Burnaby Lake Regional Park

Katy Konyk

Katy is an active UBC student with much experience working with youth. Greatly inspired by their energy, she has spent three summers working with youth at the Evans Lake Camp near Whistler, BC. There she facilitated education sessions on the forest, and helped to lead outdoor recreational activities including overnight hikes, canoeing, and swimming. When Katy's not conquering the hills of Vancouver by bike, encountering real life pirates, or evading Tsunami's on the West Coast Trail, she can be found dancing up her own storm at a local dance studio. We've also heard she has a great repertoire of crazy, fun camp songs so Burnaby Lake Catching the Spirit participants can look forward to tuning up their own vocal chords as they join in to the super-fun nightly entertainment that is sure to be happening at their campfires!

Celina Starnes

A recent nature interpreter with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, Ducks Unlimited and the Capilano Suspension Bridge, it's no wonder Celina feels so at home in our Parks. When she's not out hunting and exploring for wild edibles (ask her about her acquired taste for dandelions - we're not joking!), she can be found exploring her creativity through drawing and other forms of art. Burnaby Lake Catching the Spirit participants can look forward to Celina's spontaneity, ability to converse freely in English, French, and basic Spanish, as well as her keen retro fashion sense - check out her super cool watch from the 80s.

  Capilano River Regional Park

Allison Prime

Allison is a professionally certified teacher, outdoor guide and explorer with an extensive background in outdoor and experiential education. Originally from Ontario where she led canoe trips in Algonquin Park, Allison recently moved to Vancouver to check out our west coast wilderness and lifestyle. When not canoeing, kayaking, hiking, or cycling about town, Allison can be found at choir practice singing with the Vancouver Bach Choir. Capilano Catching the Spirit participants can look forward to Allison's positive, energetic, and smiling nature, as well as her signature vegetarian chili!

Heather Lacey

Heather is an educator that has a passion for working with youth, new Canadians, and international students. Her experiences range from leading international students in cultural, recreational, and tourism activities, to working with a community in Kyrgyzstan on sustainable tourism issues. More recently Heather has been developing workshops for new Canadians to provide education on environmental conservation issues. In her downtime, Heather can be found hiking, surfing, or making balloon animals (dogs and giraffes are her specialty!). Capilano Catching the Spirit participants will appreciate Heather's 'ready to go' energy, especially evident as of late, when we discovered she's been sleeping with her hiking boots on.

  Pacific Spirit Regional Park

Jay Wade

An experienced outdoor educator, researcher and naturalist through and through, Jay has shared his passion for nature with adults and youth alike. He has spent time in the great wilds of Alaska and the Yukon, studying birds and small mammals, and more recently has taken to the wilds of Greater Vancouver where he delivers nature education programs to school children in our amazing regional and provincial parks. When not inspiring and being inspired by youth in nature, Jay spends his time, skulking about the forest in his red Catching the Spirit T-shirt which he has not taken off since we gave it to him weeks ago (really??). Pacific Spirit Park participants can look forward to hearing all Jay's great stories from the wild, including how he is the renowned "best frog catcher in the east" - and be assured we will provide him a clean Catching the Spirit T-shirt before the camps begin!

Jiazhen Minnie Dai (AKA Minnie)

Minnie is researcher, scientist, and has been an active student leader for Learning Exchange at UBC where she showed undergrad students 'the ropes' on delivering ecosystem education programs to school children. Her love of teaching, hiking and playing badminton, might only be surpassed by her love of chocolate. Minnie has been enjoying getting out, meeting, and talking to youth about this summer's Catching the Spirit program. Pacific Spirit Park participants can look forward to Minnie's calm and quiet enthusiasm but should probably keep a close eye on their chocolate.

Clare Green

A Zoologist and kid at heart, with a passion for conservation, and a true love for nature and animals, makes Clare a natural fit for Catching the Spirit. We feel fortunate she decided to travel from her birthplace in New Zealand to hang out with us here in Canada! When Clare's not hiking or camping in the great outdoors, she might be found sitting quietly practicing her special skill (we won't ruin the surprise but you really should ask her about this!). Pacific Spirit Park participants will be impressed by Clare's enthusiasm for team spirit. However, she does seem to be a bit too pre-occupied with ice-cream sandwiches so we're thinking Minnie, Jay, and the Peer Leaders may have to take the lead on meal planning.

 Tynehead Regional Park

Karan Singh Grewal

Karan is an accomplished UBC science scholar and researcher on a path to medical school. His concern for the well-being of youth led him to become an active community volunteer by taking on roles such as mentor for Virsa, in-school mentor for Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver, as well as basketball coach for teens at the YMCA. Karan has also organized and coordinated summer programs for international students that involved hiking, camping and other outdoor excursions. An avid sportsman who also does a mean Yogi Bear impression, Catching the Spirit Tynehead participants can look forward to Karan's "go team go!" spirit. Word on the street is that Karan is hoping to learn a few new things from the Catching the Spirit Tynehead campers and we're absolutely sure he will!

Jonanne Gage

Born on the east coast of Canada, in Dartmouth Nova Scotia, Jonanne has finally made her way west after a 10-year pit-stop in Ontario. An ecological scientist, who is never seen without her sunglasses and vegetation field guide, Jonanne has great experience leading, organizing, and managing restoration and conservation projects for youth and adults alike. Her experiences include working on schoolyard naturalization programs, developing and implementing habitat rehabilitation programs for endangered wildlife for the Ontario Stewardship Rangers, as well as leading and supervising Katimavik and Young Canada Works students for various park projects on behalf of Parks Canada. Jonanne's love of camping, backpacking, and being in the outdoors is obvious to all that know her, and makes her a perfect fit for the Catching the Spirit Program. We're hopeful that Tynehead Catching the Spirit participants will not have to rely on Jonanne's uncanny ability to predict rain (something she has been able to do from any location in Canada!), as we're anticipating a summer full of fun and sun Jonanne, our fingers are crossed that you'll agree!