About Us

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My name is Katie Balon, Founder and Teacher of Forest Kids Golden BC. We are Goldens very first year-round outdoor education program, opening in May of 2021.  I am a certified teacher with two degrees: Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Education, and a minor in social studies. I have over 10 years teaching experience in both the public school system, homeschool and outdoor environments, and spend quite a bit of my time volunteering in the community. I am a Mama to two adventurous and inspiring little kiddo's and they are my inspiration for starting and continuing our programs. Each week I teach a new nature based topic and the goal of our program is to provide children with the most memorable and hands on learning opportunities, in hopes that they will love to not only learn about the magic of our natural world, but grow up wanting to protect it as well.

Forest Kids was created with the intentions of providing the families in our community with a real world, education focused, hands on program. A program that would not only get children outside for a minimum of 5 hours a day, but positively influence them to care for our worlds many ecosystems not just now, but into their future. Learning through the senses in a positive and hands on learning environment creates lasting memories, and my hope is that the students enrolled in our Forest Kids programs will grow up reflecting on their time spent in the forest, passing on a love of adventures outdoors to their own families one day, and also grow into adulthood with a keen desire to protect the magical places they spent their childhood learning in.

We currently offer two types of programs at Forest Kids- our Bush Craft Camps teach survival skills to kids ages 8-14, and our Pinecones + Sapling camps, ages 4-11, teaches a new nature-based topic each week, with a focus on adventurous risky play, confidence building, collaborative play, mindfulness, botany, nature sciences and science experiments, bush craft skills and nature journaling. I have spent the last three years teaching the children of our community all about our local ecosystems, and now I am excited to expand our programs to include an annual Forest Kids Family field trip, to visit and learn about the other ecosystems in this beautiful country that we call home, make beautiful memories and grow stronger connections between families. I am a huge advocate of quality family time and often host family fun nights, to provide families the opportunity to create lasting memories together.

All programs are taught by myself, and my husband, an avid hunter and outdoorsman, and registered trapper.  You can feel comfortable sending your children to someone who is a mother herself with her own children in the program - your child will be cared for as if my own.