KFNS Founder & FNS Practitioner (she/her)

Monica is “maman” to 3 wonderfully wild children (ages 10, 7 & 5 years), an avid hiker & camper (albeit there seems little time for that these days), an aspiring animal tracker (sge gets so excited about tracks & scat), and a qualified elementary school teacher (Ontario College of Teachers) and Forest & Nature School practitioner (Child & Nature Alliance of Canada / Forest School Canada).

She grew up on a horse farm in southern Ontario and spent endless hours outdoors – hiking, camping, playing, exploring, building, tending to the animals, reading in trees, and more. Nature is very much a part of who she is and how she lives her life. She recognizes the value of time spent in nature and sees the benefits in herself, her children, and her students.

Passionate about education & the outdoors, she decided she was going to start a Forest & Nature School as soon as she learned that they existed. After having her second child, she left her position teaching French with a local school board and made KFNS a reality in the Fall of 2019! Monica also previously ran an outdoor family blog, Maman on the Trail, and she started the local branch of an outdoor parent community, Hike it Baby (Kingston, ON) – so you may know her from there.

Monica is bilingual, English & French, and can support learning in either language.

FNS Program Lead & FNS Practitioner (she/her)

Leah is a mom of two very active children (11 and 14 years old) and lives with her family on the gorgeous Gananoque River, surrounded by field, forest, and marsh, all amazing ecosystems full of life. She is a veggie and fruit gardener, hiker, runner, canoe tripper, crafter, and birder. She is also an experienced Registered Early Childhood Educator and Forest and Nature School Practitioner that loves learning, teaching, mess-making, and discovering with children, especially in the outdoors.

She grew up in Toronto with a family of nature lovers, spending time in parks, ravines, beaches, and streams – anything the big city could provide, until she escaped permanently to the country! Summers have always been a time for camping and discovering the beauty of new and interesting natural places. Connecting ourselves and our children to our natural environment has always been a passion and she is so excited to be part of the KFNS family of forest and nature lovers! Leah has been with KFNS since Fall 2021.

FNS Program Lead (she/her)

Sarah has been with KFNS since Spring 2024.

FNS Program Facilitator (she/her)

Shannon is homeschooling mom to an adventurous 11-year-old and finds joy in blending education with her passion for all things outdoors. She lives with her family on a small farm north of Kingston, where she enjoys daily walks with her dog, gardening, beekeeping and caring for their animals. She grew up near KFNS, and spent much of her childhood exploring the surrounding area where she developed a her love for nature and the environment.

Shannon has been a facilitator with KFNS since Spring 2024, but part of the KFNS community since Spring 2022.

FNS Program Facilitator (she/her)

Tea in hand, big smile. Nature appreciator, stays rooted, but light.

A lifelong camper and outdoor enthusiast, Emma brings to Kingston Forest and Nature School over 15 years of outdoor work and teaching experience with children and youth of all ages and capabilities, at schools, outdoor centres and summer camps across Canada and abroad. Whether backpacking BC trails (Camp Potlatch) or canoe- tripping across Northern lakes (Camp Wanapitei), or sleeping in snowy quinzhees (RKY), Emma has witnessed nature’s capacity to challenge, to heal, and to bring people together.

Emma holds a BASc in Child, Youth and Family Studies (Co-op focus in Outdoor Education and ECE) from the University of Guelph and a teaching degree (PGDE Primary) from the University of the West of Scotland, granting her qualified teacher status in Scotland, England, and Ontario. After two fulfilling years of teaching and facilitating outdoor learning opportunities for students with Special Educational Needs in Harrogate, England, Emma is very excited to return home to Kingston to continue building meaningful connections in the outdoors at KFNS!

In her spare time, you can always find Emma outside, enjoying everything from cold plunging to hiking, with a big smile on her face, tea in hand, and saying her favourite tagline: “Go team!”

Emma has been with KFNS since Summer 2025.

FNS Program Facilitator (she/her)

Jasmine has been with KFNS since Fall 2025.