Hello and welcome to Vancouver Island Out and About, a page dedicated to the application of outdoor education to all facets of personal wellbeing. My name is Soleil, and I am a current teacher candidate at the University of Victoria. I was so fortunate to have been born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) peoples on who’s lands we are privileged to live, work, play and explore.
Some of my earliest memories were of exploring the Southern Gulf Islands with my family or bushwhacking in some of the parks and forests near my family’s home in Esquimalt. My passion for teaching, community engagement, learning, and creating Outdoor Education opportunities was reignited when I was hired in 2021 to work for Tofino Nature Kids. The years I spent working outdoors with elementary age students was inspiring and gave me a unique chance to reexperience some of the magic of exploring nature and asking questions about the world around me. I believe in using Outdoor Education to cultivate inquisitive minds and to encourage free exploration while building confidence and independence in the outdoors.
I plan to use this space to promote seeing the beauty in the everyday while also providing a place for more niche deep dives into our amazing Pacific West Coast.
See you out there!
