{ Our Team |
Emily Payne
Co-Founding Director 
Emily hails from the mouth of the Fraser River on Coast Salish land, and now calls the Yukon home. She is a certified teacher with 15 years experience working with young people of all ages. Aside from growing up by the salt and sea of coastal BC, her ancestral roots go back to the Celtic-Anglo isles and Scandanavia. Emily has a background working as an international youth leadership trip facilitator in rural Kenya and Ecuador, canoe and backpacking outtrip director, motivational tour speaker, native plant researcher, outdoor curriculum designer and classroom teacher.
She holds a BEd in Indigenous Perspectives from SFU, and a BA Biogeography (Environment & Sustainability) from UBC. She holds certificates in 80-hour Wilderness First Responder, Flatwater Canoe Instruction, Swift Water Rescue Level 2, Yoga Teacher Training and Permaculture Design. She has recently trained at The Tracker School in New Jersey in survival skills and tracking. Her big passion is working with plants, which she pursues through traditional willow basket-weaving, harvesting and blending wild herbal teas and making medicinal salves. After traveling to nearly every continent, she continues to be inspired by the immense beauty of her Yukon home. She co-founded Rivers to Ridges out of her belief that building curiosity for the natural world at a young age is an integral part of a healthy life. When she’s not outside teaching, you can find her singing along with her piano, blues dancing, growing backyard vegetables or trying to bake the perfect sourdough loaf. |
Erin Nicolardi
Co-Founding Director 
Erin was raised between the Niagara Escarpment and the shores of Lake Ontario on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee
Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, Attiwonderonk, Mississauga, and Mississauga of the New Credit. She has always felt called to work outdoors with young people, and she is a certified teacher, with her BEd in Outdoor, Experiential Education. Rivers to Ridges was born out of a desire to create space for young people to feel curious about and connected to the land around them, and she uses her experiences to mentor young people and support those in the fields of education and child and youth work. Erin feels most alive when she's working in relationship with youth as they develop their sense of self in connection to place/land; being welcomed into children's explorations of the natural world; creating accessibility for children to take part in programs that connect them to the land; learning from local land stewards; exploring and supporting risky play; and celebrating bird language and song as a doorway to deeper awareness. |
Colin O'Neil
Camps Manager/Program Coordinator 
Colin grew up in New Westminster, British Columbia on Coast Salish territory. He spent his youth reluctantly hiking the Coast and Cascade Mountains with his parents, learning gradually to love them. One winter day, looking south to Hozomeen Mountain in the Washington Cascades, his love was realized and he has sought mountains and wild places ever since. Since 2014, Colin has been exploring the Yukon and meeting wonderful people in the process. In 2018 he finally decided to stay.
Colin has spent many summers working at Camp Goodtimes, a Canadian Cancer Society summer camp for children with a history of cancer. He has taught English to foreign exchange students, social science to university students, and currently works as an Educational Assistant at Elijah Smith Elementary School. Since moving to Whitehorse, he has had fantastic opportunities to run outdoor programming with Champagne and Aishihik First Nation in Haines Junction and with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation at Dechinta Centre for Learning and Research. Colin holds a Masters degree in human geography and never tires of helping people connect to the land around them. He also holds a certificate in Wilderness Advanced First Aid. When not working with kids, Colin can be found exploring the mountains and valleys of the Yukon. Colin has worked for worked in the summer of 2020 as Rivers to Ridges' Camp Manager, and is now joining the team as Program Coordinator on a part-time basis. |
Kelly Scott
Forest School Manager 
Kelly was born in Guelph Ontario on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabek People, specifically the traditional territory of the Missisaugas of the Credit First Nation. She moved to the Yukon in 2014 to pursue a career in teaching while increasing her naturalist knowledge found in this beautiful territory. Kelly holds a BA in Modern Languages (French and Spanish) and Sociology from Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec. In the summer of 2018 Kelly completed a course with National Geographic in Ottawa with a focus on Indigenous Studies and teaching Indigenous Perspectives. She also holds a certificate as a trained Montessori Elementary Teacher through the Association Montessori Internationale from Toronto, Ontario where she was guided down a path of mentoring the natural curiosity and deep sense of empathy that exists in children.
Kelly has been teaching in Montessori for 10 years in a few capacities: as a French Assistant in a preschool setting as well as in a lower elementary classroom and she has spent the last 6 years in Whitehorse teaching in a Montessori elementary classroom with grades 1, 2 and 3. Kelly is now excited to be bringing her passions forward with the Rivers to Ridges Team at the Forest School, The Nest. Outside of work Kelly can be found writing music, playing guitar and ukulele, writing poetry and short stories, practicing yoga, reading, working in theatre productions, and on arts based volunteer boards. She enjoys handwork such as crocheting, sewing, beading, bookmaking and up-cycling or repurposing clothing. Kelly is most curious about plants life, the changing seasons, life in the Age of the Invertebrates (and beyond!), human interconnectedness and recognizing what binds us as a community. |
Rosalind Crump
Forest School Educator 
Rosalind was born in Whitehorse, on the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, and is thrilled to call the Yukon home again. Growing up in Ontario and in Denmark, Rosalind has many memories of playing outside with her sisters, creating worlds in a cluster of flowering bushes or up in the branches of trees – and she cannot wait to explore the worlds that await at the Nest Forest School.
She is a certified teacher with a BEd from St. Thomas University, and a BA in Geography and Aboriginal Perspectives, and Drama from Mount Allison University. She has spent the last several years living and working in Inuvik, NWT, most recently as a Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten teacher. Prior to that, she worked as the Coordinator for the Inuvik Community Greenhouse. She believes that a healthy connection with the land leads to healthier relationships between people. Rosalind has also spent a year teaching English in four elementary schools in Montluçon, France. Rosalind is passionate about play-based learning and the role it can play in helping children gain autonomy and responsibility. She believes the learning journey resembles a seed as it grows – what is crucial is cultivating an environment where every child can put down roots for their learning to flourish. Rosalind also enjoys singing and playing music, and growing veggies. She loves all aspects of theatre – she even once toured with a bilingual theatre troupe (once as a talking broccoli!), and performing in Shakespeare in the park. |
Mariana Giaccaglia
Forest School Educator 
Mariana is from Argentina, and is grateful to call the Yukon her second home. She has lived here for the last 17 years, where she has raised her two children. She has had the opportunity to run her own day-home for 7 years as well as work in a variety of daycares and kindergarten classes for the last 14 years in the Yukon. She loves helping the children to grow and become the best they can be, and is particularly passionate about the importance of early learning in the outdoor environment.
She decided to go into this field to be able to provide the best quality care for her own children and others. Mariana is trained in Early Childhood Education, First Aid and is always looking for opportunities for more learning and professional growth development. She loves dancing, creating art and being and playing outside. |
Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Olivier grew up exploring the backcountry with Scouts and sailing up and down the coast with his family. As a teenager, Olivier would almost exclusively spend his time shredding on his mountain bike, or exploring the rainforests on backpacking trips. After graduating high school, Olivier drifted away from the outdoors to pursue a career in music. Working as a professional trumpet player, Olivier spent most of his twenties touring North America and Europe performing with a variety of groups.
Olivier started tiptoeing back into the backcountry and by 2017 was working as an outdoor educator, leading youth on backpacking trips, canoe expeditions and rock climbing camps. By 2019, Olivier was working as an instructor with a handful of different youth programs and as a certified hiking guide on the West Coast Trail. Olivier also co-founded the Coastal Trail Collective, a volunteer trailbuilding group building access in Vancouver Island’s endangered old growth forests. Last fall, Olivier moved up to Whitehorse and started working as a substitute teacher and as an assistant for outdoor education trips at the Wood Street Centre. You can usually find Olivier doing the dirt jumps on Grey Mountain, rock climbing at Golden Canyon, or nursing his injuries at the physio. |
Kai hails from Owen Sound, Ontario in the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway First Nation. He grew up in a rural setting under two beekeeping parents and spent his formative summers canoeing Northern lakes and rivers and was gradually coaxed into moving to Whitehorse last Fall. Kai invests much of his free time into the familiar local activities: nordic skiing, climbing and mountain biking, but shares that with a strong passion for music and a penchant for 18th century Russian literature.
Since 2012, Kai has guided dozens of canoe trips with dozens of youth groups throughout the country including two 52-day expeditions in the territories. Last year, he became tripping director for Camp Wanapitei in Temagami, ON and plans to continue there for a number of seasons. Following the end of his B.Sc. in Environmental Sciences at the University of Guelph, he's spent a few years oscillating between guiding, outdoor education, and substitute teaching in Puvirnituq and Whitehorse. Kai will be beginning his graduate research on indigenous-led conservation in James Bay area in the Fall at Concordia where he hopes that these varying pursuits will at last be tied into one! This is Kai's first summer season with Rivers to Ridges and he's looking forward to it immensely. He takes a calm and measured approach to working with youth in the outdoors but he's backed up as a certified Wilderness First Responder, Whitewater Rescue Technician, National Lifeguard, and a Paddle Canada whitewater instructor, just in case. |
Emma grew up on an organic fruit and vegetable farm in the traditional territory of the Algonquin nation. She spent her childhood exploring the woods around her house, canoeing and swimming on the nearby lakes of Algonquin Provincial park, and trying her best to avoid farm work. Emma moved to Whitehorse last summer to teach food studies at FH Collins and has felt at home ever since.
Before Emma became a classroom teacher, she worked as an outdoor educator in Ontario and British Columbia for several years. She has also worked as a whitewater raft guide and canoe guide. Emma’s love of water and adventure led her to spend 9 months living and working as a cook on tall ships, sailing to different ports on both sides of the Atlantic. Emma holds a BEd in home economics, and bachelor’s degree in applied human nutrition. She holds current Wilderness First Responder and National Lifeguard certifications. Outside of work you can find Emma cooking over a campfire, exploring our rivers and mountains, or finding a cute dog to pet. She is excited to spend the summer exploring, learning, and playing! |
Georgia was born in Vancouver, BC to Canadian and South African parents. She grew up running around Spanish Banks and English Bay. At age 7, her family moved to Shanghai, China. Georgia loved the hustle and bustle of big city life, but missed BC. So one summer when visiting Vancouver, her parents enrolled her in an overnight camp on Thetis Island in Coast Salish territory. She instantly fell in love with camp life and returned every summer to the beautiful Gulf Islands.
In high school, Georgia spent many early mornings rowing on Shawnigan Lake enjoying the silence and stillness of the water. She spent her afternoons with the Search and Rescue club on the Koksilah River learning about whitewater rescue. Last summer she worked as a Leader in Training at Pioneer Pacific Camp. Georgia led her cabin on canoeing and kayaking out-trips, drama sessions, ocean discovery activities, as well as fishing and swimming. Hanging out with her campers by the ocean at sunset was always the highlight of her summer. Whitehorse has been Georgia’s home base for the last five years. She recently graduated from Shawnigan Lake School and will be studying Integrated Sciences at Dalhousie University in the fall of 2020. This is Georgia’s first summer with Rivers to Ridges! She can’t wait to meet the campers and learn more about Yukon’s wilderness! |
Kalina was born on Vancouver Island, but has spent her whole life in the North, first in Yellowknife and then in Whitehorse. Having homeschooled for the first years of her education, Kalina spent much time outside exploring the world around her. She is especially called to water and spends as much time as she can near our lakes, rivers, or streams.
Kalina has her Bronze Cross and hopes to become a certified lifeguard in the near future. Kalina is proud to be graduating from high school this year. During her years of high school, she did three semesters of experiential programs: MAD (Music, Arts and Drama) twice and SASE (Science and Socials Experiential) once. Participating in these programs, as well as homeschooling, gave her a passion for hands-on learning that she wants to pass that on to others. Kalina is very curious, as well as enthusiastic and adventurous. She adores learning new things and has an optimistic outlook on life. She is teaching herself guitar, practices her art and completes massive jigsaw puzzles in her spare time. Kalina loves working with kids and welcomes the opportunity to learn from them as well as teach them. She hopes to impart an attitude of awe and excitement when it comes to nature and experiential learning, and to foster creativity and imagination. |
MC Boucher is a dynamic and passionate person. With her silly and bubbly personality, she loves connecting with children on many levels. She grew up on the traditional territory of Abekani First Nation (also known as Sherbrooke, Southern Québec). She spent her first moments on earth in a modest cottage in the woods, where she then spent every summer playing with nature.
She developed a passion for dance in her teenage years that led her to obtain a degree in contemporary dance at Concordia University. She has been a dance teacher for over 10 years now. She recently graduated from the Yukon Native Education Program in the spring where she learned how to connect with Indigenous knowledge as an educator. In the summer, she loves going out camping, hiking and exploring lakes with her stand-up paddleboard. She can't wait to share her love of dance and nature with the participants this summer!
She developed a passion for dance in her teenage years that led her to obtain a degree in contemporary dance at Concordia University. She has been a dance teacher for over 10 years now. She recently graduated from the Yukon Native Education Program in the spring where she learned how to connect with Indigenous knowledge as an educator. In the summer, she loves going out camping, hiking and exploring lakes with her stand-up paddleboard. She can't wait to share her love of dance and nature with the participants this summer!
Debbie Payne
Consultant & Mentor
Consultant & Mentor
Debbie’s heart and roots are centered in the southwest coast of British Columbia. She lives in a small community called ‘sunny’ Tsawwassen close to the gentle waves of Boundary Bay and not far from the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary; yet only 30 minutes to bustling Vancouver.
Debbie holds an M.A. in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University and a variety of people development designations and education. Her skills include facilitation, project management, instructional design, e-learning, business process review, survey design, evaluation, succession planning, strategic planning, and visioning. She is the author of several leadership books and over 20 articles and curriculum publications. Her work experience includes employment in three large organizations (WorkSafeBC, Terasen Gas Inc, Open Learning Agency) where she managed and developed teams; and provided organizational learning and leadership advice to senior leaders. As owner of DP Leadership Associates she is grateful for the opportunity to work with over 50 clients, providing them with an outside perspective, and a critical yet solution-based focus to empower them to make positive change.
Debbie’s nature name is ‘Sunbeam’ and she has brought rays of energy, vitality and an extra pair of hands to the Rivers to Ridges team since October 2018. Debbie, as a mentor, helps the team focus on their vision and strategy, coaches and provides a listening ear, and jumps in to help review proposals and documents. Debbie is delighted to dedicate her energy to Rivers to Ridges, a social enterprise that is making a difference in the world.
Debbie holds an M.A. in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University and a variety of people development designations and education. Her skills include facilitation, project management, instructional design, e-learning, business process review, survey design, evaluation, succession planning, strategic planning, and visioning. She is the author of several leadership books and over 20 articles and curriculum publications. Her work experience includes employment in three large organizations (WorkSafeBC, Terasen Gas Inc, Open Learning Agency) where she managed and developed teams; and provided organizational learning and leadership advice to senior leaders. As owner of DP Leadership Associates she is grateful for the opportunity to work with over 50 clients, providing them with an outside perspective, and a critical yet solution-based focus to empower them to make positive change.
Debbie’s nature name is ‘Sunbeam’ and she has brought rays of energy, vitality and an extra pair of hands to the Rivers to Ridges team since October 2018. Debbie, as a mentor, helps the team focus on their vision and strategy, coaches and provides a listening ear, and jumps in to help review proposals and documents. Debbie is delighted to dedicate her energy to Rivers to Ridges, a social enterprise that is making a difference in the world.
Our team of highly qualified staff has a range of education, training and certifications from the following bodies:
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{ Our Story |
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An early fall multi-day backpacking trip in with a Yukon experiential high school program is where Emily found Erin in 2014. At the time, Erin was fresh to the territory and woefully unprepared for her first backcountry hiking trip. With the help of a shared tent, warm tea and lots of duct tape, Emily supported Erin on the adventure. A couple months later, Erin had the chance to repay the love by heading out with a friend to support Emily who was stuck in Watson Lake with a broken down vehicle. A surprise snowstorm closed the roads, and they were forced to stay the night at the Cozy Nest. Conversation eventually turned to life passions, and it turned out that Erin and Emily both had the same (not-so) secret dream of building a program that guides young people towards a meaningful connection with the land. Rooted in mutual support for one another and a deep love of mentoring children on the land, Rivers to Ridges was born! Now, in 2021, Rivers to Ridges celebrates over five years in operation. |
