Lacie Marchand

• Mentor & Admin Assistant at TFA

• ECE (in progress)

• Forest School Practitioner (in progress)

• Music Specialist (www.laciemarchand.com)

“I have had the pleasure of spending the last decade working with students of all ages both privately and within school settings.  With a Bachelor of Musical Arts from Western Ontario (2013), my desire for further training led me to Alberta to complete a Masters in Music (2015) at the University of Calgary.  As a music specialist, educating comes in many shapes and forms from directing ensembles to instrument specific training, and discovering sounds and rhythms just to name a few.  Much like the diversity of outdoor education, the possibilities of music and sound exploration are ever changing, and as an educator this is one of my favourite aspects of working with children for their imaginative discovery has no boundaries.  Traversing different soundscapes with sound walks, creating new instruments and discovering songs in nature are just a couple of ways music and the environment are interwoven.  

After spending 5 years hiking/camping/ canoeing and snowshoeing through the rockies, I relocated back to Ontario to raise a tiny human of my own with my husband, and joined the TFA family in the fall of 2019.  As a new mother discovering different ways of sharing my passion for the outdoors and music with tiny humans has become a large focus, and being part of the team at TFA is truly a highlight of my week.” 

Kendra Masson

• Mentor at TFA

• Ski Instructor/Nature Enthusiast

“Hello! As someone who grew up in nature as much as possible, my parents encouraged a keen eye and strong respect for nature. In 2000, at 17, I became an Ontario Ranger, and spent a summer near Sault Ste Marie, maintaining portage trails and working in Ontario Parks.  It was a long time ago, but a life altering experience.  I went to Algonquin College in 2002-2003, for the Adventure Naturalist program, designed to train wilderness guides with a focus on ecotourism.  After which, I spent two summers guiding around Algonquin park, and my winters with the Ski Patrol and teaching at Mt St Louis, Moonstone. I love mixing my love of drawing, crafts, and photography into my guests' experience. I've spent the last 11 years raising our two kids in and around Ottawa, before moving back to Springwater Township in 2017.  In that time I have remained passionate about nature, always on the look out for a new bird species, new place to paddle or a new wilderness experience. We've taken our kids camping since they were babies, and they've been on back country canoe and hiking overnight trips. Now, back in Springwater and I'm teaching skiing again!  And with TFA, I have the opportunity to share my passion for nature with your children too!”

Emily Bader

• Mentor at TFA

• Certified Teacher, OCT

" Hi there! My name is Emily, and I am an Ontario-certified teacher born and raised here on the lovely Georgian Bay, where I developed a lifelong love for learning outdoors.

A majority of my work with youth has taken place outside of traditional classrooms. I have spent many years coaching and supervising youth snowboard and ski teams, supporting young athletes as they learned to navigate challenges on and off the hill. I have also worked as a historical interpreter at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, where I ran tours, workshops and education programming for students and guests of all ages. These experiences reinforced my belief that learning often feels most meaningful when students are active, exploring, and connected to the place they are in.

Before my Bachelor of Education, I completed a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Mental Health.

That background influences how I think about education every day. Research consistently shows that children learn best when they are curious, moving, exploring, and interacting with the world around them.

Because of this, I value learning environments that are simple, low-tech, and grounded in the natural world, where students have the time and space to slow down, notice their surroundings, and follow their curiosity. I am especially passionate about environmental science and sustainable ways of interacting with the land. I love helping students begin to notice the small details of the natural world, the plants growing underfoot, the patterns in bark and stone, the relationships between species, and encouraging them to see themselves as thoughtful stewards of the places they explore.

Outside of teaching, you can find me on the ski hill or on the trails around Simcoe County with my camera in hand, hiking frustratingly slowly, noticing as many little things as I can. I am excited to be part of Tiny Forest Academy and to support children as they explore, play, and develop their own connection with nature."

YVES BAKER

• Mentor at TFA

• Scouter with Scouts Canada

• Forest School Practitioner (in progress)

“Hello, my name is Yves and I am thrilled to be part of the team! I strongly believe that experiential learning begins in the outdoors. I spent my childhood growing up in acres of forest in Brooke Valley (near Perth Ontario) and attended a one-room school house. As an avid backcountry camper, this is where the child in me comes alive and nature feeds my soul. My greatest accomplishment has been completing La Cloche Silhouette Trail twice, a 78-kilometer loop in Killarney Provincial Park. These experiences have provided me with resiliency and confidence that cannot be taught through traditional schooling.

I first discovered the TFA with my son as participants in the parent and tot program. His early development was impacted by a special needs’ diagnoses and as a parent, I wanted to find an environment to nurture his connection to nature. Through consistent participation in the programming, my son has made so many gains, motor skill development, resiliency, friendships and confidence just to name a few. These experiences led me to pursue the desire to make an impact on the lives of our youth through my love of the outdoors.

In 2022, I started volunteering for Scouts Canada and became a Scouter. I gained experience supporting engaging learning experiences and planning events such as camp outs in various weather conditions and seasons. During this time, I also completed a wilderness first aid course and received the training required for preventing injury, promoting safety and responding to emergencies in remote wilderness environments.

In 2025, I started the Forest School Practitioner Certification with Forest School Canada and volunteered as a mentor with the TFA. I want to share my passion for the outdoors and care deeply about the preservation of our natural habitat. I have a greater appreciation for the value of Forest School in a child’s development and transition to adulthood. I am proud to be part of the TFA team and am excited to contribute to the growth of our students!”

Robyn Daykin

• Mentor at TFA (ON MAT LEAVE)

• Certified Teacher, OCT

• Certified Forest School Practitioner

“I am so excited to be a part of this team! I graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a degree in Global Studies and English, and then completed my Bachelor of Education at the University of Toronto. After teaching in different settings, it was working as an Environmental Educator at the Tiny Marsh Provincial Wildlife Area that made me decide that teaching children outdoors is where I want to be! I have since completed the course to become a certified Forest and Nature School Practitioner through Forest School Canada. I am thankful to have this opportunity to teach and learn alongside your children, and to be a part of helping them to develop an intimate connection with nature. In my free time, you can usually find me hiking, snowshoeing, or camping. Hope to see you in the forest!”

Danielle Mchugh

• Mentor at TFA

• (Co) On Site General Manager at TFA

• Certified ECE

“Hello! My name is Danielle McHugh, I was born and raised in Penetanguishene and am so excited to share my experiences in the outdoors with each one of your children. I am a very dedicated and caring person with 10+ years of experience and a good understanding of child psychology & development. My experience includes; Facilitator at Wildflower Nature Day home, pet care/nannying, lunch/recess supervision and Educational Assistant at local elementary schools.  

I am devoted to helping children think creatively, solve problems effectively, immerse themselves into free emergent play, and teach them how to respect themselves, others and nature.  

In my free time I enjoy being active, you can find me walking dogs, hiking at local trails or at the local CrossFit gym. I also run my own pet care business on the side as I am so passionate about animals and their wellbeing.”

Kait Byrick

• Mentor at TFA

• (Co)On-Site General Manager at TFA

• Lifelong nature lover and learner

“Hi! I’m Kait and I’m so excited to be on the TFA team. I grew up in Midland and moved back to the area with my family in 2019. I’ve spent much of my life working in and enjoying the outdoors -from working as a camp counsellor and Ontario Ranger, to tree planting, and running a hobby farm full of critters. I earned a Bachelors of Science in Biology and Environmental Science from Trent University in 2004 and worked as a wildlife field technician for a number of years in Ontario, Alberta and Tanzania. Ask me how it feels to be chased by an elephant or what the inside of a wolf den looks like! 

I have two daughters, Juniper and Pippa, who both attend TFA and who have taught me so much about life and learning. The girl’s experience at forest school, combined with my own outdoor experience, has sparked my passion for outdoor learning, specifically within the forest school setting. I believe kids (and adults!) are at their best outside, where their bodies, minds, and souls have the space to move and grow.  I look forward to supporting the students of TFA while they create their own memories and hone their own skills that will last a lifetime”

Madison Cruise

• Mentor at TFA (ON MAT LEAVE)

• BA in Child and Youth Studies

“Hey I’m Madison, a passionate mentor at Tiny Forest Academy, whose journey began with an inspiring degree in Childhood and Youth Studies from Carleton University. This program taught me to see the world through the eyes of young people, emphasizing their voices, agency, and the powerful role they play in shaping our future. 

At Tiny Forest Academy, I bring my interdisciplinary expertise to life by fostering a deep connection between children and the natural world. I believe that children are not just participants but the true leaders of their own learning journeys. My approach is hands-off, allowing kids to explore, question, and discover at their own pace. Whether it’s navigating forest trails, experimenting with natural elements, or understanding the delicate balance of our ecosystem, I am right there—encouraging curiosity, resilience, and a sense of trust in every child I mentor.

My days are filled with the joyful noise of children at play, the warmth of a campfire, and the quiet moments of reflection that nature so generously offers. I’m particularly passionate about incorporating Indigenous land-based knowledge into everyday learning, ensuring that the children at Tiny Forest Academy grow not only in knowledge but in empathy and respect for the world around them.

Join me and the TFA community in nurturing a generation of confident, resilient, and environmentally conscious explorers. Under my guidance, and the other mentors at TFA, every day is an adventure, and every child’s wonder is met with endless possibilities.”

Sarah Maxwell

• Mentor at TFA

• Diploma in Fine Arts (Honours)

“My connection to art and nature has always been intertwined. Earning my Fine Arts Diploma with Honours from Georgian College in 2010 gave me a strong foundation in creative practice, but my deepest understanding of how children learn creatively has come from a lifetime of hands-on experience.

After graduating, I had the opportunity to teach art at Innisville Alternative School, which was my first real introduction to the power of non-traditional learning environments. I later spent two years at The Drawing House in Barrie, guiding children aged 4-8 through art projects rooted in the natural world—using leaves, stones, and other found materials as our primary tools. Since 2022, I’ve been working with the Simcoe Muskoka YMCA in their Stay & Play and Kinder Gym programs, where I’ve deepened my practice in play-based facilitation and seen how creativity flourishes when children are given the freedom to move, explore, and lead their own discovery.

Beyond my formal roles, my life has been a continuous exploration of how art and nature intersect. Raising my four children since 2002 has been a profound part of that journey. Countless hours spent creating together outdoors—building with sticks, painting with mud, pressing flowers, and keeping nature journals—have taught me so much about patience, emergent curriculum, and the magic of child-led learning. .

My personal passions are deeply rooted in the outdoors. Whether I’m backcountry camping and canoeing with my family, tending our gardens, or caring for our beehives, I am constantly learning from the land. These experiences shape everything I bring to mentoring. They’ve given me a deep respect for natural cycles, a comfort with weather and wild spaces, and a well of ideas for creative projects that come directly from the seasons and the soil.

I am thrilled to be a part of the TFA community. I look forward to being out in the forest with your children, exploring textures and colours, and supporting them as they build their own connections to the natural world.”