Supported Child Development Consultant at Kinsight BECE, ECE IT SN Hello everyone, Chantal here. I'm excited to continue my journey being an educator with Oak Wisdom Learning. Since starting two years ago I've learned and appreciated the benefits of nature-based play and how beneficial outdoor learning can be for children with all needs. Since graduating in 2019 and obtaining my Honours Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood I have done much with my career, focusing on learning the ins and outs of play-based curriculum, learning all the roles in childcare, starting as an ECE and then becoming a part of a leadership/management team, learning and growing my own professional philosophy through my passion. ​As I continued my journey, I realized my passion led me towards children who have diverse needs and doing my best to do what I could to support them. This led me to become a Supported Child Development Consultant, outside of my time exploring in the forest. I enjoy working and promoting inclusion for my families with children who are neurodiverse and educating educators to support inclusion in an educational setting. As I continue with OWL, I as an educator believe in the importance of creating holistic and inclusive environments for all children who join as I believe nature is a space we can all learn and appreciate in. I truly love what I do and try my best to advocate and support your kiddos. I can't wait to explore and learn with each and every one of you!

Program Facilitator at BCSEA BSc Hello everyone! I'm Celina, a Vancouver native who developed a profound love for the great outdoors during my formative years. Growing up, I had the privilege of participating in a mini school program that encouraged me to immerse myself in the natural world. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong passion for environmental stewardship and inspired my academic journey. ​ I embarked on a quest for knowledge, culminating in a Bachelor's of Science in Global Resource Systems from the University of British Columbia. This academic path deepened my understanding of the intricate web that connects humanity and the environment. Over the past years, I've been fortunate to collaborate with various school districts, channeling my enthusiasm for the environment into educating others about the pressing issue of climate change. This journey through the education field has taught me the invaluable lesson of experiential learning. I firmly believe that hands-on experiences and active engagement are the keys to unlocking a brighter future for our planet. My passion extends beyond the classroom and into the realm of community building. I am a fervent advocate for forging stronger connections between people and the land we inhabit, play upon, and cultivate for our livelihoods. I believe that by fostering a deeper relationship with our environment, we can create a more sustainable and harmonious world for generations to come. I'm excited to bring my dedication to education, environmental awareness, and community building to our outdoor programs where I hope to equip students with the ability to have a positive impact on our planet.

Senior Educator at UBC ECE IT SN Hi Oak Wisdom learning families! My name is Ana, I was born in El Salvador and came to Vancouver when I was seven years old. Something I have always appreciated about this lovely city is all the different seasons it offers, from the lovely lake swims in summer to the cold crips of winter and the light snow that we get in the city. Every season has its charm. A little bit about my educational background, I have always wanted to work with children and originally wanted to be an elementary school teacher, until I discovered the field of early childhood education, and completely loved it. I have been in the field of early childhood education for the last eight years. I currently just finishing my special needs certificate at Vancouver Community College, which allows me to better support children with diverse abilities. Throughout the years, I have run summer camp expeditions and trips, set up various activities, explored different outdoor spaces, and worked with different groups of children with diverse ideas and abilities. I value the outdoors when it comes to children’s exploration and learning, and strongly believe that our environment is a third teacher. There are so many things children and educators can collaborate on when it comes to exploring the outdoors. I also obtained my Associate of Arts Degree in English while at Capilano University. During my spare time I like to explore trails and hikes in the lower mainland with my dog. I also love spending time with my family and friends, bonding over food, going to the movies, karaoke, or seeking out the next adventure.

Teacher at Delta School District No. 37 BSc, BEd Hello everyone! My name is April and I am currently an elementary school teacher working with the Delta School District during the school year. I was born and raised in Vancouver and I absolutely love the outdoor opportunities that the city is able to provide us. Not only do I love being outside in nature, I am also a sports player, specifically volleyball, basketball, and ultimate. As a teacher, I have spent plenty of time engaging in outdoor education and outdoor play with students. Not only do I find that the students are curious and engaged the whole time, but I am also curious myself and have new questions with every outdoor experience. I hope to be able to work with the students and to learn alongside them to explore our interests in nature. I can't wait to spend time outdoors with the students and I look forward to working with the Oak Wisdom Learning team and the families of the community!

Teacher at Surrey School District No. 36 BSc, BEd Hello OWL families! My name is Bal and I am very happy to be joining the program! I have been working with children and youth for the last five years and grew up spending most of my childhood outside. Growing up, if I wasn’t at school I was most likely outside exploring the woods behind my house or playing soccer with my local clubs. After high school I spent my time coaching soccer, reffing, working after school programs, summer camps, and supervising after-care. Last year I graduated from UBC for the SEL cohort. Since then I have been working as a substitute teacher around Surrey, Cloverdale, and White Rock. I love incorporating play-based learning into my work and teaching students about the importance of taking care of our environment. I look forward to being apart of the OWL community and continuing to explore and learn from our beautiful parks.

BEd Glenn Kachmar has been interested in science and nature since he was a young child. He was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba and had many opportunities to experience nature as a child in a family who spent summers camping and relaxing at the lakeside. Canoe trips on the lakes of southern Manitoba and Ontario were formative experiences. Between learning chemistry with home chemistry sets, catching butterflies in fields by his house, hiking nearby mountains and forests once he moved to BC, working at Science World and sharing science experiments as a teacher, both science and nature have always been a major part of his life. Glenn has a Bachelor of Education with a science specialty. He has been teaching and working as a science educator in various settings for the past 31 years. The most memorable science teaching experience was his time as a naturalist at the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary in Victoria, BC. Teaching biology in a beautiful outdoor setting such as Swan Lake provided many amazing opportunities to share the secrets of science with eager students. The surprise visits by owls were probably his favourite unexpected perk of the job. Other notable nature experiences include spending over three years sailing the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans on the Pacific Swift and the Pacific Grace and teaching nature concepts to kids at a camp in southern Manitoba. Glenn’s approach to teaching outdoors prioritizes safety but includes fun games, simulations, challenges, creativity, and humour, and takes into account the individual needs and interests of the students. All students will be welcomed, and challenged by new ideas and activities as well as being encouraged to learn about the importance of the plants and animals we share the planet with.

ECE Hi, my name is Joan Arimado. I graduated from Douglas College with a Diploma in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Special Needs. I have been an educator for more than 11 years. I am a mom of two amazing children ages 7 and 10 yrs. old. I have always loved being outdoors. My family and I go camping, hiking and soaking in the sun on a beach every summer. Growing up, our parents would take my siblings and I for long drives in the countryside where we get to experience and venture further into nearby natural areas. I grew up climbing trees and playing outside; it became my “happy place”. I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by trees, mountains and nature at a young age. I strongly believe that nature and being outdoors offers many learning opportunities for children including literacy and math. During my time with OWL I observed children do lots of counting, measuring, comparing, estimating, sorting, creating letters of the alphabet, and so much more using natural “loose parts” from nature. They ask so many questions and share their observations with their peers and our teachers. There’s definitely a focus on active learning through exploration, play and inquiry. This inspires me to delve in deeper into outdoor learning. It is wonderful!

Child and Youth Care Worker at Delta School District 37 Hi everyone, my name is Jessica Sale and I’m beyond excited to be working alongside Oak Wisdom Learning's wonderful staff and students. I spend a lot of my time in nature's beauty as it’s where I find myself to be the most grounded. My Indigenous roots grow deep in the soil of the Nhitnhat Dididhot clan found in Port Alberni but have weaved beautifully into the Lower Mainland which is where I’m born and raised. Growing up in a diverse environment inspired me to prompt my education towards tailored approaches to support every child’s specific needs. I obtained this knowledge by completing a Social Service Working Profession Diploma, alongside additional certification training. I currently work with the Delta School District as a Child and Youth Care Worker through the school year, working towards building children's social emotional resiliency, while catering to each student's unique needs. I like to maintain a fresh and trusting environment for my students and, I feel one of the best ways of doing that is by allowing them to be influenced by the elements of nature. So you’ll find me outside a lot of my work days, rain or shine! In the off season of the school year I’ve worked for the Delta Life Skills Society working closely with children with diversities teaching them life skills which were heavily conducted outdoors. Coming from an Indigeouse background, I’ve held many important teachings around appreciating what our land has to offer us. I am a strong advocate towards the belief of utilizing what the earth has given us, and adapting around it to influence outdoor play. I truly adore what nature has to offer and am beyond appreciative to be able to share my educational knowledge, as well as my personal experience and am looking forward to working with everyone!

Child Care Resource and Referral Consultant at YMCA ECE Hello! My name is Karla Gaygay. Before moving to Canada, I was a Special Education Teacher. Ever since I was a child, I knew that I wanted to pursue the field of education. I remember playing teacher roles with my younger siblings and cousins. I would stand in front of them with a board in one hand and chalk in the other and pretend that we were in class. But my favourite place to learn was outside. I was fortunate to live in a mountainous area where forests and waterfalls were just a hike away. We would play group games and spend the rest of the day exploring our neighbourhood. Through these experiences, I learned to love teaching, the outdoors, and nature. ​I love to think that nature and outdoor spaces serve as a teachers not only for the children but also for us, the educators and adults. These spaces provide experiences that we can learn from. We learn how to adapt to changes, to respond, to investigate, to problem solve, and to appreciate. Most of all, we learn how to take good care of our environment; to respect its beauty. I hope to inspire children to see the beauty of the outdoors and nature. ​When I am not working, I spend my time with family - singing karaoke, dancing, and sometimes hiking and going on trips. I also enjoy activities on my own such as reading books, listening to podcasts, playing Sudoku, training in martial arts, and learning languages.

Teacher at Claren Academy BSc, BEd Having grown up surrounded by the prairies, foothills and the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Southern Alberta, Katherine loved exploring and questioning the world around her. Why were there grasses and lakes in some areas but forests and wetlands in others? Where did the rocks in the mountains come from? What was on the other side of the Rockies?  While she would not learn the details of these answers until she attended the University of Alberta years later to study Earth Sciences, she did discover what was beyond the mountains at the age of 9. When her family did a road trip along the British Columbian coast, she fell in love with the coastal mountains, inlets, and beaches. She promised herself to one day return and surround herself with those breath-taking ecosystems. For seven years, as an Environmental Scientist she hiked across Alberta and Ontario, studying rock outcrops, surveying rare birds, monitoring water quality, and tracking wildlife. She gained training as an ornithologist, fisheries technician, wetland specialist, hydrogeologist, member of APEGA, and attained a postgraduate certificate in Ecosystem Restoration. Through all of this she always made time on weekends to engage with children, sharing and showing them all the wonderful sights and sounds you can discover in nature.  Teachers had always played a fundamental role in fostering her love of science. It was through the design of experiential learning, she was taught that trial and error is a part of life and that editing and improving decisions leads to successful solutions. If we want our children to excel in their lives, they need to feel like they can not only do it but have the inner strength to “get back up again” if they do not succeed the first time. It was through this personal experience that she chooses to teach founded in supportive inquiry and a growth mindset.   She worked with local conservation areas, nature reserves, provincial parks and the Nature Conservancy of Canada educating children about natural sciences. During her time with the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area located South West of Calgary, she discovered just how much she loved teaching. It was then that she decided to go back to school and attain her Bachelors of Education specializing in Elementary Science Education. She has since taught with the Calgary School Board and the Tower Hamlets School District located in East London, England before settling in Vancouver. She is currently working with the West Vancouver School District as well as West Point Grey Academy.  She is now so excited to join the OWL team and continuing her love of weekend wanders, discovering the wonders of science with fellow little explorers.

ECE Larry obtained his Early Childhood Education Certificate from Vancouver Community College in June 2013. Soon afterwards, he went back to Hong Kong and became a Lego Education Specialist for 2 years. He came back to Vancouver in 2016 and has been working as a preschool teacher at Extra Steps Preschool since then. He was born in Hong Kong and is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Larry had been working with his preschool's outdoor program for a while and that's how he met teacher Jasmine. She invited him to join Oak Wisdom and he loves it! It is amazing how little materials and toys we need to inspire kids when we are outside (Objects in nature are already the teaching materials!). Now Larry really enjoys preparing and delivering outdoor lessons every week. Everyone including the children and the teachers naturally feel happier with the open space and fresh air, and ultimately this results in the students learning more effectively. Larry LOVES chocolate very much, in that you will always find chocolate in his backpack and will notice that the word 'chocolate' often appears in his made-up stories! In contrast, even though Larry usually shows the children where mushrooms are during classes, he doesn't like eating any of them! “I love working with Oak Wisdom Learning; it is always so much fun! Children learn best when they are having fun. I will continue to maintain the ‘fun’ element in a safe and warm environment. Never stop playing , never stop learning.”

BSc, ECE Nicole started her career as an environmental educator while working for four years at the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong (WWF). She has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Hong Kong, and has a passion for nature and children. Nicole believes in education that is IN, ABOUT and FOR the environment. In the past, she has organized school programs, STEAM workshops, seminars and summer camps for students ranging from kindergarten to universities in outdoor settings such as nature reserves, beaches and urban parks. She has also published identification cards and teaching packs for teachers to use. After relocating to Vancouver, she became an online learning coordinator at the Vancouver Aquarium, where she led engaging virtual classes and camps for multi-aged students to learn about the ocean and to inspire them to be stewards of the ocean. Nicole discovered her interest in early childhood education while doing volunteer work at Extra Steps and the Vancouver Aquarium. She obtained her ECE assistant license in 2019 and started working at Extra Steps Preschool in May 2020, hoping to show children that they can grow and learn in a fun and engaging play-based environment. She has also been working with Oak Wisdom Learning since November 2019 to connect kids with the natural environment! “Growing up in an academics-oriented environment where playtime was limited, I’m really amazed at how playtime can greatly influence kids socially, mentally and physically! Let children play outdoors and have fun; this is the time when kids can learn the most!” Outside of work, you will find Nicole exploring nature by simply walking in a park and observing the people, animals and plants around her! Besides this, Nicole is interested in solving challenging jigsaw puzzles, too! She can finish a 1000-piece puzzle in eight hours!

BSc Born and raised in the mountains on the east coast of the U.S., Sarah grew up picking blackberries, swimming in the river, building forts with her brother, and exploring everything that nature provides. She is grateful to have been introduced to the marvels of the outdoors as a child, and she seeks to inspire the same awareness within the next generation. To Sarah, outdoor education is so important because it provides opportunities for children to learn through experiences, to have fun and connect with nature, and it also fosters stewardship. Sarah values working at Oak Wisdom Learning for its philosophy that through play in nature comes learning, and for creating safe spaces that encourage creativity and discovery. Sarah has a BSc in Environmental Science and Geology. She has worked with Oak Wisdom Learning as an outdoor educator since summer 2020, and she is excited to continue her work with OWL students to foster a relationship with nature. Before working with OWL, Sarah worked at Metro Vancouver Regional Parks as an environmental educator for three seasons, leading programs for both school groups and the public. Prior to moving to Vancouver, she had many years of experience as a park ranger in the U.S. National Parks in Hawaii, Virginia, Texas, and California. When she isn’t leading students over streams and through forests, you can find Sarah planning a day hike or backpacking trip, tending to her tiny garden, gearing up for a bike ride, or reading a book while curled up with her cat, Izzy.

BSc Hi everyone! My name is Stephanie Quan, and I'm excited to join the OWL team. Having been born and raised in Metro Vancouver where both the mountains and water attract people from all walks of life to visit and enjoy, it is truly a privilege to be able to live, learn, play, and share experiences on this land through years of leading community institutions and classrooms. With a diversity of experiences ranging from helping out a former teacher in my elementary alma mater, to taking biology and forestry courses throughout my higher education to understand more about the flora, fauna, and people in my local environment, I hope to bring to the table an air of enthusiasm and curiosity for the outdoors to everyone around me as well.