![]() Joyalea was born and raised on Central Vancouver Island, moving between Coast Salish, Nuu chah nulth, and Kwakiutl Traditional Territories. She arrived in the Yukon to tap birch trees in the spring of 2019 and never left. Joyalea holds a BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Quest University Canada in Squamish, BC, where she focused in Anthrozoology. She finds herself especially fascinated by the role of bees in human life.
Previous work includes sea kayak guiding in Discovery Passage, working as an outdoor educator on Hornby Island and running a pedal-powered granola bar business. Most recently, Joyalea co-facilitated an eight-week story-telling course at Yukon College in Carcross, YT. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder, Yoga Instructor and (fully uncertified) hill walker. Having been alive for a reasonable number of years, she can tell you she loves little more than relocating earth worms from puddles, “aha!” moments, bird song identification and cherry ice-cream. She believes curiosity and fun can be found in the most unassuming of places, and is so excited to spend the summer “aha!-ing” with learners of all ages. |
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![]() 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. |
An early fall multi-day backpacking trip in with a local 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 in wild spaces, Rivers to Ridges was born! Now, in 2020, Rivers to Ridges celebrates five years in operation. |