The Nature School at Kortright – Woodbridge

Adrian has worked with TRCA for 25 years and is currently Senior Manager, Community Outreach & Education, managing the Peel Community Learning team and Kortright Centre for Conservation, in addition to overseeing the education teams and programming operating out of Claireville Conservation Area. Adrian has four children, enjoys canoeing, skiing, and hiking, and is the principal for The Nature School.

Robert has experience developing and delivering educational and outdoor-based programs and designing and administering assessment tools for student learning to a variety of grades.

He chaired a number of working groups and committees related to outdoor recreation and education, collaborating with numerous environmental partners and stakeholders, was the Principal and Education and Curriculum Manager for over 10 years with Outward Bound, where he operated an inspected private school, has taught within the TDSB as an occasional teacher, and has been a Program Director and Education Coordinator/Instructor with Outward Bound, among other roles.

Robert has his Bachelor of Education, is a certified teacher, has a Bachelor of Science, has a Master of Science and has a PhD in Genetics from Oxford University.

Prior to joining TRCA, Heather worked at several other outdoor education centres and summer camps around Ontario, both delivering hands-on, exciting, nature-based programming and coordinating, supervising, and managing programs and staff. Heather has two young children as well as several fuzzy and scaly pets.

Her existence revolves around her close connection with the land, which she both loves and respects. In Kelly’s life, engaging with nature is not just a choice but a fundamental necessity. Activities such as forest bathing, camping, hiking, paddling, and swimming serve as essential aspects of her life, allowing her to slow down, unwind, and find inner peace, which she then spreads to the people around her.

One of Kelly’s primary goals is to inspire her students, family, colleagues, community, and friends to immerse themselves in nature and take risks to become lifelong lovers of the environment and life itself. She believes in the transformative power of nature and is dedicated to sharing this passion with others.

Kelly’s life journey is a beautiful balance between the pursuit of new challenges and the serenity she finds in the natural world. Her commitment to lifelong learning and her unwavering love for nature will hopefully help guide the young minds of our youth.

Kayleigh grew up visiting and exploring Kortright and the Village at Black Creek, which helped develop her love of the outdoors and learning. Kayleigh loves teaching and inspiring students’ curiosity, deepening their appreciation of nature, and getting them excited about learning.

She is thrilled to be working with early years programs at Kortright and remains passionate about connecting children and young people with the outdoors, seeing this as a vital brick in the wall we must build to combat climate change. Rachel is also a qualified music teacher and takes every chance she can to weave music into her environmental work.

While pursuing her studies in early childhood education, Julia completed a student placement at Kortright. After graduating, she began working at the centre as a camp counsellor, and is now the Preschool teacher for The Nature School.

Julia is a Registered Early Childhood Educator and is completing the Forest and Nature School Practitioner course. She loves helping children learn and grow in a way that connects them to nature and the world around them.

They are well versed in dynamic risk assessment and health and safety policies. These staff also sometimes support our weekday Nature School programming. They each bring their own passion for outdoor play and learning to the Nature School at Kortright.