Our People

Ayla Bennett lives with her family in Fernie, BC. She is passionate about conserving and discovering more of our beautiful mountains, free-flowing rivers and wild spaces. Ayla works with environmental non-profit groups including Wildsight, Elk River Alliance and Mainstreams Environmental Society.

Shanoon Bennett lives in beautiful Winlaw, in the Slocan Valley. She teaches a host of programs including Know Your Watershed, as well as Wild Voices for Kids Winter Safety and Survival Skills, Animal Tracks, Habits and Homes, Forest, River, Pond Ecology and Natures Wild Food and Medicine programs.

Jessie moved to Invermere in August 2016 from Crawford Bay in the West Kootenays. She now works as a Wildsight Environmental Educator, and at Eagle-Eye Tours. Her favourite spot in the Columbia Valley is her garden, followed closely by Wilmer Wetlands and any number of local hiking trails.

Founder of the Rocky Mountain Education Series, Dawn Deydey brings the experience and understanding of for over a decade of Beyond Recycling coordination and development to the table. As Community Program Coordinator for the Wildsight Elk Valley Branch, her ability to weave environmental education and community action into successful programming that moves our community towards sustainability has been proven repeatedly.

Karen has lived in Valemount, B.C for the past 30 years. Her experiences cycling, camping, hiking and paddling have given her many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Karen’s passion as an elementary school teacher has always been sharing the outdoors and environmental education with children. As a newly retired teacher, Karen is excited to share the Beyond Recycling and Know Your Watershed programs.

Carrie lives in the wild Blaeberry Valley where she grows food, skis out her backdoor and homeschools her son. She delivers Classroom With Outdoors, Beyond Recycling, Know Your Watershed and Winter Wonder programs. Carrie is trained as an Environmental Protection Technician and has completed an Organic Farming Apprenticeship with Stewards of Irreplaceable Land. She has a passion for nature and loves to share this spark with others.

Melissa Flint has a background in conservation biology, organic farming, permaculture and environmental consulting - and a love for mountain air and exploration. She loves taking people outside and finding connections in the natural world. Melissa's other work includes design, gardening and workshops in permaculture, sustainability and resiliency, through her company Aurora Edible Designs. Melissa teaches our Beyond Recycling, Classroom with Outdoors, Winter Wonder, and Know Your Watershed programs.

Jill has been working in environmental education in many capacities throughout her career. She is passionate about nurturing the natural world around her and fostering environmental stewardship in people of all ages.

Patty Kolesnichenko has worked for over 20 years teaching Outdoor Education to individuals of all ages. Her background includes a Degree in Education with a specialization in Physical Education and Science from York University in Toronto. She has taught at the Boyne River Natural Science School, the Nor West Outdoor Centre in Ontario and started St Patrick High school’s Outdoor Program in Yellowknife. Patty has also run her own business "Wolfsong Adventures" in...

Genna is passionate about bringing environmental stewardship to our younger generation in the hopes of passing on that enthusiasm so that they may become the next guardians of the earth. She wants them to pass along that knowledge and wonder of nature to their parents so that it will become a "family love affair". Genna teaches our Beyond Recycling, Classroom with Outdoors, and Winter Wonder programs.

A passion for the wilderness and a gift for teaching have drawn Monica into the field of environmental education where she has worked both inside and outside the classroom for the past 15 years.

Janelle Park lives with her family in beautiful Fernie, BC. She has a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Alberta. Janelle strives to connect students to the natural world through her work with Wildsight, HCTF and School District #5. She is passionate about connecting students to place to help foster young stewards

Born in Cranbrook, Dave is a wildlife biologist, educator, wilderness guide, writer and photographer whose work is driven by his passion for wilderness and wild spaces. His work with endangered mountain caribou and badgers, threatened fisher and grizzly, as well as lynx and other species has helped shape his understanding of the Kootenay backcountry and its wildlife, and help guide his efforts to protect what remains.

Mary started delivering environmental education programs last century (!) She has a Masters in Environmental Education and Communication from Royal Roads University, and an education degree from UBC (WKTEP). Mary currently delivers Beyond Recycling, Nature through the Seasons, and Winter Wonder in and around Nelson, BC, her home for the past +20 years.

Kim lives in Kimberley, where she brings plenty of enthusiasm and passion for outdoor activities and connecting people with the natural world. She has a MA in Environmental Education and Communications, and a varied background in community engagement, program development, and volunteer management.

Jess is an environmental educator with an Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership Degree. She is passionate about the environment and loves to spend time sharing the wonder and awe of nature with her students. She believes that all people, no matter what age, can learn to appreciate the wilderness around them and learn skills to keep it wild for all to enjoy for the future. Activities such as snowboarding, hiking, paddling, mountain biking and...