, seasonal rituals, traditional storytelling, vitalist herbalism, and her own children. She currently lives, learns, and educates on the ancestral homelands of the Wichita, Osage, Kickapoo, and Kiowa, and is grateful for their caretaking and knowledge-sharing, as well as the care, teaching, and partnership of the Iowa tribe, her closest Indigenous neighbors.
For 27 years, Lynne Morneault has been teaching in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, guided by a belief that children learn best through joy, play and connection. Whether teaching in French school or immersion programs, she integrates ludopédagogie, outdoor exploration and forest bathing practices to help students discover wonder in the natural world. Lynne is deeply committed to differentiation, ensuring that every learner, regardless of language level, background or learning profile, can access meaningful, nature rich experiences. Her work is rooted in wellness, language, creativity and belonging, a combination she now brings to Take Me Outside as part of a national movement to reconnect children with nature. She cannot wait to meet everyone in the online Campfire Sessions and continue building a community of educators who love learning outdoors.
I live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Beechview specifically!). I am still early on in my career (almost at the 5 year mark!). I am very passionate about conservation and reaching audiences through education. I joined the Allegheny County Park Ranger team as the trail crew lead before coming on as a full-time ranger. I work primarily in the 5 Southern region parks within the county. I am interested in improving the trail system for everyone, while also connecting to people, both locals and visitors, through interpretive programs and resource sharing. I am very excited to connect with other outdoor educators and learners in order to hear others' experiences and improve my skills as an interpretive park ranger and human being
Mandy is the founder and lead educator of Little Wise Owls Outdoor Learning in Chilliwack, BC. With years of experience guiding children through nature-based programs, she is passionate about fostering curiosity, confidence, and connection through outdoor play and forest school learning. Mandy’s work centers on nurturing a love of the natural world while supporting social-emotional growth, creativity, and resilience in young learners.
This will be Mandy’s second year mentoring with Take Me Outside, and she is excited to continue connecting with educators who share her vision of meaningful, hands-on learning in nature.
Mandy gratefully lives, learns, and teaches on the unceded traditional lands of the Stó:lō Nation, including the Pilalt, Sema:th, and Ts’elxwéyeqw tribes, and honours their deep and ongoing relationship with this land.
I acknowledge that I am privileged to work, live and play on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Stó:lō people, specifically the Aitchelitz, Skowkale, Soowahlie, Squiala, Tzeachten, and Yakweakwioose First Nations. I am committed to Truth and Reconciliation, learning Indigenous history, honouring Indigenous knowledge and building reciprocal relationships.
Marieke has nearly 30 years of experience working with children and adults focusing on education. She became a certified elementary teacher 12 years ago as she was dedicated to making a difference in their students' lives. Marieke continuously searches for ways to improve her students' learning experience.
In 2022, an introductory course on outdoor classrooms offered by her school board transformed her teaching approach. Inspired by the potential of natural settings to enrich learning, she has since incorporated weekly outdoor learning experiences.
In 2024, Marieke became a certified Forest and Nature Practitioner in Canada which added a new dimension to her career and further inspired students in their relationship with the environment. Witnessing firsthand the growth of students’ understanding and respect for nature, Marieke remains devoted to nurturing this connection through thoughtful, hands-on educational practices.
Outside her teaching work, Marieke enjoys spending time with her family and their 2 dogs, camping, traveling and reading.
Meaghan Wilbur (she/her) is from Bathurst, NB and is a passionate outdoor educator and leader in advancing outdoor learning across New Brunswick. She lives and works on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Mi’kmaq people. With extensive experience teaching and supporting educators in K–12, Meaghan brings creativity, collaboration, and a deep belief in the power of learning beyond classroom walls.
She has delivered professional learning sessions across the province and beyond, co-developed outdoor learning resources aligned with New Brunswick’s holistic curriculum is part of the province’s Long-Term Recommendations Committee for encouraging movement and getting outside. Through her work as a classroom and PE teacher, district lead, podcast host, and conference presenter, she continues to inspire teachers to connect curriculum, community, and climate through meaningful outdoor experiences.
Outside of her professional role, Meaghan stays active throughout the seasons by hiking, paddling, snowboarding, and yoga. She also loves making music and crafting parody songs for children. Her favourite pastime is going on adventures, near and far, with her two children and husband.
Background: B.Sc. Honours (Biology and French), B.Ed., Forest School Practitioner, Teacher
Location: Algonquin, Anishinabe, and Haudenosaunee traditional territories, in the south of Ottawa
Meaghan’s love of nature began when she was a girl going hiking and camping with her family, and grew through many years of guiding and, later, adventure camping. She completed the Duke of Edinburgh Award and experienced the expedition of a lifetime when she traveled to Canada’s Arctic and Greenland with Students On Ice. An avid traveler, she also visited India, many countries in Europe, and spent a summer living and working on the south coast of France, always seeking out natural spaces to explore!
Professionally, Meaghan has 16 years of experience as a primary school teacher, teaching French immersion at several grade levels. She spent a year homeschooling and running a home-based learning pod during COVID. She has always loved bringing the learning outside. She first became interested in Forest School when her two oldest children attended a Forest School summer camp in 2015. Meaghan completed the Forest School Practitioners Course in February 2022. She spent a year teaching at Chelsea Forest School and is now back in the primary classroom, taking her students outside for learning every day.
At home, Meaghan enjoys camping and exploring with her husband and their five children. She also enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, gardening, skiing, and baking.
For the past decade, I have passionately dedicated myself to establishing and leading a nature school program at my preschool, situated on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish people of the Songhees First Nation. I am honoured to be one of just four educators recognized with the Outdoor Canada Play 2021 National Award for our innovative approach to outdoor education. Additionally, I was proud to be a runner-up for Natural Curiosity’s Edward Burtynsky Award for Teaching Excellence in Environmental Education for the 2021-22 academic year.
In February 2023, I was selected as one of 65 educators by Learning Outside Together (LOT) to mentor fellow educators, guiding them in the implementation of the LOT Curriculum. This past May, I had the privilege of presenting at the Outdoor Learning Conference, where I shared my insights on the transformative power of outdoor learning.
I remain deeply committed to fostering a connection between children and nature, ensuring that our educational practices honour the land and the rich cultural heritage of the First Nations peoples.
Megan Sandham (she/her) is a Coordinator of Primary Learning in the Delta School District on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Tsawwassen and Musqueam First Nations. She completed her Masters in Imaginative Education with a research focus on The Walking Curriculum and embraces every chance she gets to guide and support K-12 educators as they take learning outside.
Natalie Breton (she/her), from Sudbury, Ontario, is a teacher and author of children’s books. With a deep love for animals and their habitats, Natalie infuses her writing with a passion for nature, inspiring her mission to teach environmental education. You can learn more about her work at https://nataliebreton.org/.
Shannon Mills is a grade 2/3 teacher on Vancouver Island. One of her personal goals for reconciliation is co-writing a territorial acknowledgement with her class each year. This year’s acknowledgement is:
“We would like the acknowledge the traditional territory of the Coast Salish. We are grateful for the earth, specifically the garden and forest that give us air to breathe and food to eat. We would like to thank Esquimalt and Songhees Nations for sharing this land. Hych’ka – Kleco Kleco”
Shannon was born and raised in Ontario. After graduating with her B.A and B.Ed she moved to England to teach and travel for a couple of years. She made the move to B.C in 2018 and found her passion for inquiry and outdoor learning. Shannon loves to combine multiple subject areas outdoors in the school yard, forest and garden at least 3 hours a week. She is excited to continue to support others to get outside and learn.
I acknowledge that I live work, learn and love on the traditional land of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat.
I also acknowledge that this is the unceded land of our more-than-human kin - who have been present on Turtle Island and have been guardians for countless millennia, as well as the traditional knowledge and enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.
I honour and recognize my responsibility to uphold the Dish with One Spoon Wampum agreed on by my ancestors to take only what I need, leave some for others and to live responsibly for the next seven generations that walk here after me.
In my life and in my work, I walk upon the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people, known traditionally as Mi’kma’ki and now referred to as North Eastern Nova Scotia. I use ‘she/her’ pronouns.
I taught in Southern and Northern Alberta prior to having children. My husband and I moved back home to raise our children. We have 3 busy teenagers, 8 laying hens, and a Bernese Newfoundland Poodle! I have an M.Ed. in Outdoor Education and recently graduated with an M.Ed. in Sustainability, Creativity, and Innovation. I have been teaching Outdoor Education for several years, where I am able to foster curricular connections with the natural world.
As an Outdoor Educator, I support student learning through hands-on, land-based experiences that foster engagement, curiosity and environmental stewardship. I have a strong commitment to promoting outdoor and land-based learning and to working with educators to inspire confidence in taking their students outside.
I acknowledge that I live, work and play in Treaty 6 Territory, ancestral and traditional Lands of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux, Nakoda Sioux, and the Fort Edmonton Métis District. I express my deep gratitude and respect for all I have received from the Land.
Sylvie Tissandier is a Forest and Nature School practitioner and teacher in Edmonton where she developed and implemented a nature play and forest school program in an urban K-3 public school. Sylvie loves helping teachers build their capacity and comfort with taking students outside, and connecting kids with nature.
Je suis une enseignante en première année. Je suis passionnée par la mise en place d’activités qui stimulent la curiosité, la résolution de problèmes et l’autonomie. Je privilégie une pédagogie multisensorielle et des projets collaboratifs qui permettent aux élèves d’explorer des concepts à travers des défis concrets et engageants.
For over 40 years I have been an educator with a passionate and purposeful career focussed on place-conscious and nature-based experiential learning. Through my journey I have held leadership positions as the principal Co-administer at NV Outdoor School (aka. Cheakamus Centre), founding member of Environmental Educators of BC which led to C2C and founding director of the capacity building charitable not-for-profit Pacific Foundation for Understanding Nature Society (PacFUNS). I am also honoured to be a PICS Fellow working on re-writing the BC Education - Environmental Learning & Experience document and member of the Wild Pedagogies research consortium. At present as a sessional instructor and mentor of pre-service and graduate teacher-students my efforts are under the umbrella of SFU and UBC. As a PhD student at SFU my research focusses on how place and nature-based experiential education informs our learning and fundamental understandings, as well as, how that learning helps form the people we become.
Whitney is the Director of Wenonah Outdoors, where she oversees all programs run in the Spring and Fall at Wenonah located in Muskoka, Ontario. Whitney shares a long time connection and love for Wenonah, she was a camper in the 1990s, and returned to Wenonah in 2023 as Interim Director of Administration. Whitney has a great institutional knowledge at Wenonah.
Whitney also brings significant educational and practical experience: an undergraduate degree in BC in Tourism Management; Masters of Tourism and Recreation; Management role at Seneca College Outdoor Centre and King Day Camp helping to develop their programs for children of all ages plus corporate leadership and team building training programs.
Whitney lives with her husband and two adventurous boys in Oro-Medonte, Ontario, and has a passion for the outdoors during all seasons – specifically all types of cycling!
I currently reside by the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, in the ancestral homeland and traditional territory of the Monacan Indian Nation. I am the Early Education Program Director at a local non-profit education & play center named Wildrock. My passion for the outdoors started at an early age, and I love nothing more than creating joyful experiences for friends of all ages in nature.