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Meet Our Team
Becky Palmer, OCT, BA, BEd (she/her)
Education Director
Becky is committed to creating a space where everyone feels welcome, everyone feels heard and where everyone belongs. Rewilding Education is a community creation, with the first steps taken by Becky, and so many hands contributing since then.
Becky holds space for the magic of childhood. She loves make believe and stories, bug watching, trail wandering, and unhurried time on the land together, noticing, wondering and exploring. She believes in learning through hands-on experiences and believes deeply in the power of play. Nothing brings her more happiness than seeing the growth and evolution of children and youth through connections to the natural world. As an experienced teacher having taught Kindergarten through grade 6, she expertly weaves learning opportunities into conversations and moments of play.
Becky grew up right here in Simcoe County exploring the different forests, wetlands and provincial parks with her family. After graduating from her Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University, she took a big leap and moved to Mongolia for 2 years with her husband Zack. Teaching at an International School, traveling and living in Mongolia was a transformative experience for her, when venturing outside of the capital city felt like being transported back 200+ years. They then moved to Macao for 2 years and Becky taught in a Reggio Emelia Inspired Kindergarten at a Canadian International School prior to returning to Canada to start their family.
Becky cherishes the time she gets to spend with her two children, Amina is 7 yrs old, and Lucas is 4yrs old. They are most happy running around the playground, forest and farm at Moondance Organic Gardens. Becky lives in Angus with her children, husband Zack, her sister and two golden retrievers. She is so grateful to be able to explore Simcoe County with her young family as she once did.
Kim Keckes, BA (she/her)
Resident Farmer and Educator
As our resident farmer, owner of Moondance Organic Gardens, and as an educator, Kim has a wealth of knowledge to share with our learners and the community. Her belief is that our health (physical and mental health) thrives with connection and foundation in nutritious food and experiencing nature.
With a background in Horticulture Therapy, Kim has a beautiful presence and she creates an awareness that interaction with natural settings promotes health in a variety of ways.
Kim is the fourth generation of her family working and living on this land and we are so incredibly fortunate that she shares her knowledge and space with the Rewilding Education community.
Heather Hurst, OCT, BEd, BA (she/her)
Educator
As an educator, Heather delights in witnessing each child's unique spark and being present to their growth. She truly believes Farm and Forest Schools to be the best environment that youth can be in during their foundational years. Having grown up on a hobby farm in Wellington County, the childhood memories that shine the brightest are those spent in the natural world; exploring, adventuring, testing, erroring, expanding, wandering and wondering.
Heather’s home is a comfortable drive south into New Tecumseth where she has prioritized relishing the precious time of childhood with her 3yr old daughter Lillian, knowing full well how fast it goes as she watches her 21yr old son William venture out into the world. Gardening with her husband is one of her simple pleasures and this upcoming winter season they will be planning their first steps into hugelkultur.
With a spiritually centred, trauma informed, community oriented nature, Heather simultaneously exudes a presence of calm, care and joy. She has had the honour of participating in Ecoschools launching year, Waldorf Schooling and Anthroposophical Studies, teaching in both the private and public school system, empowerment speaking, energy healing, creative projects, entrepreneurial adventures, board and council meetings, community groups and being a volunteer for many charitable agencies. She is thrilled to become one of the newest members of the Rewilding Community and is looking forward to the journey ahead.