Margaret Fraser – Co-founder and General Coordinator

While Margaret’s academic background is in Community Economic Development and social enterprise, she has spent the better part of her life working with children and families in one way or another, most often in a community setting.Having spent her own childhood exploring forests and beaches, she feels passionately about building a sustainable organization that can provide the same  opportunities for independent discovery to children living in an urban environment and a framework that can support them in their self-directed learning.

 

Megan Cohoe-Kenney – Co-founder and Program Coordinator (on maternity leave)

In addition to her years of experience working with children, from babies to teenagers, in school settings, camps, preschools, and more, Megan’s background includes adult education and community-based and early childhood research. Megan is inspired by education that is built on mutual respect, particularly the work of Paulo Freire and Reggio Emilia’s Loris Malaguzzi. She loves exploring the outdoors, using the principles of the Forest School Movement to foster kids’ natural sense of adventure and reverence for the environment. Upon discovering the wonderful world of Playwork, and as a current Playwork student, she has become passionate – ergo, obsessed – with providing children with opportunities for child-led, self-directed play.

Roxanne Marcil – Outreach Coordinator and Facilitator

Roxanne loves exploring the outdoors year-round, whether in the urban nature of Montréal or on bigger adventures out of the city. She has had the privilege to spend the last five years playing outside with her two children, including in organizing parent groups outdoors in her neighbourhood of Hochelaga and getting involved in the free play and Forest School movement on a larger scale in Quebec. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning she has also completed the Forest and Nature School Practioner’s Course through the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada. She is excited to bring her past experience in community organizing, urban planning, and communications to her work with families at The Lion and The Mouse.

Caroline Marcoux – Program Coordinator and Facilitator

Caroline spent her childhood in Montreal, but that didn’t stop her from becoming an adventurer and loving the outdoors! She studied psychology and public health, where she was very interested in how to co-create living spaces that allow people to be healthy and happy. She has worked in several organizations with children to facilitate all kinds of activities, from cross-country skiing to natural sciences, circus and the visual arts. She particularly enjoys taking the time to listen to the children, to let her imagination guide her and to take advantage of the opportunities that nature offers.

Estelle Bonjour – Facilitator

Estelle has recently finished her studies in education at the Haute Ecole de Travail Social de Fribourg, Switzerland. She has been involved with The Lion and The Mouse since February 2019. She came to do a 5 month internship, and decided to extend her professional experience with the organization. A militant advocate for free play in nature, the values of the organization have strongly spoken to her since her first day at The Lion and The Mouse.

Océane Guechir – Facilitator

Océane is a big supporter of creativity and discovery through play. She is a keen volunteer when it comes to encouraging kids to play freely. Throughout her childhood, she participated in summer camps all over France and more recently was volunteering at a soccer club for young players in her hometown. Her many trips the mountains and interest in discovering its local wildlife and flora demonstrate her love for nature.

Cee Lavery – Facilitator

Cesario (Cee) Lavery is a childcare worker, illustrator, and occasional violinist. He is interested in intergenerational and community-centred care, collaborative art-making, and learning through exploration and joyful curiosity. He is happy to be hanging out with The Lion and the Mouse more this fall after a summer spent outside at Adventure Camp.

Laura Boyce – Facilitator

Laura is a spontaneous adventurer with a love for nature stemming from her childhood of exploring in British Columbia. She is an all-seasons-all-sports player with a passion for learning and trying new things. She likes to keep herself busy reading books, dancing, playing soccer, going on hikes, cooking, playing dress-up and collaborating with friends. After a summer  of Adventure Camp, Laura is thrilled to continue to play outside this fall with The Lion and The Mouse pals, in addition to working on her Masters in Communications and Media Studies at Concordia.

Photos of Megan and Margaret courtesy of Alana Riley.