"The way the mentors interact with the children is exemplary and strikes the perfect balance of expecting the kids to be independent and take risks, while knowing they are supported."
— Parent of a Pine participant
"The growth that our kids have experienced through the skilled mentorship of Pine staff is immeasurable."
— Parent of two Pine participants
Alexis’ earliest memories are of climbing tall pines, creating forts, and mucking about in ponds, lakes and streams. Nothing makes him happier than sharing this love of the outdoors with others (including his own family!). Alexis participated in Pine’s Wild Deer Wilderness Skills Program in 2018. This formative experience introduced him to nature connection, which led him to join the Pine team in 2020, first as a Forest School Instructor and then as an Instructor at Pine's Outdoor School programming. He brings a wealth of experience in various outdoor education settings and holds an undergraduate degree in history.
Andrew believes that dirt under children’s fingernails and rain in their hair are essential components to growing up healthy, resilient, and connected to the place we call home. Following this passion for education and nature, Andrew founded the Pine Project in 2008. He is a certified teacher in Ontario and brings 20+ years of experience in outdoor teaching, nature-based mentoring and community-building work with organizations across North America.
Jennifer loves gantt charts, budgets, strategic planning, and number crunching almost as much as she loves the great outdoors. After adventuring abroad for 12+ years, she returned home to Toronto and joined the Pine Project in 2016, where she eagerly applies her project management, fundraising, financial, and communications skills. She holds a master’s degree in International Development from the London School of Economics and has 15+ years of experience working in program management for conservation and development organizations.
Jodie is happiest when she is outside and can see the sky (especially the stars!). She grew up camping, canoeing, and exploring the world around her, and these continue to be some of her favourite things. She is excited to share her love of being in and connecting to nature with those around her. Jodie has been involved in outdoor education, recreation, and nature connection for over 15 years and joined Pine in 2021. She holds a BA in Archaeology and MSc in Outdoor Education. Jodie loves to craft with things she finds in nature and can often be found collecting materials and dreaming up her next project.
Lee is an avid naturalist and frequenter of the wilds. Some of her favourite activities include looking at beautiful birds, tracking deer throughout the city, geeking out with field guides, and foraging for plants. Lee has travelled the northeast to learn from various mentors, including ongoing studies of plant medicine and wildlife tracking with Earth Tracks Outdoor School and White Pine Programs in Maine. Lee is also co-founder of Wild Foragers Society, facilitating hands-on exploration of wild plants with a large group of plant-lovers in Toronto.
Léna grew up in the heart of downtown Toronto, but always found ways to be outside and explore the parks when they could. They are an OCT certified teacher, with a focus on teaching and learning outside the classroom. Léna is a strong believer in providing opportunities for kids to explore and engage in the outdoors, especially when in a city like Toronto! In their spare time they go for walks in the parks, or down by the lake, and then enjoy painting whatever they see with watercolour. Léna has many years experience working with children and adults in educational settings - often outside the classroom - and is excited to be a part of the Pine team!
Driven by a deep love of community, Natalie has spent over a decade driving impact and growth for social purpose organizations. She enjoys combining her knack for organizing and passion for working with people to manage programs that inspire change in education, civic engagement and green economy. Natalie’s curiosity for learning about people, the planet, and their interconnections, often takes her around the globe. While at home in Toronto, she is an enthusiastic volunteer, currently serving as a Director on two boards.
Owain spent his childhood going down every back path and up every tree he could with his three older siblings. He is most passionate about working with kids to inspire resilience, curiosity and self-confidence, while always encouraging silliness, kindness and a respect for the natural world. While pursuing his degree in Environment, Sustainability & Society and Biology at Dalhousie University, he continued to work in the outdoor recreation industry and play his double bass any chance he got. Owain has been involved with youth groups and environmental education organizations in Canada and abroad. Owain has worked in classrooms and in the woods delivering a range of both traditional and alternative programming. One of his greatest passions is creating fun and novel programming. He has helped create summer camp programs and leadership courses for organizations in Ontario and Nova Scotia. Settled back in Toronto, he is busy exploring the beautiful network of ravines and nerding out about our city’s precious natural wonders.
Tatiana loves connecting people with nature and causes they care about. After sailing across the Pacific Ocean and van-camping across Canada, she moved to Toronto and joined the Pine Project in 2018. Tatiana holds a master’s degree in Environmental Management from Yale University and has over a decade of experience working in environmental research, outreach, and project management for non-profit organizations and academic institutions. Outside of work, you can find Tatiana exploring the outdoors with her family, sinking into a good book, savouring a strong coffee, and finding joy in life’s little adventures.
Anthony is an eco-conscious urban/rural hybrid focussed on building healthy, sustainable, livable communities. His skills include strategic planning, partnership engagement, storytelling and creative on-the-ground execution. A team builder, Anthony has worked with governments, academia, and corporations to support communities and advance the nature agenda using his communication and reporting skills. Starting his career at Environment Canada working on the Species at Risk Act, Anthony went on to Paris to UNEP to work on Climate Change. Thereafter he worked at B-School INSEAD where he convened CSR conferences and wrote a number of case studies. Returning to Canada, Anthony became spokesperson for Evergreen Brick Works to advance the urban sustainability agenda. Anthony has been a professor at Humber, headed up Marketing & Communications at The York School and has been a contributing writer to the Toronto Star. Raised in the countryside himself, Anthony is now bringing two girls up in the city. The family takes every opportunity to hit the trail to explore the great wide open.
Since childhood, Ariel has always valued spending time outdoors learning to thrive in nature and respect its beauty. To Ariel, working with the Pine Project is an important part of ensuring those same opportunities to build self-sufficiency, resilience, and respect for nature are available to children throughout Toronto, including her children. Ariel's indoor jobs have been practicing law for nearly a decade and for the last seven years leading national literacy non-profits.
Cathy’s love of nature was inspired by a canoe trip, when she experienced the power that nature can have on a life, an attitude and a person. This first-hand experience of being in close contact with nature drew Cathy to the Pine Project. Cathy brings years of experience in not-for-profit leadership and governance to the Pine team. Cathy believes in the capacity of Pine programs to create meaningful change and hopes to contribute to the next generation of nature lovers.
Cat grew up exploring the forests of central and southern Ontario. It was there that Cat developed the attributes she most cherishes about herself – curiosity, resilience, and a sense of connection to the world and all things in it. These experiences played an important role guiding Cat to her purpose and passions, including her work in the Canadian and International non-profit, arts, culture and Indigenous social services sectors, as well as her love of photography, writing, running, hiking, and travelling. Cat is excited to join the Pine Project to help others access similar opportunities to learn, connect and grow in nature.
Emily’s love of nature began from outdoor education programs in elementary school. These formative experiences helped her develop a sense of purpose, curiosity, and interest in the world. Her passion continues today, as she seeks out every opportunity to hike, bike, camp, cross-country ski, and dive, in Canada and in over 60 countries she has visited to date. Professionally, she previously worked as a corporate lawyer and is currently a diplomat-lawyer with Global Affairs Canada. She is called to the New York and Ontario bars and is an active member in several professional associations.
Jonathan found his appreciation for nature on an impromptu, solo hiking trip in Yosemite. Raised on the flatlands of the GTA, he marvelled at the unique landscape of the national park and formed his perspectives on the importance of connecting with the natural world to promote individual resiliency and improve public engagement with conservation. For these reasons, he was drawn to the Pine Project and its focus on connecting to nature in a manner that is both authentic and non-invasive. Jonathan maintains his connection to nature through multi-day backpacking trips with his wife. Professionally, Jonathan is a biotech venture capitalist, co-founding and managing a US-Japan focused investment fund and received his PhD from McGill University and an MBA from the John Molson School of Business.
Maia has a deep love and curiosity for nature that was sparked during her years growing up. Playing in the forest and along the many riverbanks of southern Ontario, Maia found her first playgrounds and classrooms. It is her continued passion for studying and protecting the Earth that drives her interest in the Pine Project. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Geography and Geology and is currently a Master of Science candidate, studying Arctic Hydrology. She is particularly fascinated by the geochemical interactions that occur between water and the land. As a Black woman, Maia knows that her love and familiarity with the outdoors is not always shared amongst people of colour. The outdoors cannot always be accessed equitably, and a sense of safety is not always felt. It is her hope to change the narrative and to create spaces outdoors that are enjoyable and accessible for everyone.
Will developed his appreciation for nature on a winter camping trip in northern Ontario, forming one of his most memorable experiences from youth. He believes that greater connections to nature have the power to develop more conscientious and grounded individuals and societies, and was drawn to the Pine Project as an organization that brings these connections to current and future generations. Depending on the time, Will enjoys heading to the Rockies, hiking closer to home or enjoying Toronto’s parks on the weekend. Professionally Will has over 10 years experience in financial analysis, budgeting and strategic planning and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Zebby currently works in strategic planning and reporting and has 20 years of experience working in finance. She has extensive experience in forecasting, budgeting/planning, management reporting and financial analysis. She holds a Business Degree from Simon Fraser University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. In her spare time, Zebby enjoys hiking and biking. She is known for her volunteering in the community, and promoting equity and inclusion.