Meet Our Mentors
Meet Our Mentors
Cari Burdett
Director / Lead NATURE MENTOR
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For over 18 years in the Quwut’sun’ Valley, Cari Burdett has been committed to fostering a diverse community based on connection through music, relationships with our local Coast Salish Indigenous Elders (ReconciliAction through community building, music and service), and most recently, a dedication to mentoring all ages in the importance, healing and profound joy of Deep Nature Connection.
As the Founder of the Lila Music and Nature Center and mother of three older children, Cari brings with her over thirty years of professional training, degrees, intensives that focus on the healthy development of children and adults, with special focus on Anthroposophic & Waldorf pedagogy trainings, music therapy, pre and perinatal trauma work, plus communication models including Non Violent Communication and The Way of Council. Most recently, she has added to her skill set all she has been learning from Deep Nature Connection (including ceremony and rites of passage training) from her course immersion in Wisdom of the Earth, Thriving Roots, with ongoing Mentorship with Sal Gencarelle and the Helper’s Mentoring Society. Cari’s warmth and dedication shines through as she welcomes these diverse, yet richly connected elements to the Wilderness Programs.
Gord McGee
Lead NATURE MENTOR
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Gord McGee has worked many years as a children’s nature-based educator and wilderness guide in south-western BC, running outdoor summer programs and working as a kayaking, canoeing and hiking guide and instructor. His love of the teaching and grounding power of nature and community building with youth and adults has led him to complete a 1 year adult immersion in nature based education with the Wisdom of the Earth Wilderness School where he is apprenticing in his second year as a mentor. Gord loves story telling, ancestral skills with our hands that link us in reciprocal relationships to nature and the passing on of deep ecological values that help in navigating the wild world we live in.
For the past 13 years Gord has also worked for four First Nations governments on the Central Coast of BC as a facilitator and negotiator in the creation of a network of marine protected areas from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert. He holds a Masters in Resource Management and Collaborative Planning from SFU, and is close to completion of a Masters in Counseling Psychology. He is based on Saltspring Island.
Megan Farquhar
LEAD NATURE MENTOR
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Since growing up in the woods of Vancouver Island, Megan has been involved in Deep Nature connection. Twenty five years ago Megan was on the original council that started Firemaker, an earth skills family gathering that is still running today and she is still involved. Megan has training in survival skills and earth based philosophy from the world renowned Tracker School in the US, and has completed a ten month Wilderness Living Skills program with Earthwalk Northwest in WA. Megan has a love of working with wood and has helped build a log cabin while striving to live with few modern technologies.
For her continued commitment to revillaging, reculturing and connection with self, others and nature, Megan has attended The Art of Mentoring at WAS , through Wisdom of The Earth Nature School on Saltspring Island as well as Coyote Mentoring through Thriving Roots, both of which she assisted with. More recently she has embraced the teachings of the Helpers Mentoring Society, adding layers to her understanding of what it means to support life, through Rites of Passages, and other ceremonies. Megan is excited to continue this journey of mentoring youth in nature beginning in September in the Quw’utsun Valley.
Stephanie Pickering
SUMMER CAMP NATURE MENTOR
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Stephanie spent 25 years producing factual television before answering the call to move back home to Vancouver Island and work on developing a new generation of empathetic eco-centric young minds. She brings a plethora of creativity and a profound love of creating art with nature. Stephanie spent the last year attending the, Thriving Roots adult immersion nature program.
Stephanie is thrilled to bring her love of art, teaching and music to the hearts and minds of children who are keen on a unique and creative week of learning.
Joel Fox
SUMMER CAMP NATURE MENTOR
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Joel Fox comes from the world of improv, sketch comedy, stand-up, and performance art, with over a decade of experience performing in projects ranging from improv soap operas to long-form shows and sketch comedy.
He deeply loves the natural world, and has spent years living close to the land. He’s especially energized by the magic that happens when kids feel free to play, take risks, and explore without the pressure to get things “right.”
Joel strives to create a safe, inclusive environment where everyone feels supported, engaged, and has more fun than they expected.
Julia Sevitt
LEAD NATURE MENTOR
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With a deep love for creativity and the natural world, Julia brings a playful, heart-centered approach to working with kids.
For the past 15 years Julia has led numerous summer camps for kids on Salt Spring Island. She draws on her skills she has gathered through the years studying the 8 shields through the lineage Thriving Roots offered her, as well as her own background in clowning, music, and nature connection.
Julia weaves together improvisational games, song, storytelling, and hands on nature skills to foster confidence, curiosity and connection. Julia invites campers into a world of creativity, laughter and discovery.
Matt McKinney
SUBSTITUTE NATURE MENTOR
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Matt has been an instructor in a deep nature connection mentoring model and has been mentoring youth and adults for over 16 years. He is a lead trainer in British Columbia within this model and currently co-instructs one of Canada’s most extensive deep nature connection programs, the Wisdom of the Earth School’s Immersion program. He is also a registered therapist with an active practice.
Since 2018, Matt has been anchoring these types of teachings and rites in this region under direct supervision from his teachers. He has guided Fire Quests for many years, first through established wilderness mentoring schools and later through advanced training and direct initiation within an authentic lineage of practice. He continues to lead local community gatherings based in cultural repair, mentors both youth and adults in nature-based practices, and hosts an active therapy practice.
Much of the Firequest structure offered here — including the mentoring format and vigil container — arises from his years of embodied practice, supervision, and lived ceremonial experience.
You can learn more about Matt’s work at his website https://servicetolifementoring.com/.
Serena Anne
SUBSTITUTE NATURE MENTOR
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Serena Anne is a spinner and storyteller and a Weaver of cultures, stones and lands. She’s been with Thriving Roots Wilderness School for almost a decade, working with children of all ages from the west coast and to the east , and from the Arctic to the Amazon
Her ancestry comes Ireland, Scotland, Sweden, (and most likely from nomadic bardic caravaners travelling from west from the heart of the Caspian Sea
She will be sharing her Love of Fiber Arts Thru water felting with wool and demonstrating spinning .
Teresa Winter
SUBSTITUTE NATURE MENTOR
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Teresa (she/her) grew up in wild rose and coyote country on the traditional lands of the Blackfoot, Tsuut’ina, Stoney Nakoda, Cree, Anishinaabe, and Métis peoples. For 20 years she has offered land-based and mental health programs, and is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor with training in somatic, play, and nature-based therapies, currently with Human Nature Counselling Society. She mentors children and youth in bird language, storytelling, and ancestral skills, and is known for her deep listening, compassion, and playful spirit.
Aaron Salmons
YOUTH NATURE APPRENTICE
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Aaron Salmons is from Cowichan Bay. He went to Thriving Roots at the EcoVillage for three years and then started apprenticing at the Lila Nature program in 2024. He is 16 years old and has a love of the wild. One of his favorite things to do is wander the woods and learn from the wildlife. He has a deep love of music and song and likes to write ballads. He also enjoys building firers with a bow drill and recently did a Firequest in May of 2025. He loves working with children and volunteered to help the younger grades at the Grove Collective Nature program.
River Robinson
YOUTH SUMMER CAMP NATURE MENTOR
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River Robinson is a 15-year-old who has spent the past five years immersed in forest-based learning through programs such as Thriving Roots. Deeply connected to the land, he enjoys learning from local elders while developing both traditional and practical skills. He is especially passionate about fire-making, bow drill, survival skills, and animal processing, and carries a deep respect for the natural world and local ecology. River has a natural ability to support and mentor younger youth in his community, offering a grounded and patient presence as he helps others build confidence in outdoor skills. His teaching style reflects a quiet leadership and an intuitive understanding of how young people learn best through experience. A true maker at heart, River is highly skilled at working with his hands and has a strong interest in fixing, mechanics, and hands-on problem-solving. Whether working with tools, engines, or in the forest, he brings curiosity and capability to everything he does. Homeschooled and raised on a permaculture farm, River brings a self-directed, practical, and deeply rooted approach to learning and life. In his free time, he enjoys snowboarding and dirt biking, combining his love of adventure with his strong technical skill set.
Shanoah Pintus
YOUTH SUMMER CAMP NATURE MENTOR
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Shanoah has a strong drive and passion for connecting with nature and developing outdoor skills. He began his journey with two years in the Thriving Roots program, where he built a solid foundation in wilderness awareness and community-based learning. He then attended the Immersion Program at Wisdom of the Earth and continued his training with an additional two years in Thriving Roots. He further expanded his knowledge through a year in the Teen Program at Wisdom of the Earth Nature School, focusing on advanced nature connection, leadership, and outdoor living skills.
During this time, Shanoah participated in numerous fire quests and rites of passage, strengthening both his practical skills and his personal growth. He has also gained experience mentoring youth at Fire Maker Summer Camp and looks forward to sharing his knowledge with others.
Shanoah enjoys martial arts, sport fishing, mountain biking, wrestling, skiing, and rugby. He is thrilled to be offering the Nature Scouts & Skills summer camp this season alongside River Robinson and Cari Burdett.
Indica
YOUTH NATURE APPRENTICE
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This year Indica will be apprenticing with us after 3 years of forest school. Some of the things she’s interested in are: learning and singing new songs, hide tanning, wood carving, basket making, storytelling and wildlife photography. Indica is 13 years old and participated in a fire quest rite of passage ceremony in the spring of 2025. She was raised in connection with the lands and waters of the Quw’utsun people. Indi will bring her creativity and passion for the natural world to the group this coming year.
Mentor Gallery
Cari is an amazing teacher who shares from her heart. She is an absolute blessing to our children. I'm grateful for her.
Sarah Macmillan, parent of youth nature program.