Whether it was playing with “Army Ants” in the front yard bushes, building snow forts, or catching minnows – my experiences in the outdoors are a huge part of the person I’ve become. The outdoors made me strong, curious, and confident. It inspired me to explore Canada, from the West Coast Trail to the East Coast Trail. My childhood outdoor pursuits inspired me to explore over 30 different countries, live abroad, and experience the natural world not only in my own backyard, but all around the globe. Today as a Mom, the greatest joy in my life is watching my daughter grow through her own outdoor experiences.

When I was a kid, I wouldn’t have described myself as “outdoorsy”, but now looking back, that’s exactly what my family and myself were. Rain or shine, regardless of season, we spent our time outside. We ran around the dense forests of Bragg Creek in the Foothills, the boundless fields and coulees of the Alberta Prairies, and created treasure maps of the suburbs where we grew up. I have my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to thank for all those opportunities to explore. As a parent myself, I want my kids to experience the outdoors the way I was able to. I co-founded The Wild | Life Outdoor Adventures to help kids and families get outside together.

Growing up in Ontario, the middle child of two teachers, summers were spent road tripping to the West Coast of Canada. We camped all the way and explored vast regions of Canada and the United States. My memories are filled with a childhood spent outdoors, biking around our neighborhood, adventuring in our backyard treehouse, swimming in the Pacific Ocean, and having beach fire marshmallows – this is what has inspired me to create the same opportunities for today’s youth. I am a mother to a hockey-playing 10 year old and an extraordinarily artistic 13 year old. We spend as many weekends as possible every year camping in Alberta and British Columbia and enjoying outdoor sports, games, and of course, S’mores roasted over the campfire.