Our Educators

Monica Nissen - Education Program Manager

Monica is the manger of Wildsight’s education programs. Her background includes Geography, Psychology and a Bachelor of Education from UBC. She loves to backcountry ski, canoe, cycle and rock climb. Her joys and dreams involve self-propelled epic journeys, exploring natural and cultural landscapes. Monica’s goal is to inspire students to see the beauty in nature, and to develop a feeling of stewardship. Her hope is that generations to come can still enjoy wild places, and that we can all learn to live with smaller footprints on the Earth.

Becky Phillips

Since studying Geography (BSc ) at UVIC, Becky has been exploring the natural & cultural world through work, travel and play. She enjoys being outdoors skiing, biking, hiking and climbing and dreams of traveling throughout Asia on her bike and skis. In addition to working as an educator, she is currently working on an elk study in the East Kootenays. Becky has worked with youth in Ecuador and throughout British Columbia connecting them with the natural world. She looks forward to inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards in the Kootenay region through the Classroom with Outdoors program.

Debby Robinson

Debby is passionate about introducing children to the intrigue of nature and the joy to be found in wild places. Debby has taken a circuitous route from being a Forest Tech to leading the Classroom With Outdoors programs and has thoroughly enjoyed her time with all the children she has met over the last 8 years. Her hope is that those children will always nurture their connection to nature and grow into adults who have compassion for the earth. Debby’s pastimes include growing things in her garden, preserving them, and eating them; also, kayaking and hiking with her family around the beautiful valley and mountains near Revelstoke.

Gillian Cooper

Always with a question to launch, Gillian Cooper has been sharing understanding and wonder of human and natural history with children, teachers and families for 23 years. Gillian has been a Wildsight Educator of 10 years, facilitating programs and serving on program design teams. Gillian spent 17 years as the Wetland Educational and Interpretive Manager at the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area mentoring budding naturalists, developing and delivering curriculum based field science programs, and fostering public discovery learning experiences in rich the 17,000-acre wetlands.

Gillian Sanders

Gillian is currently writing her thesis for her masters degree in Environmental Education and Communication. She loves being outdoors and working with children of all ages. Gillian has homesteaded for 12 years with horses, goats, chickens, honey bees and a garden and coordinates the local Bear Smart Program. She enjoys sharing the beauty of nature with students & is looking forward to this season's Classroom with Outdoors!

Jen Vogel

Jennifer has a background in environmental sciences and invasive species and is currently working towards a Masters of Natural Resources with the University of Idaho. She lives to backcountry ski and mountain bike and has enjoyed travelling around the world doing both. Jennifer loves to inspire children and youth about the wonders of nature and the need to conserve our wonderful wild places. She looks forward to another fun filled season of Winter Wonder.

Jessica Thomson

Jess is an environmental educator with an Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership Degree. She is passionate about the environment and loves to spend time sharing the wonder and awe of nature with her students. She has experience in teaching outdoor education through summer camps, canoe courses, and is currently a facilitator for the Beyond Recycling program with Wildsight. She believes that all people, no matter what age, can learn to appreciate the wilderness around them and learn skills to keep it wild for all to enjoy for the future. Activities such as snowboarding, hiking, paddling, mountain biking and gardening keep her busy around her west Kootenay home. She looks forward to another fun season of Classroom with Outdoors!

Lee-Anne Walker

Lee-Anne recently completed her MA in Environment and Management from Royal Roads University and has a BA Recreation in Heritage Interpretation from the University of Alberta. She is dedicated to inspiring minds to understand, appreciate and care for the environment that we love. In addition to leading school field trips, she owns and operates Fernie Nature Tours offering nature-based tours throughout the Elk Valley. In her free time she loves to ski, snowshoe, study nature, canoe/raft, mountain bike, and horseback ride with her 16 year old daughter and husband. She looks forward to helping students make connections with the environment in ‘a-ha’ moments.

Patty Kolesnichenko

Patty Kolesnichenko has worked for over 20 years teaching Outdoor Education to individuals of all ages. Her background includes a Degree in Education with a specialization in Physical Education and Science from York University in Toronto. She has taught at the Boyne River Natural Science School, the Nor West Outdoor Centre in Ontario and started St Patrick High school’s Outdoor Program in Yellowknife. Patty has also run her own business "Wolfsong Adventures" in the Northwest Territories, specializing in Outdoor adventure tourism, consulting and education. Patty enjoys spending time with her family hiking, skiing, canoeing and exploring many of the wild places in BC and beyond. Patty is in her element when teaching outdoor education and enjoys helping young people find meaningful connections to their natural environment.

Sanne van der Ros

Sanne van der Ros is a certified teacher (B.Ed. Queen's University) who has been teaching outdoor education programs and in the classroom since 2001. She loves taking kids outdoors and getting them to explore and discover the natural world around them as well as about themselves. She has lead numerous wilderness trips for youth and believes that getting kids exploring and enjoying the outdoors is an important part of their development. As an avid paddler, mountain biker, and all-round outdoor nut, she has shared this passion with Golden's kids at outdoor camps over the past few summers. Sanne not only loves tracking animals in the snow or trying to identify animal scat along the trail, she also enjoys photography and can be found surfing waves in her kayak.


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	Our Educators Monica Nissen - Education Program Manager Monica is the manger of Wildsight’s education programs. Her background includes Geography, Psychology and a Bachelor of Education from UBC. She loves to backcountry ski, canoe, cycle and rock climb. Her joys and dreams involve self-propelled epic journeys, exploring natural and cultural landscapes. Monica’s goal is to inspire students to see the beauty in nature, and to develop a feeling of stewardship. Her hope is that generations to come can still enjoy wild places, and that we can all learn to live with smaller footprints on the Earth. . Becky Phillips Since studying Geography (BSc ) at UVIC, Becky has been exploring the natural & cultural world through work, travel and play. She enjoys being outdoors skiing, biking, hiking and climbing and dreams of traveling throughout Asia on her bike and skis. In addition to working as an educator, she is currently working on an elk study in the East Kootenays. Becky has worked with youth in Ecuador and throughout British Columbia connecting them with the natural world. She looks forward to inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards in the Kootenay region through the Classroom with Outdoors program. Debby Robinson Debby is passionate about introducing children to the intrigue of nature and the joy to be found in wild places. Debby has taken a circuitous route from being a Forest Tech to leading the Classroom With Outdoors programs and has thoroughly enjoyed her time with all the children she has met over the last 8 years. Her hope is that those children will always nurture their connection to nature and grow into adults who have compassion for the earth. Debby’s pastimes include growing things in her garden, preserving them, and eating them; also, kayaking and hiking with her family around the beautiful valley and mountains near Revelstoke. Gillian Cooper Always with a question to launch, Gillian Cooper has been sharing understanding and wonder of human and natural history with children, teachers and families for 23 years. Gillian has been a Wildsight Educator of 10 years, facilitating programs and serving on program design teams. Gillian spent 17 years as the Wetland Educational and Interpretive Manager at the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area mentoring budding naturalists, developing and delivering curriculum based field science programs, and fostering public discovery learning experiences in rich the 17,000-acre wetlands. Gillian Sanders Gillian is currently writing her thesis for her masters degree in Environmental Education and Communication. She loves being outdoors and working with children of all ages. Gillian has homesteaded for 12 years with horses, goats, chickens, honey bees and a garden and coordinates the local Bear Smart Program. She enjoys sharing the beauty of nature with students & is looking forward to this season's Classroom with Outdoors! Jen Vogel Jennifer has a background in environmental sciences and invasive species and is currently working towards a Masters of Natural Resources with the University of Idaho. She lives to backcountry ski and mountain bike and has enjoyed travelling around the world doing both. Jennifer loves to inspire children and youth about the wonders of nature and the need to conserve our wonderful wild places. She looks forward to another fun filled season of Winter Wonder. Jessica Thomson Jess is an environmental educator with an Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership Degree. She is passionate about the environment and loves to spend time sharing the wonder and awe of nature with her students. She has experience in teaching outdoor education through summer camps, canoe courses, and is currently a facilitator for the Beyond Recycling program with Wildsight. She believes that all people, no matter what age, can learn to appreciate the wilderness around them and learn skills to keep it wild for all to enjoy for the future. Activities such as snowboarding, hiking, paddling, mountain biking and gardening keep her busy around her west Kootenay home. She looks forward to another fun season of Classroom with Outdoors! Lee-Anne Walker Lee-Anne recently completed her MA in Environment and Management from Royal Roads University and has a BA Recreation in Heritage Interpretation from the University of Alberta. She is dedicated to inspiring minds to understand, appreciate and care for the environment that we love. In addition to leading school field trips, she owns and operates Fernie Nature Tours offering nature-based tours throughout the Elk Valley. In her free time she loves to ski, snowshoe, study nature, canoe/raft, mountain bike, and horseback ride with her 16 year old daughter and husband. She looks forward to helping students make connections with the environment in ‘a-ha’ moments. Patty Kolesnichenko Patty Kolesnichenko has worked for over 20 years teaching Outdoor Education to individuals of all ages. Her background includes a Degree in Education with a specialization in Physical Education and Science from York University in Toronto. She has taught at the Boyne River Natural Science School, the Nor West Outdoor Centre in Ontario and started St Patrick High school’s Outdoor Program in Yellowknife. Patty has also run her own business "Wolfsong Adventures" in the Northwest Territories, specializing in Outdoor adventure tourism, consulting and education. Patty enjoys spending time with her family hiking, skiing, canoeing and exploring many of the wild places in BC and beyond. Patty is in her element when teaching outdoor education and enjoys helping young people find meaningful connections to their natural environment. Sanne van der Ros Sanne van der Ros is a certified teacher (B.Ed. Queen's University) who has been teaching outdoor education programs and in the classroom since 2001. She loves taking kids outdoors and getting them to explore and discover the natural world around them as well as about themselves. She has lead numerous wilderness trips for youth and believes that getting kids exploring and enjoying the outdoors is an important part of their development. As an avid paddler, mountain biker, and all-round outdoor nut, she has shared this passion with Golden's kids at outdoor camps over the past few summers. Sanne not only loves tracking animals in the snow or trying to identify animal scat along the trail, she also enjoys photography and can be found surfing waves in her kayak.