Find Your North - Fall Educators’ Retreat

(To Be Determined)

Ian Smith is a retired Parks NB Program Manager, Grandfather, Outdoor Educator, and Outward Bound Canada Instructor. He loves sharing nature with “soft-shelled turtles”.

Founded by Marc-André Caissie, Forêt Acadienne School of Bushcraft was created to help people develop practical outdoor skills while fostering a deeper appreciation for the Acadian Forest. With over a decade of bushcraft experience, years as a searcher, and a background as both a high school and university instructor, Marc-André combines real-world experience with a passion for teaching.
His approach emphasizes hands-on learning in wilderness skills education, practical problem-solving, and building confidence in the outdoors. This makes his outdoor learning programs accessible to beginners while providing meaningful challenges for more experienced participants. Forêt Acadienne School of Bushcraft.

Aaron and his wife Shelley find hope in dedicating their time to initiatives focused on social justice, agroecology and food sovereignty. They have been raising their family of four on a once abandoned homestead in Sainte-Marie-de-Kent. They moved there from BC, 17 years ago. Shelley operates l’Hirondelle Farm produces fresh vegetables for food banks.
Aaron has been working over the last 7 school years with youth that face barriers in life that make it impossible to experience success at school. The Strategic Coordinator model has allowed him to build relationships with youth during school hours and engage them in activities and social enterprise projects outside of school to build trust so that he can effectively understand their needs.
This approach prevents kids from being alone in taking on barriers such as youth homelessness, hunger, human trafficking, parental neglect, eating disorders and mental illness. In a rural setting such as Kent County where resources for families and youth are extremely limited it requires an out of the box approach involving the community in supporting school staff as they take on challenges outside of the scope of the services a school should provide.
Aaron’s passion is to encourage kids to discover themselves and see the possibilities that exist outside their current reality!

Jill weaves her love for learning, the outdoors and a commitment to meaningful connection into each day. She is an experienced educator, certified forest school practitioner, and lifelong nature lover with over 20 years of experience mentoring and teaching children.
She is the founder of a nature-based program for children and youth. Rooted in faith, kindness and community, she brings warmth, intention and reverence to her work. Jill finds balance as the steward of her family’s hobby farm, where she gardens, creates art, and wanders the forest with her children and dogs.

Hailing from Ontario, Alya moved to New Brunswick in 2000, and has spent the majority of her life here. With a bachelor’s degree in business management, and experience in non profits, childcare, and many hours volunteering in food security and community gardens, her passion lies with environmental and health justice with a focus on new and future generations.
Passionate about the outdoors, education, health, and community building, Alya can be found outside year round participating in a variety of hobbies, sharing with friends and family. Some interests include gardening, archery, camping, reading, and yoga.

Kim brings over a decade of experience working with children and families through music, education, and community programs, including the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, Sistema NB, and the Anglophone East School District. With degrees in music and a background as a teacher, performing musician and a community builder, she is passionate about creative, child-led learning and building meaningful connections.
As Coordinator of Experiential Learning, Kim leads the Great Minds Think Outside program, supporting teachers in bringing their students outdoors to learn, explore, and connect with the natural world. Outside of work, she can often be found outside experiencing the magic of the changing seasons and following the curiosities of her two young children