Our Team
Natalie Jess
Program Director and Lead Practitioner
Natalie has spent the last 15 years working outdoors as an archaeologist and silviculturalist in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Alberta. She holds an honours degree in Anthropology from Saint Mary’s University, is a certified Field Leader through the Outdoor Council of Canada, and is a certified Lead Forest and Nature School Practitioner through the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada.
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Natalie is excited to share her enthusiasm for discovery and understanding of nature while fostering connections between children and the natural world. She believes that outdoor play and outdoor learning are the right of every child and necessary for a healthy childhood. She is excited to provide the children in her community with the opportunity to thrive and grow in Forest School.
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Natalie is interested in the history of land-use, the connection between culture and nature, and the role we can play in sustainability and environmental preservation. She believes that children must build a genuine connection with the natural world before they can truly act to protect it.
Madeline Jollimore
Facilitator
Madeline is currently a student at St. Francis Xavier University majoring in Biology with plans to be a science and math teacher. Throughout her time in high school, she developed a Unified sport program to promote the inclusion of special needs children in sports and activities. Madeline is passionate about building confidence in every child and staying safe, while learning and having fun outdoors!
In her free time, she is a volunteer firefighter in her community and enjoys making connections with others while learning new things every week! She absolutely loves the outdoors and spends her free time hiking, swimming and camping!
Madeline is super excited to bring her knowledge into the Truro Forest School and continue to learn with the children as they experience new opportunities and grow together!
Karina Shnaiderman
Facilitator
Karina is a farmer, educator, and researcher. Passionate about being outdoors as much as possible (and encouraging others to do the same!), she has worked with several organizations as a lead environmental and outdoor educator. Karina has extensive experience facilitating outdoor programming for a variety of participants, ranging from preschoolers, to corporate teams, to refugees and newcomers. In a society that is becoming increasingly reliant on screens, technology, and physical stagnation, she believes that one of the most radical things we can do is reclaim our autonomy by connecting with the natural world, and finding awe in the bugs, trees, and rocks that surround us.
Along with her work as an educator, Karina works as an agricultural researcher, and has conducted studies on barriers to first-generation farmers, agroecology as a response to the industrialized food system, and alternative land-access opportunities. Her most recent project was with Organic Nova Scotia, where she led a project assessing the capacity of organic food procurement by post-secondary institutions.
Karina and her partner recently moved to West Earltown to start a regenerative vegetable and flower farm, and look forward to being part of the environmental community in Colchester County!
Melina Johnson
Facilitator
Melina’s taste for wild things started at a young age. She always felt most at home in the woods. Upon moving back to Nova Scotia from Toronto where she attended school, her passion for foraging was ignited. She continues to grow her knowledge of natural foods and medicines and loves to share this knowledge with others who share her passion.
Andrea Thompson
Volunteer
Andrea joined the team in the Spring session of 2024 to volunteer with the Sprouts and quickly fell in love with the program. Andrea is a Level One Early Childhood Educator and is employed part-time at a local childcare center as an Inclusion Support. She is currently enrolled in full-time studies at Mount Saint Vincent University, where she is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology and minor in Child and Youth Studies. Andrea has three children at home, two of which also attend forest school.
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Andrea believes children learn best through play, hands-on experiences, and strong relationships with caring adults. When they feel safe and supported, they’re more confident, curious, and open to learning. Forest school builds on this by letting children lead their own learning in a natural setting, boosting independence, creativity, and problem-solving. Outdoor play encourages social skills, resilience, and physical health, while time in nature reduces stress and strengthens their connection to the environment. The rich, sensory experiences offered by forest school support learning in ways a traditional classroom often does not. One of her favourite parts of spending time with the children at forest school is watching how much they grow and develop during the session.
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Besides volunteering with forest school, Andrea is also an active volunteer with the local Autism Nova Scotia chapter, volunteering and serving with her church, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, playing softball, or spending time with her family.
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“They’re not just playing in nature, they are: Learning, creating, sensing, believing, relaxing, exploring, observing, wondering, connecting, discovering, appreciating, understanding, experimenting…” ~ Penny Whitehouse.
Rob Teale
Volunteer
Spending much of his childhood outside, Rob's fondest memories were made in the woods by his house. Now, any time he's in the area of those woods an old memory comes flooding back. It’s such a wonderful feeling to remember the freedom and connection to something as profound as the natural world.
In his early twenties he started longing for that connection to nature again. Camping and hiking in the mountains out west and Ontario filled the void but something was missing. He moved home (Truro) in 2005 and was introduced to a way to not only be in nature but to move with and within nature herself. For the last 20 years he's learned and practiced the teachings of Tom Brown Jr. and Jon Young.
After volunteering with the forest school he was hooked, but in a different way. Enabling kids to feel the same connection he felt as a child through a mentorship approach has deepened his personal connection with the Land.
Building or rebuilding a community where nature is the central focus is his goal. It will take a community to do this, from small children to the elders and everyone in between. Rob believes we all have gifts to be celebrated in our community and that this regenerative support can lead to indefinite sustainability.
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Michael MacEachern
Volunteer
Before choosing to focus on raising his sons as a full-time stay-at-home dad, Michael built a successful career as an electrician in the rugged and remote landscapes of the Northwest Territories. This experience not only honed his practical skills but also deepened his appreciation for the outdoors and his ability to adapt and problem-solve in demanding environments. His time up north helped shape his calm, capable presence — qualities that continue to serve him well in all areas of his life.
Community involvement extends naturally into every area of Michael's life. In addition to volunteering in many of his son's activities, Michael currently serves within the Cobequid District Fire Brigade as a Captain and Rope Rescue Technician.
Michael finds joy and renewal in mountain biking and camping, activities he often shares with his wife and sons. He’s excited to bring that same sense of adventure and curiosity to Forest School, helping others connect with the natural world in meaningful, hands-on ways.
Maya Hoehne
Support Practitioner
Maya is currently the full time forest school instructor and program director for Pictou County Forest School (PCFS) and also supports our summer camps. Prior to her role with PCFS, she ran a successful dayhome in East Mountain for several years, with an emphasis on free play, and building resilience and self confidence in nature.
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A loving mother of two and active outdoor enthusiast, Maya has a depth of experience working with children and sharing her love and interest in nature.
Formally educated in Fine Arts and Child and Youth Care, Maya returned to her lifelong passion of being in the woods, free to run wild, to play, and to discover, without the confines of “learning in a box”. Drawing on a variety of life experiences she has the ability to engage children in sharing her sense of wonder and respect for the natural world.
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Maya’s belief is that by spending time in the forest, through play and invisible learning, children of all ages will gain respect, and a sense of ownership and responsibility for the natural world.
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Victor Miniotas
Support Facilitator
Victor is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for bushcraft, orienteering, and all things fun in the forest! He has over 20 years of experience in Scouts where he is a program coordinator and mentor with the Truro Third Beavers. Victor has extensive training from various organizations including the Outdoor Council of Canada, Leave No Trace Canada, St. John’s Ambulance, and Adventure Smart.
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Victor brings a valuable perspective to Forest School through his first-hand experiences with ADHD. He believes that nature provides endless possibilities for personal growth and wellness by giving us the opportunity to develop in our own unique ways. He looks forward to supporting children who struggle in the conventional classroom by exemplifying how nature can help us thrive in all aspects of our lives.
Victor is passionate about connecting his community to the outdoors and he strives to dismantle barriers by working towards inclusion and accessibility for all. He enthusiastically promotes outdoor recreation, respect for the natural world, and how much fun being outdoors can be! Victor is a long-time resident of Truro, and he is delighted to finally have Forest School in his community.