Bonnie Anderson, Program Director

Bonnie is currently settling into life in 100 Mile House, BC, after a cross-country trek from Ontario that proved she can handle just about any logistical hurdle. As the Director of JUMP! Canada at Educo, she brings over 30 years of experience in formal and informal education—ranging from public school boards to university faculty. Bonnie is a champion of land-based pedagogy and “felt” climate education, though she has happily traded “teacher lingo” for radical candor and a facilitative leadership style that favors real talk over hierarchy.

Her journey into environmental stewardship started early—her mother famously allowed her to rear tadpoles in the bathtub—and today she remains focused on organizational resurgence and watershed protection. When she isn’t auditing systems or mentoring the next generation of leaders, Bonnie is likely out exploring the BC interior, fueled by a passion for systems thinking and a very direct approach to making a positive impact on the planet.

Carol Fisher, Business Manager

Carol lives in beautiful BC, Canada where she loves to explore the natural world through her work and play. Her career journey includes many years of providing experiential education for youth through Educo Adventure School (now JUMP! Canada) along with 17 years on faculty in the Outdoor Recreation Management Department at Capilano University in North Vancouver. Carol’s work adventures also include being the office manager and yoga therapist in a wellness clinic in the interior of BC.

Her favorite activities are hiking, biking, paddling, cross country skiing, gardening and preparing healthy whole foods! She enjoys a regular yoga and meditation practice and loves to live a simple life and care for the earth. Carol is passionate about climate action and sustainability and loves working with like minded people to inspire future changemakers!

Alexandra Aebischer, Program Manager

Alexandra was raised on a farm and trained as an outdoor leader, combining practical experience with formal qualifications. Some of these formal qualifications include an Outdoor Leadership Diploma and an Emergency Rescue Certificate. Through these experiences, Alexandra nurtured her passion for creating engaging outdoor experiences that build confidence and a lasting connection to nature that forever change each individual.

Brigid Mueller, Outdoor Instructor

Brigid has been coming to Educo nearly every summer since she was 13 and learning to love the outdoors at such a young age inspired her to get her Adventure Guiding Diploma at TRU (Thompson Rivers University). She deferred the first year of the program to a sister school in Iceland where she learned technical rope rescue systems in swiftwater and glacial environments. In her second year (back in canada now), she broke off in to a rock climbing specialty, and has spent her years since graduating working on many different high ropes/zipline/challenge courses. Whether on top of a mountain, on top of a cliff or suspended in mid air, she has a special love for being in high places and firmly believes getting that different perspective allows people to renew their perspectives on their lives. Brigid has about 4 years experience leading kids in various settings and is certified as a wilderness first responder and flatwater canoe instructor.

Christopher Hawke, Outdoor Instructor

Chris discovered his passion for adventurous training whilst growing up in the beautiful town of Queenstown, New Zealand. In this hub of adventure sports, he developed his skills in mountain biking, bushcraft, kayaking, rock climbing and hiking. He then honed these skills as an adventure training instructor for a decade with the Air Force and found his purpose in facilitating transformative change through experiential learning. Now based in North America, in his free time, you’ll find him exploring the outdoors whilst travelling in his campervan.

Melanie McGraw, Outdoor Instructor

Melanie McGraw is an outdoor educator and youth worker who believes the land is one of the best teachers we have. With an Advanced Diploma in Child and Youth Care, she brings years of experience supporting young people in schools, residential programs, and land-based learning environments. Melanie has worked and lived in remote settings across Canada and Aotearoa New Zealand, including completing the 3,000 km Te Araroa thru-hike. This experience deepened her appreciation for community, resilience, and learning through challenge.

Her background includes guiding in Banff National Park, supervising and mentoring outdoor education teams, and facilitating reflective, inclusive group experiences. Melanie approaches her work with curiosity, patience, and humour. She is passionate about creating safe spaces where youth can build confidence, connection, and self-awareness through meaningful experiences on the land.

James Ramirez, Kitchen Manager

James is a 34-year-old chef with a passion for cooking that spans over 17 years. Originally hailing from sunny Southern California, he  has embarked on culinary adventures across the globe, from the bustling streets of NYC to the vibrant food scene in Tokyo. For the past 6 years, he has been soaking up the flavors and culture of Vietnam.