About Cheryl
I am the owner and operator of Room to Roam Outdoor Learning. I started Room to Roam in July of 2021 after moving from Vancouver to Port Coquitlam in April of 2020. Prior to starting Room to Roam, I worked with Urban Adventures (2017-18) and then Muddy Boot Prints (2018-2021) which is where I learned the ins and outs of outdoor learning and leading. When I moved to the Tri-Cities, I continued to work at Muddy Boot Prints but with the support and mentoring of Belva, the owner, I began the journey of creating my own program locally and eventually left Muddy Boot Prints to branch out on my own. Room to Roam is now in its third year and slowly growing and gaining more clients.
My love of the outdoors started young. I grew up in the Okanagan where I spent many hours in our family’s big ol’ backyard gardening with my mom, building roads in the dirt with my brother and slurping up juicy peaches we’d grown. Being outdoors has always been an integral part of my life both in childhood and into adulthood. In 1998, I moved to the Lower Mainland and did a variety of jobs that ended in a career as a legal assistant for 12 years. My heart yearned for something more fulfilling and to do something in line with one of my other passions. In 2013 my son was born and my life changed forever. I didn’t have the heart to enter back into the legal assistant field nor did I want to leave him in daycare for full days at a time. Instead I started my own LNR in East Vancouver and from there, my eyes were opened to the world of forest school and outdoor education. The philosophies of outdoor education held all I knew to be true– that children thrive in the experience of being outdoors where their imaginations can flourish and their bodies can be challenged. Now I was able to facilitate outdoor play in my own daycare. The path I was on felt right to me.
After enrolling my son in an outdoor early learning forest preschool program, I became inspired to go back to school to obtain my ECE Certificate. Since 2017 I’ve had the joy of working as an Early Childhood Educator offering outdoor forest programs, first with Urban Adventures, then Muddy Boot Prints, and now with my own play-based, outdoor early learning program, Room to Roam, in the Tri-Cities area. I have also obtained my Lead Forest & Nature School Practitioner Certification in May 2026 through Child & Nature Alliance of Canada.
I believe that: Mother Nature is our teacher, children are capable, and muddy play is invaluable for curious young children.
In my spare time, I enjoy biking, gardening, swimming, camping with my family and plinking on my ukulele.
About Charlene
As a child, Charlene was always playing outside. She has fond memories of playing on her family’s farm, bike riding, swimming, camping, and using her imagination with her friends. She was in Girl Guides and later became a Girl Guide leader during her teenage years.
Charlene spent 15 years working in Inventory Control and 5 years in Purchasing. In 2023, she decided to follow her dreams of working with children. She started volunteering at a child centre, then started school in 2024. Charlene has her Early Childhood Education Assistant Certificate and is in her second year of getting her diploma.
Charlene loves being around children and enjoys asking them questions about themselves to help develop their language skills, social skills, and self-esteem. She feels that it is important for all children to feel safe and welcome in their environment. Charlene believes that natural outdoor play is very important for children’s holistic developmental skills, mental health, and their connection to their local environment.
Charlene enjoys walking through the local natural parks with her husband, spending time with her cats named Emmy and Venn, being creative with arts and crafts, going to farmers markets, and movie nights.
About Anna
Anna brings over a decade of experience supporting children and families in a variety of educational, therapeutic, and caregiving settings. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Behavioural Neuroscience from the University of British Columbia and has developed a strong foundation in supporting children’s development through play, learning, and relationship-based care.
Anna has several years of experience supporting children and families in a variety of roles. She has worked as a Behavioural Interventionist and Junior Behavioural Consultant and also works as an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Through this work, she has developed a strong understanding of children’s development and uses individualized, supportive approaches that encourage independence, communication, emotional growth, and confidence while helping children build physical skills in engaging environments.
Four years ago, Anna joined Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports as a ski instructor, where she helps children with disabilities experience the joy of outdoor recreation during the winter months.
In addition to her therapeutic work, Anna has a long history of caring for children as a nanny and childcare provider, giving her more than 12 years of hands-on experience supporting children’s daily growth and wellbeing.
Anna is passionate about creating environments where children feel safe to explore, take healthy risks, and develop confidence in their abilities.
About Chloe
Chloe believes respect for each child matters. She is an educator that provides a nurturing space for children to develop at their pace, provides positive guidance to support a child’s development, and provides freedom to learn and grow with confidence. She believes learning takes place while children feel comfortable and confident.
Chloe had also worked as a private tutor while studying at university, assisting many families with diverse needs. She is volunteering with Burnaby Family Life and Canucks Autism Network.
Chloe grew up in a city named Wuxi in China. She still remembers how happy she was during summer vacations at her grandparents’ home. She rode her bike on the country road with her friends, picnicked at the park with her family, and went fishing with her grandpa.
Chloe obtained her certificate in Early Childhood Education Assistant in 2024. In her spare time, she loves walking with her family dog, Marly, in the park. She likes spending time with her family cats, Oryx and Freddy.
About Shea
Shea believes that the best way for a child to learn, grow, and succeed is by fostering a supportive and engaging environment—one that values every voice, offers choices, and celebrates accomplishments. She sees the great outdoors as the perfect setting to encourage these principles and more.
Having spent much of her childhood in outdoor summer camps and after-school programs, Shea developed a deep love for nature, sports, and a variety of outdoor activities.
She is currently in college studying sport science and kinesiology, with aspirations of becoming a pediatric physiotherapist or a teacher. Alongside her studies, she regularly volunteers at a children’s physiotherapy clinic.
In her free time, Shea enjoys running through her neighborhood and spending time with her friends, family, and her cat, Chester.
About Vanessa
Vanessa brings a strong combination of formal education, practical experience, and a deep understanding of how outdoor play supports children’s development. She holds a Certificate in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, with her graduate studies focused on outdoor play and learning. She has extensive experience working outdoors with preschool-aged children in all weather conditions and is passionate about creating environments where children can build confidence, develop physical skills, explore their interests, and learn to manage age-appropriate risk through play.
Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago in an overprotective home, Vanessa had relatively few opportunities for independent outdoor play. This gave her a firsthand appreciation for the importance of allowing children to climb, jump, explore nature, engage in free play, and gradually develop the skills needed to assess and manage risk. Her own love of the outdoors began during geology field trips in university and deepened when she became a parent. She saw how much more freely and imaginatively her children played outdoors, how they challenged themselves physically, and how outdoor environments often led to happier, more cooperative play. Both of her children have since gone on to enjoy activities including indoor rock climbing, mountaineering, and downhill mountain biking.
Vanessa’s interest in early childhood education grew after the birth of her older son and through volunteering at her children’s parent participation preschool. She earned her Early Childhood Education Certificate in 2017 and completed her Master’s in Early Childhood Education in 2022, focusing on outdoor play and learning. Her background in geology also contributes to the curiosity and sense of discovery she brings to her work, particularly when sharing her enthusiasm for science, math, nature, and hands-on learning with children.
At the foundation of Vanessa’s practice is creating spaces that are inclusive, supportive, and responsive to children’s needs and interests. She is genuinely curious about what excites children and enjoys learning and exploring alongside them, whether that means jumping in puddles, digging in the dirt, investigating something discovered on a trail, or taking on a new physical challenge.
In addition to her work with children, Vanessa instructs Early Childhood Education programs and teaches weight training and mobility classes, bringing additional knowledge of movement and physical development to her practice. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog and exploring creative pursuits, including crochet and hand-built ceramics.
