Meet The Team

Founder and Program Director

Judy Lipp

Judy has always loved spending time in the great outdoors. Despite growing up running through the woods and climbing trees, she found her naturalist tendencies peaked in the middle of Canada’s largest urban centre where she first started tracking coyotes, foraging medicinal plants and starting fires with friction. Helping people rekindle their love of and comfort in nature through fun, engaging activities is her mission.

Communications Coordinator

Jasmine Saini

Born in the embrace of the Himalayas and now nestled in the enchanting landscapes of Nova
Scotia, Jasmine's heart beats in rhythm with nature's diverse melodies. Her journey from the
world's highest peaks to the coastal beauty of Canada has forged a profound connection with the environment. Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that by nurturing our connection with the Earth, we enrich not only our own lives but also ensure a legacy of wonder for generations to come. She believes that every sunrise paints a portrait of hope, and every whisper of the wind is a reminder of our responsibility to protect our precious planet.

Nature Facilitator

Kim Herrick

Kim has dedicated her professional life to playing and teaching in the mountains and in natural spaces. She's worked with people in all ages and stages of life. Kim is passionate about providing opportunities in wild spaces for her students to discover their strengths both physically and mentally. Her favorite outdoor sport is backcountry skiing in the winter and stand up paddle boarding in the summer. 

Nature Facilitator

Dani Beaudoin 

Dani is a dedicated outdoor enthusiast with a background in outdoor education, and teaching. Her work has brought has moved her from across Canada and she’s thrilled to be putting down roots in the Annapolis Valley. She’s passionate about instilling physically literacy, community connections, resiliency, and building a solid campfire. Her favourite outdoor activities are surfing, alpine skiing, trail running, and cycling. 

Nature Facilitator

Rachel Cherry-Brannen

Rachel received her Bachelor of Education at Acadia University in 2020. She has taught Musical Theatre, Core French, and Resource with elementary students. This province has always been her home: her childhood memories are filled with the ocean, forest walks, lake swims, berry foraging, swinging, skipping rope, sidewalk chalk, and playing pretend in the tree house.

Nature Facilitator

Kaslyn Brown Grant

Kaslyn received her Therapeutic Recreation Diploma from NSCC in 2022. Her studies focused on the effects of nature-based therapy on mental well-being. Kaslyn has always felt a strong connection to nature. Her curiosity naturally lead her to study it which has affirmed and deepened that connection. As a child she spent a lot of time playing outdoors with the trees or on the rocks near the ocean. She is very excited to be a part of the Flying Squirrel Adventures and is looking forward help guide your child in the discovery of natures wonders. 

Nature Facilitator

Lee Brannen

Lee’s love for the outdoors was kindled while growing up in southwestern Nova Scotia. Known for its rugged shorelines, he spent time with his family exploring coastal trails, kayaking on inland lakes, combing beaches, and swimming in the Chebogue tidal river. He feels more connected to himself, others and nature when sharing the sensory experience of the outdoors: the smell of spruce, the soft texture of clay soils, the whoosh of a crashing wave, or the refreshing spray of a sea breeze. 

Nature Facilitator

Ashley Sanford

Ashley has been exploring the natural world with her six homeschooled children for the past decade. Through this inspirational process, they have developed confidence and self esteem through hands on learning in a woodland.

Her family lives in the community of Black Rock by the beautiful Bay of Fundy in a small cabin they built by hand. They spend their days mastering puddles, taking care of living animals, building shelters, cooking over open fires, foraging for medicines and much more.

She looks forward to getting to know your child and supporting their playful learning in the greatest playground of all. 

Nature Program Assistant

Della Blossom Alderson

Della loves to be outside and goes hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing as much as possible! While studying community development at Acadia University, she discovered a passion for environmental and adventure education. They are incredibly excited to be a part of the Flying Squirrel Adventures team, facilitating and assisting behind the scenes!  

Program and Communications Manager

Jess Spooner

Jessica is completing her Master in Community Development at Acadia University. She moved to Wolfville in 2022 after completing her degree at Memorial University in Newfoundland. Her research focuses on women in the outdoors and she has worked as an outdoor educator and wilderness guide with women for over 12 years. In 2016, she founded Rewild Wellness which is a social enterprise connecting women to the outdoors and each other through hiking groups, forest bathing, backpacking, and coaching.