Warren Lake has lived his entire life in Calgary on Treaty 7 land and considers himself to be a Biology teacher always in transition: he is searching for ways to reconnect high school teenagers to the natural world. He started his career in 1995 with the Canadian Rockies School Division teaching at Canmore Collegiate High School for 18 years. His focus was to find ways to help students find a passion for the study of biological science in his Biology 20 and Biology 30 classes.

During his time in Canmore, Warren looked to pursue ocean studies by taking groups of interested students on 9-day Marine Biology trips to Bamfield Marine Science Station on the Pacific Ocean on Vancouver Island. In 2013, Warren pursued an opportunity to help open a new high school in Calgary, Robert Thirsk High School, and continues to teach here to the present. The enticement was to envision and create a Natural Science program that would reignite the awe, wonder and excitement of nature in high school students and show them the future these reconnections can create. The program has grown to encompass opportunities for Grades 10-12 and continues to evolve as students participate in the experiences offered.

Warren Lake continues to take students to Bamfield every 2 years and has now established a trip to Kluane Lake Research Station in the Yukon with the Arctic Institute of North America to highlight northern science, indigenous knowledge and adventure travel. The journey to shine a light on unique and important ecosystems will continue to be a challenge that shifts and flows with the topics that abound in environmental education and in the need to build a greater sense of nature literacy in high school students.

Daniel Benaich is a Mechanical Engineering and Society student at McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario. As a high school student, he volunteered with Nature Labs for two summers, and is now proud to serve on the board! In his free time he enjoys reading fiction, hiking and biking through Hamilton's trail network, and creative writing.

Currently project coordinator for environmental non-profit organization Blue Massawippi, I have been spending the last bit of time designing and implementing water quality surveys, invasive species control projects and communications initiatives through photography and film on and around lake Massawippi. Prior to my return to Quebec, I spent some time teaching biology and environmental science in a New Hampshire boarding school while completing a masters degree in education out of University of Pennsylvania. I was interested in the best methods to instill scientific creativity in grade 12 environmental science students. Being fairly creative in a diversity of things, I always valued the questions and perspectives that were more "outside the box" than what textbooks and teachers might share with us. Exploring open-ended questions with my students had me become a student all over again, something I will forever be grateful for. I also happen to be a kangaroo expert, should you wonder what my graduate studies were about! My passions lie in science communication, filmmaking and storytelling. Aside from science, a lot of my time is still spent on the ice as a hockey player and hockey coach in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Natasha loves exploring the natural world and learning about the mysteries of nature as she goes. With a bachelor's degree in biology and ocean science, Natasha spent many years understanding the deep sea, and educating youth about the intricacies of the big'ol blue. Working for Ocean Networks Canada, Natasha initiated the Ship to Shore program, coordinated Ocean Science Symposium for high school students for five years, and spent countless hours in classrooms across Canada presenting to students. Her love for outreach and education deepened and inspired her to pursue a Masters in Environmental Education and Communications through Royal Roads University. After graduation her focus on deep sea education broadened into the many diverse and incredible ecosystems British Columbia has to offer as she took on the role of BC Parks' Community Liaison Officer for Northern B.C. in 2018. Exploring the north and collaborating with community members, First Nation partners, and outdoor enthusiasts ignited an even deeper passion for the environment. From coordinating Learn to be Nature events and developing community hiking kits, to creating unique interpretative signage and collaborating the incredible folks at Nature Labs, Natasha has thoroughly enjoyed her work connecting the dots between community members and B.C.'s wild spaces. In her free time she is adventuring with her equally curious pup, Cuervo, taking her camera for walks, volunteering, or sailing the rugged north coast with her partner Dan. Join in on Natasha's nature explorations by visiting her instagram page.

Amanda Gierling is a Chartered Professional Accountant, who works at the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. Previously, Amanda spent four years at Ernst & Young LLP while studying for her accounting designation, where she gained extensive experience serving clients in the not-for-profit sector, and spent nearly a decade working at Travelers Canada, a leading property and casualty insurer. Amanda brings invaluable financial expertise to the role of Treasurer on the Ghost Bear Institute’s board, helping support the growth of Nature Labs.

I am Logan Petlak (he/him)! I’m an educator born, raised, and teaching on Treaty 4 territory in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. I am a 4th-generation settler of predominantly Eastern-European-descent who has, like my ancestors, benefited greatly from the destructive colonial practices that affected and continue to affect this territory and its peoples. I am privileged to have lived on this land for over thirty years and am fortunate to educate and learn alongside students on this land for over a decade. I currently teach senior science, math and health courses and have also served as a learning consultant supporting teachers and students with diverse curricula in urban and rural contexts. I am in the doctoral program through the University of Regina studying how science educators teach about critical thinking and “political” subject matter in the prairie context. I spend most of my free time with my partner, our children, and our cats and enjoy playing hockey and board and video-gaming when I can.