heidi widmer
Forest Play Program Leader
If she came with a User Manual it would read: for outdoor purposes only. Heidi was born and raised in Banff, currently lives in Canmore and considers herself a resident of the Bow Valley instead of picking a preferred side of the Rundle range. Time spent exploring is central to her being. As a firm believer in the value of play and nature connection, Forest Play proves to be the perfect fit.
Heidi has been with Forest Play since the Spring of 2019. The majority of her adolescent and adult life saw her competing internationally for both the Canadian (2012-2015) and Swiss (2015-2017) national teams in cross-country skiing. Heidi represented Canada at the 2014 Olympics. Since retiring from sport in 2018, she completed a BA in Communications and Entrepreneurial Management in 2020 and is currently completing a Masters in Environmental Education and Communication through Royal Roads University.
Her transition from elite sport into the forest is fuelled by her passion for community, adventure and fun. In her spare time, Heidi still straps on the cross-country boards, enjoys nature-inspired art projects, ski touring and Mexican food. With play as her guide, Heidi is grateful for every opportunity to build connections in nature alongside the children of Forest Play.
