Terracentric prides itself in having a highly trained
staff team that works effectively to bring you the best possible
experience. Each guide and/or facilitator brings a unique background
and exceptional skill set to their work. All have Wilderness First
Aid certification, and have a wide range of other certificates,
skills and experiences that make them the best in their field.
All of our staff are chosen for their passion and love of sharing,
educating, empowering and exciting clients in the environment
that is their back yard.
From the jungles of South America to the Canadian Arctic, Hugh
has been designing and delivering adventure learning programs
and leading wilderness based programs since 1987. Specializing
in designing dynamic adventure based programs for a variety of
clients, Hugh has excellent leadership, instructional, facilitation
and counseling skills.
Hugh is a dedicated and passionate Outdoor Educator and Facilitator.
Using a range of activities, challenges and games, Hugh weaves
together innovative programs that challenge all participants to
push themselves to new heights of their potential. Whether working
with high school students, groups of professionals or adventure
travellers Hugh’s animated techniques have inspired many
to step into the picture and be the change they want to see.
Formally educated with a Bachelor of
Fine Art from Concordia University in Montreal Hugh possesses
a broad range of relevant certificates and skill qualifications.
These include; Advanced Wilderness First Responder, Canadian Recreational
Canoe Association Level II Certified Sea Kayak Guide and Canoe
Instructor, Marine Emergency Duties , Coastal Kayak Leadership
and Outdoor Recreation Safety Certification. Other certified training
includes “Life Space Crisis Intervention”, (Reclaiming
Youth International Foundation), “Adventure Based Learning
with Youth”, (Justice Institute of BC.), coaching, counseling
and facilitation training from schools such as Project Adventure
and Concordia College. As Programs Director Hugh takes the lead
role in designing and overseeing the delivery of our workshops
and full-time programs for recreational, educational, organisational
and therapeutic clients.
In his spare time, Hugh manages to continue pursuing his love
of and talents in art and music and often uses these mediums in
his work with groups today. Together Hugh and Christine recently
began the ultimate life adventure with the birth of their son
Kiran.
Christine
is an outstanding adventure leader and educator who has worked
in international youth development and adventure tourism as facilitator,
guide, tours and programs director and manager since 1990. Christine
is a creative and resourceful program planner with talents in
building unique outdoor and adventure learning environments for
people from all walks of life. Her adventure based workshops for
students in alternate school settings have earned her a solid
reputation as a leader in out-of-the box learning.
With a BA in Psychology from UBC, Christine brings a strong human
relations and group process aspect to our programs, along with
organizational and business management skills. Other technical
and process skill certificates include Wilderness First Aid, Adventure
Learning with Youth, Canadian Recreational Canoeing Association
Sea Kayak Instructor and business management credentials. Christine
is a highly knowledgeable about the Desolation Sound area having
lead many overnight sea kayak trips over the past ten years.
Christine
was lucky enough to grow up in Powell River, and her early adventures
were outdoors with her family, whether in the garden, taking extended
boat trips, searching for chanterelles, camping or hiking. After
university, she spent two years traveling as both student and
staff with the international youth organization “Up With
People” . Based on an experiential model of learning, she
gained valuable facilitation, workshop presentation, counseling
and group management skills. Christine also returned to the organizations
headquarters in Colorado for two years to assist with staff training
programs.
Christine is a founding Director of Terracentric and continues
to deliver front-line programming as well as providing general
business management and support.
Menathey is born of the Tla’Amin
Nation, Nun Kum Clan – Translation; drummer boy
from the Killer Whale Clan.
Erik has worked with Terracentric Coastal Adventures Ltd. since
2003 bringing a traditional cultural rediscovery perspective to
all of our programs. As a traditional dancer Erik performs regularly
at ceremonies in the community and is gifted with the some of
the traditional teachings of the Tla’Amin people. Erik has
a deep understanding of traditional uses of the Tla’Amin
territory and has extensive practical knowledge of the area referred
to as the Salish Sea and is skilled at sharing the culture in
a respectful way. Within his teachings are knowledge of traditional
gathering places, stories of Ayhus the two-headed serpent and
the lands of the sleeping grandfathers found in Homfray Channel
past Desolation Sound. Erik brings a rich cultural perspective
to our team and is distinguished with providing captivating cultural
interpretive programs that have received over-whelming positive
feedback from our guests.
Erik’s experience on the coast has included coast guard
patrol work, off-shore commercial fishing and skippering recreational
yachts for a variety of clientele. Training and qualifications
include Wilderness and Marine Advanced First Aid, Bridge Watchman
Certificate and a Child Youth Care Diploma in progress Malaspina
University College Nanaimo.
On a journey lead by Menathey you will be actively engaged to
learn Tla’Amin ways in the traditional territory that surrounds
our lives on the pacific coast.
"respecting our ancestors and the land to make sure it is
there for future generations"
Mike is an experienced and charismatic program facilitator, large
group animator, song leader, youth worker, freestyle rap artist,
and founder of www.beatboard.org.
Mike specializes in creating safe containers where people feel
comfortable to get real. He uses fun and creative ways of learning,
to keep people engaged.
For the past 10 years, in many countries, his use of games, activities,
and exercises, have created highly dynamic experiential learning
environments at conferences, at school assemblies, in classrooms,
in jails, and on stage.
He is a highly engaged, optimistic, and honest person who holds
space and provides structure for people to learn from each other.
Michael considers everyone to be artistic, and expects to find
learning in the process of making art. His group work/play philosophy
involves a clear vision for a beginning, a middle and an end to
each session with an sensitive and open consideration of the groups
needs in the moment. Ownership of the process is important for
all.
Michael designs and delivers a wide range of workshops, leadership
trainings and life skills development programs which explore positive
solutions to youth related issues using theatre, visual art, verbal
and non-verbal activities, learning metaphors, as well as facilitated
discussions. Mike often uses material from his workshops to spark
the creation of youth driven performance pieces.
Michael has worked with Terracentric Coastal Adventures Ltd. since
2003 as part of our youth programs facilitation team.
Samantha Garstang has been working with all
ages in the field of Outdoor Recreation, Experiential Education,
and Adventure Learning for 11 years. Her focus is on helping people
to develop leadership, communication and team building skills.
This is accomplished by the careful integration of natural environment,
awareness of self and others, and the use of a progression of
activities that, when reflected on, act as metaphors in everyday
life. She teaches in both English and French. Samantha holds an
Outdoor Recreation Management diploma from Capilano College and
is presently completing a BFA from Emily Carr, working toward
a Bachelor of Education. Samantha's experience ranges from summer
camp to work with school groups, teachers/administrators, First
Nations groups, work in isolated northern communities, with youth
at risk, and adjudicated youth.
She
has also run childrens adventure programs from her home. Presently
living on Denman Island, Samantha is part of the development of
a Permaculture land base which explores sustainable agriculture
and agroforestry. She is a Red Cross First Aid and CPR Instructor,
holds an OFA level 3 certificate, is an Advanced Wilderness First
Responder, Sea Kayak Guide and Canoe Instructor, as well as a
swimming Instructor/Lifeguard. Her passion is awakening the magic
that exists in us when we experience growth and change.
Samantha brings strong leadership and creativity to our facilitation
and instructional team. Her area of focus with Terracentric has
been leading our French language Challenge Ropes Course Programs
since 2003.
Johnny D. as he is affectionately known, came
to the west from the huge conglomerate world of southern Ontario
as soon as he was legal to live on his own. He had been on the
search for a place in which the mental environment of his surroundings
matched his beliefs of what community means. He found Lund / Powell
River and has stayed here since, recently working with the Powell
River Association for Community Living as well as with Terracentric.
His focus in the past 10 years has been largely on youth work,
sharing his love of the outdoors and striving to bring light and
awareness to those he meets.
His past experiences include Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club, Tim
Horton’s Childrens Foundation, Tamwood Camp, Wild Hope,
BC, Camp Summit as well as numerous group homes. At Terracentric,
Johnny works with our First Nations youth programs and summer
youth and family programs as well as assisting us at our Ropes
Challenge Course. He holds a Wilderness First Aid ticket and is
our group driver in residence with his Class IV ticket.
“See you out here”.
Trish grew up on the shores of Lake Huron in Ontario where she
would spend her summers swimming, bike riding, and inventing made
up adventures in forts and dirt piles. Playing outside has always
been a passion and is what led her to pursue the field of outdoor
education. In 2002, she embarked on this new life path when she
took a National Outdoor Leadership School’s (NOLS) sea kayak
instructor course. She enjoyed it so much that she has since worked
for NOLS in Alaska, BC and Baja, Mexico teaching people of all
ages outdoor living and expedition skills.
Her experiences with NOLS have been life changing and her only
regret is not exploring the options adventure based learning earlier
in her education.
What really keeps her in the field is the interchangeable relationship
between teacher and student; through teaching she is continually
learning about the world around her.
Trish also put her skills to work in adventure products retail
here in BC’s Lower Mainland, working at a few of the provinces
leading kayak and dive stores. She holds certificates with NOLS,
CRCA (Canadian Recreational Canoe Association), Advanced Back
Country First Aid and is also trained as a PADI Divemaster.
“I look forward to helping you achieve your goals.”
Dan and Michelle are two stewards of the ocean who have made
a life of diving. Their underwater adventures began while living
overseas where they filled logbooks and earned certifications
diving the planet. The Pacific waters of Japan and Hawaii, the
reefs of Australia and the Red Sea, the exotic oceans of South
East Asia, the wrecks of Bermuda, and Turkey’s crystal blue
Aegean, have given them a range of dive environments, conditions
and pleasure! They gained invaluable experience the year they
managed a dive school in Turkey, which they put to use in the
creation of Planet Scuba in Powell River. Upon returning to Canada,
Dan and Michelle specifically chose Powell River, “Dive
capital of Canada” so they could continue diving. Powell
River has world class diving and a healthy marine environment
that features an abundance of life and a variety of dive sites.
Jacques Cousteau called these waters “second only to the
Red Sea for diversity and life”.
Dan and Michelle enjoy team teaching dive courses. As well
as being an experienced PADI Instructor, Dan is also a Paramedic.
Michelle holds not only a leadership role as Divemaster, but is
also an experienced elementary and high school teacher. With
these professional combinations, Dan and Michelle give their students
a quality educational program where learning, safety and fun are
the priority.
Dan and Michelle bring to their scuba students and certified divers
a passion for the underwater world, a concern for the aquatic
environment, and the experience and expertise of professional
diving.
Judy is a true Powell River born gal who swears Powell River
is the best place in the whole world to be. “It’s
the mountains, trees, rivers and ocean that I’ll never part
with.”
Judy has been involved in developing and implementing a wide variety
of recreational and social programs serving at risk communities
since the early 90’s. She has proven that dedication, communication
and loyalty are keys to developing successful relationships with
an end result of everyone having FUN while learning important
life skills.
She has extensive experience with supporting youth who live and
visit Powell River. As co-facilitator of the Paha Kwagen Yik Meh
Thote Tl’Amin Youth programs and local Youth Advisory Councils,
she exemplifies that young people are to be celebrated, respected
and encouraged to express themselves, because no idea is a bad
idea.
She prides herself in being a “life long learner”
knowing that the variety of programs she helps to deliver allow
her to always be a student and that ‘learning is by doing’.
“These educational programs are optimum settings that
empower youth to learn about themselves. By sharing cultures,
sharing their knowledge, and trying new things these opportunities
are invaluable for young people and me too, to make a difference
in our lives and the communities we live in.”
“Come visit and join in fun opportunities that support Youth
from all over the world to experience exciting adventures hosted
by Terracentric Coastal Adventures.”
