About

About Program

This child-directed play-based program will provide experiences that foster a growing relationship with the natural world. Through DISCOVERY, HEALTHY RISK-TAKING and MESSY FUN, participants will deepen their connection with nature, problem-solve and build on age-appropriate social skills. Our WHOLE-CHILD approach, combined with the Mount Saint Francis Retreat Centre site, provides an ideal learning environment.

About Location

Growing Roots takes place at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre on the north east edge of the Town of Cochrane. Our home base will be cut into the field and surrounded by beautiful trees. We will spend our days explore some of the valleys and hills that make up the centre's property. We are so fortunate to be able to create a space just our own. We will be adding a large tent for warming, a fire circle for gathering and of course spaces for our mud kitchen, shelter building and other discoveries. Who knows where our days will take us!

This spring we are piloting new programs at the beautiful Cochrane Ranche and Airdrie's Nose Creek Regional Park. These public park lands have a beautiful deversity of nature predomently creeks and grasslands with some forest areas at the Ranche to explore.

About Our Facilitators

Hi! I’m Lori Toma, founder, lover of all things fun – especially when they happen outside - and co-founder of Growing Roots! I have a MA in Environmental Education, an undergrad in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership and I'm currently working on a Forest and Nature School Practitioner course to certify Growing Roots as a Forest and Nature School Canada program. I've worked as an outdoor recreation programmer for youth at risk and special populations and occasionally teach at MRU in the Health and Physical Education department. Life is always an adventure with our 3 kids, we love watching them grow and explore every day. I’m excited to share my passion for learning in a natural setting and can’t wait to be a part of your family’s journey.

Hello, I'm, Laura Spruyt (pronounced Sprout!), the founder and imagination behind Sprout Movement and now co-founder of Growing Roots. I'm a recreation professional (Concordia University in Montreal) and have worked in and managed a variety of outdoor recreation settings from residential summer camps to mobile recreation outreach to outdoor centres. My passion has always been to ensure everyone is able to be involved and engaged in the outdoors. I love trail running, skiing and playing outside with my two kiddos!

My name is Joel Michener. I believe Nature has an endless capacity to facilitate an active imagination. So, naturally I work as a guide in Kananaskis, sharing my enthusiasm for adventure with all ages. My Bachelor of Health and Physical Education in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership, and Minor in Indigenous studies (currently completing), reflect my stewardship for the environment and the cultures that protect it. As well, my passion for Forest and Nature Schools was sparked by the Norwegian philosophy of outdoor life, Friluftsliv. I believe a child’s interest in Math, Science, History and Art, comes so naturally in nature. I’m excited to help your little ones explore their own passions. My partner and I enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, canoeing, climbing, yoga, dancing and boardgames, just to name a few. Kevin, our newest member to the family, loves to join (he’s a dog).

My name is Gisele Hardock. I like long walks in the woods and rock collections. I am a beekeeper, artist, permaculture gardener, and former homeschooler.
My love of nature started when I was a child visiting my grandparents' farm. Growing up our family spent the summers camping and hiking and the winters cross country skiing. The Junior Forest Wardens program took us on many (many) outdoor adventures. I graduated university with a double major in Sociology and Linguistics and then worked as an engineering technician in the oil and gas industry for over 10 years. Lately my focus has shifted closer to my roots with beekeeping, permaculture and homeschooling. Always curious, I am currently working on my Master Beekeepers through the University of Montana. Our family (we have 3 kids) spends as much time as we can find camping and exploring the backcountry.
I believe each child is a mine rich in gems which we will discover if we choose to listen. Children are not only the future, but I believe they have a lot to contribute right now before they grow up, and I am honoured to be able to work with them.

Hello friends! My name is Kelly Day and you will often find me with binoculars in hand, exploring the great outdoors with my two beautiful little girls. Prior to becoming a full-time mother, I worked as a Professional Biologist in Alberta for several years, specializing in wildlife surveys across the varied landscapes of western Canada. In addition to my love of all things furry and feathered, I am passionate about teaching the wonders of the natural world to children of all ages. Nothing makes me more happy than sparking a child's curiosity for wild creatures, as well as simply getting children into wild spaces to invigorate and renew their minds and bodies. I can’t wait to meet your little explorers!

Hello and let me introduce myself! My name is Pamela Olver and I am an Early Childhood Educator. Children have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have cared for children of various ages through my work at various organizations including a Crisis Nursery, a teenage mother support group, a campus daycare, and four years as a nanny for two amazing little boys. Aside from my experience with children, I am an avid outdoor enthusiast, and have enjoyed blending my love for children with time spent outdoors. Some of my fondest memories were those spent as a camp councellor where I lead children on two week long canoe trips in Northern Saskatchewan. I am now blessed with a son and daugher of my own, whom I love to share adventures with outdoors. It is truel amazing to see the peacefulness and curiosity of children playing in the wild.

Hello, I am Megan Lunt, a mom to two strong girls, an artist and an outdoor enthusiast. Growing up in Canmore, Alberta the forest has always been my home. When I am not trying to keep up with my mountain biking family, I am running every trail I can find! There is no better way to find yourself than to explore nature with great company!

Hello, I’m Kaylee Hope, self-proclaimed outdoor enthusiast (although I will also receive my Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership (ETOL) Degree in late 2018). I am a true believer in the Norwegian philosophy friluftsliv, which translates to “free air life.” Friluftsliv is a way of life, incorporating all things wild into daily life. This philosophy shares my belief that outdoor experiences positively affect all individuals, especially youth. I am excited to join the Growing Roots team and share my previous experiences from leading outdoor summer camps, educating youth about Alberta’s natural environment, working with other forest schools, and of course the lifelong practices I have learned through the ETOL community. I’m excited to see your little one’s smiling faces each and every day and look forward to continually being inspired by their love of nature.

Hello, bonjour! My name is Marianna Moodie and I am so excited to join our crew of explorers of the outdoors! Currently I teach Grade 2 at RancheView School, having recently completed my Bachelor of Elementary Education at Mount Royal University, with a minor in Mathematics. I believe that nature and the outdoors provide a vital and inclusive space for hands-on learning. My favorite pastimes include cooking, gardening, and taking my Grade 2s on hikes through Sunset Ridge! Having grown up in Montreal, I speak English at home with my family and can also read and write fluently in French. Before becoming a teacher, I worked for over 10 winters as a ski instructor at Big White Ski Resort in Kelowna, WinSport in Calgary, as well as in Quebec, Australia and Japan. When I wasn’t on the slopes, I worked as a tree planter in Manitoba and as an ABA therapist for children with Autism in Montreal, Sydney Australia, and London UK. I can't wait to take on new adventures led by young minds at Growing Roots.