Aleksa Nitsis

Aleksa Nitsis is a guest on Turtle Island and a Teacher Candidate in the Master of Teaching program at OISE. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph where she studied International Development. Aleksa is thrilled to be part of a supportive team that values the importance of Indigenous perspectives in education.

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Describe a place in our natural world that you feel connected to.

Gazing at the sunset over Lake Ohrid in Macedonia gives me a feeling unlike no other. As one of the oldest lakes in the Balkans, its seismogenic landscape and endemic species provide an ethereal experience for anyone who visits and has the privilege of admiring this stunning body of water.

Betty Luo

Betty is a guest to Turtle Island as an international student. She is a teacher candidate in the Master of Teaching program at OISE. Having worked and conducted research with young children, Betty developed interests in examining the development of children, as well as how teachers influence young students’ learning experiences.

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Describe a place in our natural world that you feel connected to.

Growing up in China and having travelled to multiple countries, Betty enjoyed the different facets of nature in various places. She was amazed by the wavy Northern Lights in YellowKnife, and the vast world of dry sand in the Sahara Desert; she felt the piercing chill of Jungfrau in Switzerland, and the astonishment of sky-high rock mountains in Zhangjiajie. She also experienced different ways that the local communities connect to nature, and how people and nature form distinct cultures together.

Katherine Chen

Katherine Chen is a guest on Turtle Island and a Teacher Candidate in the Master of Teaching program at OISE. Katherine has explored various ways to connect children to the outdoors, with the goal of inspiring and encouraging a life-long relationship to the more-than-human world.

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Describe a place in our natural world that you feel connected to.

I feel most connected to our natural world when I’m near a body of water. Whether a tiny creek or the Pacific Ocean, hearing the sounds of water moving brings me a sense of calm and serves as a reminder of the numerous connections the web of life has.

Georgia St.John

Georgia was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. Georgia has spent her life exploring the ocean, forest, and mountains. In her spare time, she likes to ski, camp, and go on walks with friends. Georgia completed her undergraduate degree at Concordia University and is now a teaching candidate in her Master’s of Child Study and Education at OISE. Before OISE, Georgia spent years working as an education assistant and youth worker. 

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Describe a place in our natural world that you feel connected to.

Just off the coast of Vancouver is Bowen Island. My family has had a cottage there since the 1960s. The cottage area is filled with tall green trees, dirt roads, and surrounded by water. I feel so connected to the world as I look out at the view off my deck of the other local islands and the ocean. I always feel happiest when I am by the ocean and trees.