Our Team
One of the things that sets us apart is our outstanding team of well-trained facilitators. All of our facilitators are friendly, professionally accredited guides, educators and/or nature connection mentors. We specialize in creating a fun and safe space for children to learn at their own pace and follow their individual interests.
Dave Verhulst
Dave has been sharing his passion for the natural and cultural history of wild places in Alberta for 18 years. He has a Master's degree in Recreation Management, is an accredited Master Interpretive Guide through the Interpretive Guides Association and a Wilderness First Responder. He is now working towards completion of Forest School Canada's practitioner's certification.
Dave has had a colourful career in the outdoors - In addition to his work with Nature's Tracks Forest Play, he works as a facilitator for the Pacific Centre for Leadership and for Leadership Development at the Banff Centre. He has worked as a Nordic Ski Instructor, Jackrabbits coach, Fire Communications Officer for Parks Canada, Executive Director of the Interpretive Guides Association, a canoeing guide and as a park interpreter in the mountain national parks and in Dinosaur Provincial Park. He loves playing outside, sharing stories and connecting both children and adults with the magic of the natural world.
Dave has had a colourful career in the outdoors - In addition to his work with Nature's Tracks Forest Play, he works as a facilitator for the Pacific Centre for Leadership and for Leadership Development at the Banff Centre. He has worked as a Nordic Ski Instructor, Jackrabbits coach, Fire Communications Officer for Parks Canada, Executive Director of the Interpretive Guides Association, a canoeing guide and as a park interpreter in the mountain national parks and in Dinosaur Provincial Park. He loves playing outside, sharing stories and connecting both children and adults with the magic of the natural world.
Heather Stark
Heather's nature immersion began in Calgary while growing up with Fish Creek Provincial Park as a backyard. She is grateful for her amazing parents who committed to fostering an active lifestyle, a love of outdoor pursuits and a thirst to understand more about the natural environment. Heather has a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education and brings a varied background of recent work as a provincial park interpreter, an educational programmer and a market garden farmer. Having recently finished student teaching at Banff Elementary School, she is excited to continue living in the Bow Valley and getting to know the community.
Heather feels the most at peace when surrounded by children and nature, and finds inspiration and beauty in the everyday experience. She is crazy about wildflowers and watching trees grow, has a particular affinity for hummingbirds and is on the lookout for flying squirrels. Through her work with Forest Play, Heather hopes to provide opportunities for children and families to connect more deeply to nature, to each other and within themselves. She is looking forward to delighting in the curiosity, insight, laughter and energy of the children she meets!
Heather's nature immersion began in Calgary while growing up with Fish Creek Provincial Park as a backyard. She is grateful for her amazing parents who committed to fostering an active lifestyle, a love of outdoor pursuits and a thirst to understand more about the natural environment. Heather has a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education and brings a varied background of recent work as a provincial park interpreter, an educational programmer and a market garden farmer. Having recently finished student teaching at Banff Elementary School, she is excited to continue living in the Bow Valley and getting to know the community.
Heather feels the most at peace when surrounded by children and nature, and finds inspiration and beauty in the everyday experience. She is crazy about wildflowers and watching trees grow, has a particular affinity for hummingbirds and is on the lookout for flying squirrels. Through her work with Forest Play, Heather hopes to provide opportunities for children and families to connect more deeply to nature, to each other and within themselves. She is looking forward to delighting in the curiosity, insight, laughter and energy of the children she meets!
Katarina Dučaiová
Katarina has been working in a field of outdoor/experiential education for over 15 years for various outdoor learning centres and backcountry travel programs in Canadian wilderness. With her experience as a hiking guide in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and a youth and family worker for addiction treatment adventure wilderness program, she has also been implementing her skills and knowledge in various youth at risk re-integration centres across Slovakia.
“I value having an opportunity just to be, in the wilderness – breathing fresh air, enjoying warming sun on my face or feeling air in my hair. In open space, under skies or by the fire we express ourselves somehow differently; we share our emotions naturally, without judgment. We are excited to grow and walk together, as we recognize who we are on this earth."
Katarina has been working in a field of outdoor/experiential education for over 15 years for various outdoor learning centres and backcountry travel programs in Canadian wilderness. With her experience as a hiking guide in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and a youth and family worker for addiction treatment adventure wilderness program, she has also been implementing her skills and knowledge in various youth at risk re-integration centres across Slovakia.
“I value having an opportunity just to be, in the wilderness – breathing fresh air, enjoying warming sun on my face or feeling air in my hair. In open space, under skies or by the fire we express ourselves somehow differently; we share our emotions naturally, without judgment. We are excited to grow and walk together, as we recognize who we are on this earth."
Fern Yip
Fern has been facilitating nature connection experiences for youth for the last four years as an environmental and outdoor educator at the Palisades Stewardship Education Centre in Jasper National Park and as a naturalist interpreter for Elk Island National Park. She is currently immersed in a nine month 8-shields training program with the Wisdom of the Earth School on Salt Spring Island deepening her skills in nature connection mentoring. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Quest University and a certificate in herbal medicine from the California School of Herbal Studies. Fern finds immense joy in encouraging youth to find their own naturalist passions and meaningful relationships to the earth through curiosity, authenticity, and play.
Fern has been facilitating nature connection experiences for youth for the last four years as an environmental and outdoor educator at the Palisades Stewardship Education Centre in Jasper National Park and as a naturalist interpreter for Elk Island National Park. She is currently immersed in a nine month 8-shields training program with the Wisdom of the Earth School on Salt Spring Island deepening her skills in nature connection mentoring. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Quest University and a certificate in herbal medicine from the California School of Herbal Studies. Fern finds immense joy in encouraging youth to find their own naturalist passions and meaningful relationships to the earth through curiosity, authenticity, and play.
Ronna Schneberger
Ronna has been a professional guide and naturalist for 20 years in the mountain parks. She has a degree in Recreation Management and enjoys sharing stories about the unique natural and cultural history of the Rockies with people from near and far. She is a certified Hiking Guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, a Nordic ski instructor, Wilderness First Responder and is a Professional Interpreter accredited by the Interpretive Guides Association. It is her goal to help people develop a reverence for this wondrous place, and teach them how to enhance their personal connection with nature and themselves where ever they live.