Meet the Team!

Hi!  I'm Brooke,  the current Director of Little Forest Dwellers Early Learning and Childcare.

I have been working with children and families for over 15 years, and have previous experience as a Program Director in Edmonton. I have worked with children in a variety of settings and have found that my passion lies in fostering an open-ended, child-led environment for play. I love seeing children pursue their sense of wonder as they construct their understanding of the world around them.  

I have my Early Childhood Educator Diploma from Algonquin College, in Ottawa, Ontario, and I am certified as a Level 3 Early Childhood Educator by the Alberta Government.

I am a mom of two children, the younger of which you may see running around Little Forest Dwellers. We live in Cochrane with our two dogs, Harris and Violet. When I'm not at work, I enjoy crafting, exploring and trying new cuisines.

Hello! I'm Larysa, one of your educators at Little Forest Dwellers.

I have my Early Childhood Development Diploma and Child Development Supervisor Certificate from Grant MacEwan in Edmonton. I've worked in many different school type environments as an Educational Assistant. These placements ranged from specific special needs centres, home based therapy and in public and private schools. I have also taken courses and attended conferences to enhance my learning surrounding young children with many needs.

​

I am also a mother of 2 older children, and I spends lots of hours in rinks watching them play hockey and ringette. My family and I enjoy camping in the summer, going for walks and spending time with our extended family in and out of town. I also enjoy Ukrainian dancing and ballet classes with an adult group. I grew in a small town where I enjoyed exploring in the forest behind my house. Many days were spent bringing home buckets of rocks, frogs and many other creatures that I had to return to their homes. I am looking forward to explore nature with the children from their perspective of the environment.

Coming soon...

My name is Cleo and I am beyond excited to continue my career in early childcare specifically in Outdoor learning. I have recently finished my certification in Early Childhood Education at Bow Valley College and I am on my way to finish my diploma. I believe that children are the future of our society. This is the sole reason why I wanted to become an early childhood educator; to guide and influence children through the most important years of their life, by navigating the world as their co-learner. Outside of my role in the classroom, I spend most of my time weight training and spending my time outdoors hiking the Canadian Rockies. Because of my love for our mountains, I am a big advocate for taking care of our planet by educating myself and those around me about the differences we can make for the future generations to come.

Hi! I'm Dania, owner of  Little Forest Dwellers.

I have over 7 years of experience working with children in various settings. I have my Early Childhood Development Diploma and Child Development Supervisor Certificate from Lethbridge college. Prior to that, I used to work as an accountant and I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from the University of Quebec. I speak 3 languages and love learning about other cultures. I have a passion for working with children and teaching them through play.

​

I am also a mother of 2 girls ages 9 and 15.  I have lived in the Springbank community for over 10 years now and love to watch wildlife visiting from my window. I also love to go camping with my family during the summer. My favourite camping place is in Radium where we can hike and visit the hot springs.

Hi, I'm Lauren, a Certified Yoga Instructor and a Level 1 Early Childhood Educator.

I lead the children in yoga and mindfulness activities (on Friday mornings) and I also help out in the program with regular activities.

I host yoga classes and also provide private child care in my home when I'm not at Little Forest Dwellers.

I have two children, Lana and Jena, who join me at LFD most days I'm in.

Hi! I’m Amara.

I'm a Certified Recreational Therapy Aide and an educator at Little Forest Dwellers.

I am currently taking my Level 1 Child Care Orientation course and I am planning to attend the Bachelor of Early Learning and Child Care program at Mount Royal University. My main goal at the end of school is to work with children with disabilities, as my previous experience doing this made me love the idea of working in this field . When I’m not at LFD I’m outside with my puppy Milo or playing hockey and going to the gym . I also work at a retirement home on the weekends, playing games with the residents in dementia care.

Hi, I'm Sandra.

I'm a casual educator at Little Forest Dwellers and a full time Mom to 3 children and 2 fur babies.

I have an Early Childhood Education Certificate from Mount Royal, a BA from the University of Alberta, and a Petroleum Land Administration Diploma from Mount Royal. Prior to becoming a Mom, I was a Mineral Land Administrator, and before that I was a Before and After School Care Program Coordinator with the YMCA. I am passionate about making a difference in children's lives and believe that by providing them with positive experiences now, it will set the stage for their success and happiness long-term.

A fun fact about me is that I still keep my favorite childhood teddy bear 'Coco' on my bed!