Our Team
We are a hardworking team that values social and ecological wellbeing, and enriching lives by building community, inspiring imaginations, and empowering individuals through lifelong learning. We are dedicated to creating opportunities for all to learn, play, and participate in outdoor recreation to practice and teach environmental responsibility.
Leah Japp
General Manager
Whether at work or on the farm, Leah and her family enjoy an active life of camping, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, canoeing, running, climbing snow hills, skating, tobogganing, playgrounds and swimming.
Sigourney Hoytfox
Communications Coordinator
Sigourney grew up in southern Ontario, spending time hiking, swimming, camping and enjoying the great outdoors. She is passionate about unstructured outdoor play for youth and outdoor enjoyment for all ages.
Justine Wheeler
Outdoor Play Coordinator
Justine is the principal at Bulyea Elementary School in Horizon School Division. She has taught students from K-6 and has experience in early childhood education. She teaches outdoor ed throughout the school and is passionate about outdoor learning and reconciliation. Justine loves spending time outside with her two sons, husband and dogs. Justine believes that being outside benefits everyone in a holistic manner.
Ben Oaken
Climate Action Educator
Ben is currently a middle years homeroom teacher at Buena Vista Nature-Based School where he enjoys living out his passion connecting youth to the amazing wonders of the natural world. Ben has recently completed a master degree in educational foundations with a focus on Climate Change and Environmental education at the University of Saskatchewan. He sits on the board for One School One Farm, a charity that connects landstewards to classrooms with the goal of establishing new eco buffers and adding biodiversity to the prairies.
Kristen Simonson
President
Kristen grew up in the Swift Current area, developing a love of the outdoors while spending time in the garden, fields and exploring the native prairie coulees on horseback. This has led to a career in education where she currently teaches biology, earth science, and environmental science with Chinook School Division.
Desiree Hortness
PAST-President
Desirée was born and raised in Saskatchewan where she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, especially seeing the natural wonder and play of her children in the prairie setting.
Denise Skuce
Treasurer
Denise has a passion for getting children outside, connecting them to nature and connecting nature to children. She has been in the field of Early Learning for 25 years, and believes that all learning comes through play.
Derek Hyland
Member at large
Growing up in Saskatoon, Derek has been involved in the outdoors since his early years in Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts. This, along with outdoor-ed clubs in elementary and high school spurred a love of camping, canoeing, mountain biking, snowboarding, and all things outdoors.
Aditi Garg
Member at large
Aditi is a first-generation settler with stories and memories in Treaty 1 and Treaty 6 territories. She is a former French Immersion & Math teacher, and currently an outdoor education leader. She believes that youth engagement with nature is critical for informing new policies for the environment.
Mike Prebble
Member at large
Mike works as an educator with the Saskatoon Public School Division where he instructs the Off the Grid environmental program out of Tommy Douglas Collegiate. He spends his free time camping, biking the trails of Saskatoon, as well as coaching football and competitive high school Improv.
Sean Brant
Member at large
Sean Brandt is a high school teacher and environmental enthusiast. Sean is a founding member of the premier Outdoor School program in Prairie Spirit School Division, based out of Warman High School.
Brooklyn Berrns
Member at large
Brooklyn quickly became an outdoor and environmental enthusiast at a young age and strives to connect at-risk youth with the out of doors. She has a keen interest in adventure therapy and is currently working as a Probation Officer.
Glen Trites
Member at large
Glen Trites retired from the RCMP having served for 25 years in the NWT, AB, and SK. After retirement Glen started his teaching career, first teaching in La Ronge before becoming a sessional lecturer in various teacher education programs for both the U of R and the U of S.