Kelsey Boulton
Founder/Lead Facilitator
My name is Kelsey Boulton and I am the founder and primary facilitator of Coulee Critters Forest and Nature School. I was born and raised in Southern Alberta where I developed a love of the outdoors and a strong connection to the land. I graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a combined degree in Science and Education. I am also a Level 3 Early Childhood Educator and a certified Forest School Practitioner from the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada.
Whether it’s the mountains, the hoodoos, the river bottom or a local playground, Kelsey and her family love spending their time outside, playing and exploring together.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to instill a love of the natural world and foster the development of the whole child by providing children with opportunities to connect to the natural world, each other and themselves.
Philosophy & Vision
Coulee Critters is a place-based program where nature is the classroom. We strongly believe in child-led and play-based learning. We believe in the reciprocal relationship children have with the environment. Our philosophy is rooted in wise practices, deep listening, compassion and empathy. We foster children’s growth and development in a holistic way through instilling a love of playing and learning in an outdoor environment while nurturing a deep sense of wonder about the natural world that surrounds us.
Children are intrinsically motivated to learn, and they do so by exploring the world around them. The goal is to provide children with repeated access to nature, give them time and space to investigate and foster a sense of wonder. Children will experience open and flexible environments where playful exploration, problem solving and creativity are encouraged and purposefully planned. We will encourage children to be curious, to explore their environment as a steward of the land while building upon their sense of discovery that allows for meaningful connections to self, others and community.