| Isabelle Groc, project coordinator | |
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Isabelle Groc is a writer, photographer, filmmaker, speaker and outreach specialist based in Vancouver, Canada. She focuses on environmental science, wildlife natural history and conservation, and the changing relationships between people and their environments. She has also worked as the species at risk project coordinator for the Wilderness Committee for seven years. Her articles and photographs have appeared in many publications, including National Geographic News, BBC Wildlife and Canadian Wildlife. Isabelle has produced videos for National Geographic, and she co-directed and wrote ten short films and a feature documentary on BC’s species at risk. Isabelle gives numerous public presentations for various audiences on species at risk. She particularly enjoys presenting in the classroom and in the field, engaging audiences from Kindergarten to Grade 12, and inspiring children and youth to connect to the natural world and protect endangered wildlife. |
| Kelly Nordin, curriculum developer | |
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Kelly is passionate about connecting people of all ages with nature and science. Her academic studies in biology and ecology (B.Sc. and M.Sc.), as well as graduate studies and teaching in science education, informs her work as an environment and science educator and consultant. Over the past 20 years, Kelly has collaborated with a number of provincial and national conservation and sustainability-based organizations on a range of projects and initiatives. Including the development and delivery of curriculum that inspires teachers and students to discover and engage with their local places and their inhabitants. |
| DG Blair, curriculum developer | |
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DG (Dorothy Grace) Blair has a B.Sc. degree in biological sciences and environmental studies, a certificate in environmental communication and a M.Sc. in environmental education. She has been the Stewardship Centre for British Columbia's (SCBC) executive director since 2010. DG also coordinates and delivers stewardship projects and resources to audiences throughout BC. Additionally, she provides technical expertise in environmental education and outreach for many of SCBC’s projects. Her specialities include environmental education and communication; public consultation, education, and participation; strategic planning and facilitation; project planning, management, and evaluation. |
| Chloe Willes-Speakman, project assistant | |
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Chloe works with the Wilderness Committee to protect endangered species. She has a Bachelor of Science in ecology and loves all wildlife and their habitats. Before joining Wilderness Committee she worked in outdoor education with children and adults of all ages. Now she supports nature education from behind the scenes, including outreach for Conservation in Action and building this website! |
| Perry Sky Jack | |
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Perry Sky Jack is Coast Salish from the Lyackson First Nation of the Valdes Islands, he’s is a tech-savvy Graphic Designer specialist with over 8 years of experience - creating designs for print, digital, motion graphics and web design. After earning a diploma in digital design from Vancouver Film School, he started freelancing to gain experience, soon after he landed a job working with the Wilderness Committee where he currently is still designing as their Graphic Designer.
Perry is excited to continue learning, growing and being challenged in the various forms of digital design. |
| Gwen Barlee | |
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Gwen Barlee was the Wilderness Committee national policy director for more than 15 years until she passed away in June 2017. Gwen was a fierce defender of species at risk and laboured for years to push for the federal Species at Risk Act, as well as advocated for stand-alone endangered species legislation for BC. She was instrumental in convincing the BC government to set aside tens of thousands of hectares of land for the protection of the northern spotted owl – one of Canada’s most endangered species. She continued to call for an even greater amount of protected forest habitat, not just for the spotted owl but for other species at risk including BC’s southern mountain caribou, marbled murrelet and goshawk. Hailing from the South Okanagan-Similkameen region, she grew up gold-panning and treasure-hunting among the bighorn sheep and antelope brush habitat or perched high on craggy bluffs by Keremeos hoping for a glimpse of mountain goats and their kids. Gwen's enthusiasm, energy, knowledge of and commitment to BC's species at risk has inspired the development of the Conservation in Action curriculum. |
The development of this resource for educators is also the result of a collaboration with teachers and wildlife biologists.
We have closely worked in collaboration with many biologists and field experts who piloted field trips, provided feedback, and reviewed content for scientific accuracy: Mike Pearson (ecologist), Aleesha Switzer (biologist, Fraser Valley Conservancy), Monica Pearson (senior aquatic ecosystems biologist, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations), Kristina Robbins (fish and aquatic wildlife resources section head, BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations), Jakob Dulisse (wildlife biologist), Elke Wind (amphibian biologist), and many others. We are grateful to Pamela Zevit, program coordinator, South Coast Conservation Program, who reviewed both modules.
We also acknowledge the teachers who dove in and fully piloted the curriculum activities for both modules, providing extremely valuable insights and approaches. For Module 1: Jamie Stewart (science department head, Burnaby South Secondary School), Chris McDonald (science teacher, Stelly’s Secondary School, Saanichton) and Owen Davies (social studies teacher, Stelly’s Secondary School, Saanichton). For Module 2: Jessica Thiessen (science teacher, Rick Hansen Secondary School, Abbotsford) and Sarah Bacon (science teacher and department coordinator, Robert Bateman Secondary School, Abbotsford).
This project would not have been possible without the support of the Vancouver Foundation.