Hannah Douglas-Ezzat (she/they) (who also goes by Dougie – a name that helps them feel more connected to the grand Douglas fir trees), is a second generation Canadian settler with Scottish, English, Arabic and Armenian ancestry. They recently moved from Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh territories (Vancouver) to Lekwungen territory (Victoria) where they have continued to follow their passions in nature education.
Hannah has always felt most at peace in nature. As someone who grew up living with ADHD, Hannah has come to appreciate the freedom of existing in and with nature, as it has always been a place where they felt they could learn on their own terms. Having spent much of their childhood in nature, whether backcountry hiking/camping or attending yearly summer camps, the outdoors have always offered Hannah a place where their neurodivergence no longer felt like a weakness. Hannah brings these values into their work as an educator, as they believe the things that make us “different” can be our superpowers. As they continue to learn and grow as an educator, they hope to create a space where children can simply exist as their true, unabashed and unique selves – and celebrate all these things that make them who they are!
Hannah first became interested in nature education some years back when they had the chance to work for an outdoor program that helped connect youth-facing-barriers to nature through environmental stewardship within their community. Since then, they have been able to work for multiple outdoor educational programs and have only continued to build their passion for facilitating nature connection with all types of people – children, youth and adults alike. Hannah’s connection to the natural world also brought them to study courses in Biology at Langara College, where they focused on learning about ecology, local native and invasive species, and the history and deep interconnectedness of all said living creatures.
In their free time you can find Hannah cycling around the city, searching for nudibranchs in tide pools, crocheting hats, writing haikus or connecting with their friends and loved ones. Hannah is also ever curious about the power of plants, and enjoys learning about the medicinal, artistic and practical uses for the species in their local area. The experience of then going for a walk with this newfound lens that opens our eyes to plants that all have such importance and usefulness all around us, is one without comparison.
