We have two BC-certified teachers on site with the children two days per week. They oversee the home learning component, student learning plan and are the interface with NIDES.
Maia is an entrepreneurial educationist mama of two who dreams of changing the world through a transformed education system. She is a full-time teacher with the School District of Greater Victoria, currently on a parenthood leave to spend more time with her young kids, but could not resist the opportunity
Megan Grupe (she/her) is an ocean-lover, forest bather, mountain climber, and lover of forming communities with kids (and adults!) in nature. She is a white settler of Swiss & Scottish heritage who was born on Kalapuya territory in Oregon. Having spent the last decade and a half living up and
Catie Bainbridge (she/her) is a white settler with British, Irish, and French ancestry and has been an uninvited guest on lək̓ʷəŋən territory for nearly three decades. She is a storytelling, bone collecting, cloud watching, mud splashing child-at-heart who loves to play and dream outside. She holds great reverence and respect
Our Forest Mentors are additional educators, specifically with outdoor education and/or wilderness awareness training. A mentor is present on site all three days.
Erica first joined EPIC as a Forest Mentor for the 2021/2022 school year and is excited to return to the community in the dual role of Forest Mentor and program coordinator. She has been teaching and developing nature programs on Lək̓ʷəŋən territory since 2016. Erica graduated from the University of
Hannah (she/her) is a curious and creative mixed Indigenous-European visitor to lək̓ʷəŋən territory. It is her first year at EPIC, and she is excited to learn, play, and laugh with the Maples this year. Hannah graduated from the University of Guelph in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology,
Meg grew up here on the Island on the lands of the Kwalikum First Nations, and spent most of her time in the forest eating salmonberries and making tree forts. Alternative, outdoor-based learning had a huge impact on Meg’s life as a teenager, and means that she has a unique
Joely is a bird nerd who loves climbing, hiking, gardening, and more! It is her first year at EPIC and she has always loved sharing her knowledge of nature and science with the next generation. She was born on Gitxsan territory and grew up running through the forest on Salt
Austen is an Ecosystem Management Technician who runs a small landscaping business. This is his first year with EPIC, but he has experience teaching children and adults about farming, fruit trees, and food security. He spends his days in the garden and his nights reading books. Austen’s looking forward to
For much of the year, a practicum student from the University of Victoria’s Child and Youth Care Program is on site three days a week. They spend three to four months with the community to complete their course requirements.
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