A community taking root
Cottonwood Rose brings together children, families, educators and mentors around a shared belief: learning becomes richer through meaningful relationships with place and with one another.
The Society
The learning program is stewarded by the Cottonwood Rose Farm, Forest & Nature Learning Society.
The Society brings together the partnerships, community participation and practical support that make the program possible. Working alongside educators and families, it helps care for the learning spaces, coordinate community contributions and guide the ongoing development of Cottonwood Rose.
Our educational partners bring distinct skills and responsibilities to this shared work. Together, we are building a learning community grounded in academic learning, ecological awareness, practical experience and belonging.
Society Board
John Huddart — Founder and Chair
Tamara Baker — Vice-Chair
Kirsten Baird — Secretary and PAC Liaison
Alain St. Pierre — Treasurer
Allie Livesey — Learning Coordinator
Our Educators
Different gifts, a shared commitment
Our team brings together classroom teaching, outdoor education, ecological knowledge, craft, storytelling and care for children. These different strengths help connect academic learning with hands-on experience and community life.
~Sarah, Jay, Dani, Allie, Megan, Adrianne, Arielle
Nature Educators
Learning Coordinator and Nature EducatorAllie Livesey
Nature Name: Great Horned Owl
Allie, Education Director at Danu Folk School, is a joyful nature mentor, herbalist and storyteller. Her teaching is shaped by her deep interest in ancestral traditions, herbal medicine, fibre arts and storytelling—all of which nurture belonging, creativity, curiosity and connection with land and community.
Jay Roberts
Nature EducatorNature Name: Sitka Spruce
Jay is a nature mentor, Red Seal carpenter and gifted storyteller who loves sparking curiosity. With over a decade of experience, he guides children and communities to connect with land, culture and one another through wonder, laughter and hands-on learning. Jay’s daughter is part of the program, and his family has helped start several similar programs over the years.
Heartwood Teachers
Megan Pratley
K- 2 Seeds
Nature Name: Pacific Wren
Megan is an enthusiastic educator at NIDES specializing in early childhood education. She creates playful, curiosity-driven learning environments that support social, emotional and sensory growth. With gentle guidance and warmth, she helps young learners explore, experiment, connect and delight in discovery.
Adrianne Begg
Gr 3-5 Sprouts & Gr 5-8 Saplings
Nature Name: Sockeye Salmon
Adrianne brings more than a decade of teaching experience, including forest school and blended learning programs with Heartwood Learning Communities. With degrees in Land Use and Environmental Studies and Elementary Education, alongside graduate studies in environmental education, she connects academic learning with hands-on discovery and relationship with the living world.
Education Support
Team
Arielle Houghton
Daniella Dawn
Sarah Fountain
Sarah Fountain ~ Stellar Jay
Hand in Hand offers children a joyful introduction to learning outdoors through play, exploration and relationship with the natural world.
Daniealla Dawn
Educators guide children through songs, stories and hands-on discovery in forests, fields and streams. These experiences support curiosity, creativity, resilience and a growing sense of care for the earth.
Arielle Houghton
Hand in Hand offers children a joyful introduction to learning outdoors through play, exploration and relationship with the natural world.
Our Program Partners
Heartwood Learning Communities · Navigate NIDES / SD71
Heartwood provides a blended learning model that connects teacher-supported academics, experiential learning and learning at home.
BC-certified teachers guide children’s progress through the BC curriculum and work with families to support individual learning pathways. At Cottonwood Rose, our two Heartwood teachers bring focused academic teaching and collaborate with nature educators to connect curriculum goals with experiences on the land.
Hand in Hand Nature Education
Hand in Hand offers children a joyful introduction to learning outdoors through play, exploration and relationship with the natural world.
Educators guide children through songs, stories and hands-on discovery in forests, fields and streams. These experiences support curiosity, creativity, resilience and a growing sense of care for the earth.
Danu Folk School
Danu Folk School brings together nature-based exploration, craft, herbal knowledge, storytelling and seasonal rhythms.
Its educators invite children and youth into practical, creative experiences that build skills and deepen relationships with self, others and the natural world. Through making, noticing and learning together, children find opportunities for curiosity, contribution and belonging.
The Land
Cottonwood Rose is a land-based learning and community project unfolding on 46 acres in Black Creek. Forest trails connect gardens, gathering spaces, learning environments, creeks and neighbouring parklands, creating a setting where education, stewardship and community life meet.
Children spend time outdoors through the seasons—building shelters, tending gardens, exploring the forest and developing practical skills. Alongside these experiences come the rhythms and responsibilities of caring for a shared place.
The land is also home to seasonal gatherings, mentorship and hands-on projects connected to farming, ecology and craftsmanship. Families, educators, mentors, volunteers and Workaway visitors from around the world contribute to this wider community.
Cottonwood Rose continues to grow through participation, relationship and experimentation. We are exploring how our presence here can strengthen the health of the land and the connections among the people who care for it.
There’s Room to Contribute
We welcome conversations with families, educators, mentors, makers, growers, elders and others who feel connected to the spirit of Cottonwood Rose.
Whether you’re exploring the learning program or have a skill, idea or contribution to share, we’d love to hear from you.