Contact Us

Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN)
PO Box 46, Invermere, BC V0A 1K0

Duncan Whittick
Executive Director
Email: info@cbeen.org

Duncan is based out of Invermere in the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa and Secwepemc (Shuswap). He has been CBEEN’s Executive Director since 2011, and enjoys connecting the dots between people and organizations, looking for pathways to positive systemic change, and finding ways we can all work better, together.

Duncan is also on the board for the BC Classrooms to Communities (C2C) Network Society, and is the Co-coordinator for the Kootenay-Boundary Environmental Education (KBEE) Initiative. He was also recently the Communications Coordinator for both the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM) and the Kootenay Conservation Program (KCP). In 2018 he was the recipient of the Canadian Environmental Education ‘Outstanding Individual in an Organization’ Award.

Prior to working in the Columbia Basin, Duncan enjoyed working as a park interpreter and environmental educator for a variety of organizations including Cypress Hills Inter-provincial Park, Dinosaur Provincial Park, the National Trust for Scotland and the Jane Goodall Institute. He holds a degree in Communications & Culture, and a diploma in Environmental Science.

Jade Berrill
Outreach and Events Manager
Email: outreach@outdoorlearningstore.ca

Jade lives in Revelstoke, on the traditional lands of the Sinixt, a place also cared for over time and space by the Ktunaxa, the Secwepemc and Okanagan Syilx First Nations.

Born in the UK, after obtaining her BSc 1st Class HONS in Physical Geography, Jade spent several years travelling the world, skiing, mountain biking and teaching science and outdoor education at various schools. Five years ago she found and made beautiful BC her permanent home.

Alongside her CBEEN role Jade runs a youth educational business, Stoked on Science. As a qualified ACMG Rock Climbing instructor she hosts youth rock climbing and outdoor skills camps, is a Level 1 Professional Mountain Bike Instructor and also runs science workshops and field trips for K-12 in schools. Jade writes scientific articles for numerous publications and educational programs for various institutions.

Jade is a passionate educator and communicator of science. Building on a love for bringing people together as a mechanism for growth and forward thinking, this role encompasses organizing events to develop the best opportunities for professional development, networking and educational outreach – engaging students, teachers and decision makers alike.

Mia King
Program Manager
Email: wildvoices@cbeen.org

Mia lives in Revelstoke, on the traditional lands of the Sinixt, the Ktunaxa, the Secwepemc, and the Syilx.

Once Mia realized she could combine her passion for nature (developed while growing up on a farm, through environmental studies, and a lot of hiking/biking/camping), with her enjoyment of teaching (realized when she moved to Japan for a couple of years to teach English as a second language), she has since been involved with environmental education in many different forms. Whether creating informational signs on aquatic species at risk or leading a group of school-aged students through the forest on an interpretive hike, Mia enjoys helping people learn and connect with their local environment.

With over 10 years as a community environmental educator and program manager, Mia is proud to be part of the CBEEN team and loves to help facilitate the delivery of environmental education in the Columbia Basin via the Wild Voices program.

Katie Wells
Financial Management
Email: finance@cbeen.org

Katie is based out of Invermere in the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa and Secwepemc (Shuswap).

After graduating from Engineering at UBC, Katie worked in pulp and paper and then management with Procter & Gamble. Moving back to BC in 1993 she co-founded Basecamp Enterprises (Rigging for Rescue) and Basecamp Innovations Ltd (Rescue Equipment design). When Rigging for Rescue was sold to a US team in 2002, she started her own consulting practice and was later the CEO of KRIC while considering her next move.

Over the past 15+ years, Katie has found a niche using her multidisciplinary entrepreneurial skillset with her P.Eng. and her specialties in business, finance and systems to help entrepreneurs and non-profits move their goals and dreams forward. Her firm, Turning Point Business Advisory Services Inc., is based out of Invermere where Katie has lived for the past 27 years. She enjoys family, being outside and tiny house living.

Kate Atkinson
Keeper togetherer of things / Gifting Goddess
Email: support@outdoorlearningstore.com

Kate Atkinson is originally from Riverview, New Brunswick. She earned her degree in Outdoor Rec. at NBCC, St Andrews, and chose the Rocky Mountains as her home with skis in one hand a paintbrush in the other. While Kate’s career has taken her from snowy mountain tops and dropping cliffs to a position with less altitude, Kate’s love of the mountains and daily adventures with her two kids have inspired her art and continued love of the Columbia Valley, while still keeping her on her toes! She loves bringing her outdoor recreation background, combined with her creativity, to the Outdoor Learning Store, helping to inspire and support learners and educators alike.

Jen Baker

Resource Wrangler / Packager, Sharer and Carer

Email: resources@outdoorlearningstore.com

Jen grew up among the rolling prairies of Manitoba, spending more time outdoors than in. Her love of animals and appreciation for nature led her to pursue a career as a wildlife technician. Eventually, searching for grizzly bear “rub trees” in the foothills of Alberta gave way to raising two little cubs of her own. For now, wildlife work has given way to wild life living, and Jen aims to ensure her kids love the outdoors as much as she does.

In addition to camping, hiking, and snowboarding, Jen spends her time writing children’s stories about different wildlife conservation topics. She is excited to be part of the Outdoor Learning Store Team; developing & publishing amazing resources, bringing outdoor learning goodies in the door, and getting orders out the door and into the hands of educators!