Sweater Weather & Sweet Reflections: Get to Know Our Team This Fall

Hello, Focus on Nature community, we hope you are keeping warm in the cool days we have been having! Do not think we forgot; we are wishing you all a safe and fun Halloween 🎃👻 We have some extra special sweet Halloween treats in store for you. Here is what you need to do. First, keep reading to find out more about our nature-loving staff team and their experiences with in-school workshops thus far. Next, visit our Instagram, Facebook, and X pages- We have a scary cute surprise awaiting you there. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Sarah Fontes: Executive Director 

Hello, I am Sarah Fontes! I was brought up in the country, and being in nature is just part of who I am. I love how calm and relaxed nature can make you feel and how beautiful it truly is, from the trees to the rivers to the mountains. I started taking an interest in photography when I was a child, and further explored this passion in my early 20s when I started hiking and traveling. I came to Focus on Nature in 2023 as the Program Manager and instantly fell in love with this company. I love seeing how excited kids are to be in nature, how passionate they get when taking photos, and how encouraging they are to one another.

Find out more about Sarah Fontes 

Meghan Williams: Guelph- Wellington and Waterloo Region Workshop Leader

Hi, Meghan here! I spent the first four years of my life in Northern Ontario before moving to Elora, where I grew up. I now live in Guelph and study at the university, where I’m enrolled in the co-op stream of my program, and while searching for a fall placement, I came across Focus on Nature. I’ve always felt deeply connected to nature and believe it’s important to recognize that we are part of the natural world and not separate from it. I think living and spending summers up north really strengthened my love for nature. I love how many parallels we share with other parts of nature, like how our lungs mirror the tops of trees or how the creases in our palms resemble the veins of leaves. It’s hard to choose just one favourite moment from the workshops, but I think what I’ve enjoyed most is seeing the amazing creativity and the absolutely incredible photographs students have taken!

Laura Tovar: Hamilton-Wentworth, Niagara, Halton, and Dufferin-Peel Workshop Leader

Hey! My name is Laura and I'm from Colombia! I came into Focus on Nature last spring after looking for a more hands-on avenue to spread my love of art, and was greatly excited to start as soon as I found out how aligned the values of Focus on Nature were with mine! I love all the beautiful colours of fall, and I feel extremely lucky to be able to show all my students the beauty within it! One key moment from this year happened very recently; the class I was working with had been learning all about money and managing it. They had an in-class currency, which was earned from completing their class jobs or good behaviour. Towards the end of the workshop, they had enjoyed it so much that many of the kiddos decided to donate some of their hard-earned in-class currency to "tip" me in gratitude. I was very touched by their sweetness, and they desperately wanted me to come back for another nature walk/photography day during their "market day", so it made it extra sweet to see them take such a liking to me, and enjoy the connection they made to nature. I gave most of the currency back, but kept a few bucks as a sweet souvenir. 

Elliot Beer: Toronto, Waterloo, and Halton Workshop Leader

Hey, I’m Elliot! I grew up in Hamilton and have always loved getting outside and exploring nature. For as long as I can remember, I felt so lucky to be surrounded by the forests and wildlife that we have in the GTA. In every workshop I run, I see that same excitement for nature reflected in the students. Whether they’re spotting a squirrel, a goose, or a tiny flower. Seeing their curiosity and joy in those moments is honestly the best part of what I do!

Melosa Wang: London and Oxford County Workshop Leader

Hi, my name is Melosa, or Mel! I originally discovered Focus on Nature through our summer camps, which I have worked at for the past 3 years. I love having the opportunity to go outside to take photos, especially when it involves a scenic trek. Some of my favourite things to look at in nature are fungi on trees and critters in shallow water. Since starting as a Workshop Leader this fall, one moment that stuck out in my mind involved a very energetic class. Although they spent most of the nature walk scattered around, for just a few seconds, everyone stood together and snapped pictures of the same subject: a squirrel eating an acorn. It is because of rare moments like this that I am excited to continue running workshops this year!

Abby Swartz: Administrative Assistant 

Hey there! My name is Abby! I have been with Focus on Nature since April 2023; it is unbelievable to look back and realize just how much time has passed. I am so lucky to say that I found this company because I worked under Sarah at a previous (unrelated!) place of employment. And here we are today!

I have grown up alongside the advancement of technology, which makes me super into social media and keeping up with trends. This perfectly aligns with what I do here! Pretty much all the social media content you see on @focusonnatureca social media accounts is made by yours truly. This probably has to be my favourite part of this position! 

I am a student as well; I am currently in my final year of completing my Bachelor of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. I have fallen in love with social work- and feel so lucky that I can connect my education to my work here at Focus on Nature. 

Additionally, I am responsible for tasks such as invoicing, document management, assisting with in-school workshops, and other various jobs. 

This past fall, I was able to meet Laura and Elliot for the first time at an in-school workshop in Cambridge. Due to my busy schedule, I had not been able to attend a workshop in quite some time. Being present for this workshop reminded me of the importance, magic, and creativity that occurs when we fulfill our mission of connecting with students across Ontario. 

I hope that you enjoy this post and stay with us for what is next!  Find out more about Abby Swartz 

Sandra Morrill: Bookkeeper

Greetings all, my name is Sandra. My love of nature started when I was a Trail Captain for the Guelph Hiking Trail Club decades ago. I am from Shawinigan, Quebec, and moved to Guelph when I was seven. About ten years ago, I shared the Trail Captain role with one of the Focus on Nature Board members. At the Garden Party in 2018, he said that Focus on Nature was looking for a Bookkeeper, and I said, “I could do that for you”. Since then, I have expanded my love of nature through volunteering with the Bruce Trail Conservancy and the U of G Arboretum. Photography was a hobby of mine for many, many years, and the vast majority of my photos are of the outdoors, whether while travelling or just in my countryside property. Helping Focus on Nature connect youth to nature continues to be a pleasure; I am proud of the impact we have. 

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“Now!!!! Okay, everyone, go!!!!”

*staff line up and take a bow*

To our community, thank you for supporting us! Our team could not do what we do without YOU. 

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