Learning Team

NIDES Heartwood Teachers:

We have two BC-certified teachers on site with the children two days per week. They oversee the home learning component, student learning plan and are the interface with NIDES.

Maia Green

Maia is an entrepreneurial educationist mama of two who dreams of changing the world through a transformed education system. She is a full-time teacher with the School District of Greater Victoria, currently on a parenthood leave to spend more time with her young kids, but could not resist the opportunity

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Catie Bainbridge

Catie Bainbridge (she/her) is a white settler with British, Irish, and French ancestry and has been an uninvited guest on lək̓ʷəŋən territory for nearly three decades. She is a storytelling, bone collecting, cloud watching, mud splashing child-at-heart who loves to play and dream outside. She holds great reverence and respect

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Forest Mentors

Our Forest Mentors are additional educators, specifically with outdoor education and/or wilderness awareness training. A mentor is present on site all three days.

Erica Van Dyk

Erica’s greatest passions—people and nature—come together in her dual role as Program Coordinator and Forest Mentor. Having been homeschooled in elementary school, the pure joy of learning through play, relationships, and the outdoors has been a foundation for Erica as an educator. She is thrilled to continue learning and teaching with

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Madison

Madison (they/them) is a dynamic, curious parent deeply committed to community care in various roles. As a crisis response worker, doula, and education assistant, they build meaningful connections and create personalized support systems within their community. Madison has a strong connection to the outdoors, learning from the land, sharing their

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Meg

Meg grew up here on the Island on the lands of the Kwalikum First Nations, and spent most of her time in the forest eating salmonberries and making tree forts. Alternative, outdoor-based learning had a huge impact on Meg’s life as a teenager, and means that she has a unique

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Joely

Joely is a bird nerd who loves climbing, hiking, gardening, and more! It is her first year at EPIC and she has always loved sharing her knowledge of nature and science with the next generation. She was born on Gitxsan territory and grew up running through the forest on Salt

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Austen

Austen is an Ecosystem Management Technician who runs a small landscaping business. This is his first year with EPIC, but he has experience teaching children and adults about farming, fruit trees, and food security. He spends his days in the garden and his nights reading books. Austen’s looking forward to

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Student Mentors

For much of the year, a practicum student from the University of Victoria’s Child and Youth Care Program is on site three days a week. They spend three to four months with the community to complete their course requirements.

Jessica

As a member of Tsawout First Nations I am honoured to be accepted to be as a practicum student at the EPIC program. I am a second year student at the University of Victoria in the Child and Youth Care Program. I have some experience within School District #63 in

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