About Us
Meet our founder and get to know the building where it all started, fondly referred to as the Nature Nest.
Who we are.
At the Wildwood Learning Society, we value a hands-on environment where children are encouraged to play. Learning is guided by curiosity, and children's relationships and connection to nature are regarded as a cornerstone for healthy social and emotional growth. We practice a non-coercive and feelings-based approach to communication and play, emphasizing emotional awareness, empathy, and gratitude.
Our goal is to set learners up for a lifetime of deep connection to nature, excitement for learning and comfort in the natural world.
Words from our Founder & Director
Wildwood learning was born out of a deep desire to create an inspiring place for my children to learn. After spending Kindergarten in the traditional BC public school system, my daughter joined a forest program in North Vancouver. After watching her flourish in that environment, I knew that we would want her to continue her educational journey in the natural world when we moved to the Sunshine Coast.
For the first two years, I worked with Sea to Sky Outdoor School to develop the curriculum and programming, which laid the foundations for what is now Wildwood Learning.
Our dream is to build a creative and curiosity-based learning program that may inspire more alternative learning in other communities worldwide. There is nothing better than watching children learn through hands-on and joyful experiences.
Wildwood Learning classes take place in our Nature Nest, a massive 2000 square foot workshop. With lots of natural light and airflow and a big wood-burning stove to warm up little hands in the winter. The majority of learning takes place outside the classroom in our nearby forests and beaches.
~Katie Shindler
Katie Shindler (she/her)
Founder. Director.
Katie has a long history of entrepreneurship. She trained and sold horses as a teenager and young adult, operated a trail riding business and started a horse-drawn sleigh company in Whistler. She is happiest when bringing together her love of entrepreneurship with her love of animals and the outdoors.
As her career developed, she became an early member of a tech start-up. She worked with top government and global companies to set up their social media strategy and security.
Since relocating to the Sunshine Coast, Katie has reconnected with her love of dirt, animals and all things outdoors. She spends her spare time with her family, chickens and horses or in her garden.
Wildwood Learning combines Katie’s natural ability to bring people together and strong desire to provide unforgettable educational experiences for her children and others in her community.
“My hope is that through a connection to nature, we will set our children up to heal our planet and communities.”
Where we learn.
Our home base is in Upper Robert’s Creek on a beautiful 5-acre property at the start of the Day Road Forest Trails. The indoor learning space is a 2,000 square foot converted workshop fondly referred to as the Nature Nest. With 25 foot ceilings and a South facing wall of windows, this award-winning [Wood WORKS! BC Green Building Award 2010] structure inspires. In the winter, we fight the cold with a large wood-burning stove.
The children have built an outdoor classroom in our home forest that includes a mud kitchen and woven cedar boughs sitting area. Activities take place all over the property, from the chicken coop, down the stream to the pond, and throughout our learning wonderland.
Meet the Team
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Nichelle MacDonald (She/Her)
Early Years Teacher
Nichelle is happiest outdoors and while she loves the sunshine best, her laughter can be heard in the forest on even the rainiest days. She loves ocean swimming, hiking, gardening and sewing. Her long weekends are often spent camping with her husband and two kids.
Nichelle has a degree in Environmental Studies from UNBC and an Education Degree from UBC. She has over 15 years of childcare experience in various settings all over BC leading camps, running children’s classes and classroom teaching. She has a passion for Student-led Learning and teaching through hands-on experiences, art, storytelling and play.
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Maddi Malone
Middle Years Teacher
Maddi is a passionate and creative educator with 8 years of elementary teaching experience. She loves to travel and has spent many years teaching abroad in South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan and most recently Panama.
Maddi Malone is an adaptive and open-minded teacher. She enjoys spending her time camping, hiking, and learning more about the natural world around her. The forests, mountains, lakes and ocean of the Pacific Northwest are her perfect environment for teaching her class of grades 4-6 this year.
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Abbie Crompton
Middle Years Teacher
Abbie is a maker, connector, and explorer, driven by a desire to understand how things work and a great love of the outdoors.
She lets curiosity guide her and brings that openness to her time with students.
When teaching, she prioritizes problem-solving and communication skills, and learning resilience through process and creative thinking. Abbie has an BFA from UBC Okanagan, a degree in Education from SFU, and has taught in both Burnaby and Sunshine Coast school districts.
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Bailey Lyle
Early Years Education Assistant
Having grown up on the Sunshine Coast, Bailey developed a love of nature exploring dense forest, meandering creeks and tranquil beaches. After completing her degree at UBC, Bailey taught English to international students in downtown Vancouver. In 2012, Bailey relocated back to the Sunshine Coast, completing her Education Assistant certificate at the College of the Rockies.
At the core of her beliefs is that every child deserves enriching experiences to foster their own creativity, confidence and self-worth. Bailey views learning as a life-long process and deeply values our connection to the natural world. In her free time, Bailey loves playing women’s ice hockey, baking, painting and exploring the outdoors with her husband and two children.