Nature Schools Network

The Nature Schools Network is a collaborative community rooted in curiosity, care, and deep connections to land and place. Grounded in the Spiral of Inquiry, we aim to hold space for educators, learners, and leaders to come together in shared inquiry, reflection, and practice. Guided by a commitment to land-based learning, our vision is to grow pedagogies and approaches that honour diverse ways of knowing and being, while fostering system change that benefits all learners. Through ongoing dialogue and relationship-building, we seek to nurture a culture of life-long learning, reciprocity, and collective growth. The network is co-coordinated by April Pikkarainen and Kevin Vines, with additional support from Begonya Folch (Catalonia) and Leona Prince (SD 91 – British Columbia).

April Pikkarainen

April is a committed nature-based educator and principal in the Richmond School District, continually learning alongside others as she works to deepen connections between learners, communities, and the natural world. As a recent graduate of the Transformative Educational Leadership Program (TELP) at the University of British Columbia, she is grateful for the opportunity to explore new perspectives and approaches that support the evolving landscape of education. Grounded in the belief in collaborative inquiry and systems thinking, April strives to co-create land-based learning experiences that are meaningful and inclusive. Her leadership is shaped by a spirit of curiosity, a dedication to sustainability, and a shared journey of growth within school communities.

Kevin Vines

Kevin is currently a principal in Richmond (SD38). He is passionate about learning outside – from, with and in nature. Throughout his career as an intermediate classroom teacher, when providing preps as a vice-principal and now in collaboration with the staff as principal, Kevin continues to learn that leaning into and exploring the wisdom, beauty and interconnectivity of nature fosters high levels of engagement and creates meaningful learning opportunities for students and adults alike. Kevin cherishes any opportunity to further this conversation of honouring who we are as individuals and our connection to place.