We have a team of experienced and dedicated individuals who are right at the heart of what we do. Governed by a board of trustees, everyone goes above and beyond to provide quality experiences for all our guests and feel extremely proud of the work we do here.
Jon is a passionate outdoor educator; he aspires to transform young people through outdoor education. He is a professional mountaineer and canoeist with extensive adventurous experience, and is a trainer and assessor for British Canoeing and Mountain Training courses. Jon lectures on the Adventure Leadership degree.
With experience of working at outdoor centres across the world, Steve has a broad range of qualifications and expertise in the residential centre sector. Growing up in Nepal, he has led a number of international projects, including a pioneering mission in Burundi for young people in acute need. Steve studied Geo-science at St Andrews University and is a passionate climber and kayaker.
Roger is founder of the National Outdoor Learning Award (NOLA), lectures on the Adventure Leadership degree and was recently involved in developing a new outdoor activity instructor Apprenticeship standard. As a Lead Practitioner for the Institute for Outdoor Learning, Roger is a qualified teacher, a multi-skilled and highly experienced outdoor instructor, a coach and trainer and a published author. Recent publications include a book chapter on working with special needs in the outdoors.
Rob has been at Heatree since 2004 and as well as being a qualified teacher, has a wealth of knowledge, experience and qualifications in Outdoor Education. He loves using the outdoors as his teaching space, providing valuable learning opportunities for all. Having explored almost every corner of Dartmoor either by foot, on a bike, in a canoe and even on a horse, Rob is a keen canoeist and has paddled extensively in the UK and Europe.
Since 2011 Naomi has played a key role in the outdoor education team, with a particular focus on inclusion and diversity for young people with additional educational needs. She is qualified in British Sign Language and outside of work she loves exploring Dartmoor with her young family.
Simon is a passionate outdoor educator with over 15 years’ experience facilitating a wide variety of activity programmes. With a BSc in Countryside Management, he loves everything about the outdoors and sharing his environmental knowledge with others of all ages. As well as his instructing role and establishing our forest school, he oversees the management and maintenance of the Heatree Estate.
Tim has worked at Heatree for over ten years and loves managing the Outdoor Education Team at Heatree. Having completed his teaching degree in the last three years, he loves the opportunity he now gets to guest lecture on the degree in Outdoor Leadership with South Devon College. Tim loves to see people develop into skilled instructors and enjoys seeing the positive impact they have on young people’s lives. In his spare time Tim loves taking his family on wilderness expeditions across the UK and abroad.
Mykl has worked at Heatree for many years and enjoys seeing first-hand the impact outdoor learning has on young people. As well as instructing he also organises training for the Outdoor Education Team. Mykl is also qualified in British Sign Language. In his spare time he is a passionate climber, paddler and mountain biker, and loves taking his family on mini adventures up mountains and on the water.
Rosie began her career at Heatree over four years ago and is experienced in all areas of outdoor education. She has an NVQ 3 in Adventure Leadership and specialises in leading forest school. She provides excellent support to the Heatree students and helps lead local youth work clubs and events.
Stewart has been at Heatree for over three years and has responsibility for overseeing the maintaining of adventure activity equipment. As part of a regular local club, he is a keen dinghy sailor and powerboat instructor. In his spare time he is regularly involved in youth work and enjoys paddling the local rivers.
Chris has worked at Heatree for over four years and has a degree in Outdoor Education from Liverpool John Moores University. He recently qualified as a teacher and leads regular training sessions for our students. As an avid white water kayaker and former division one Canoe Slalom competitor, Chris is sponsored by Heatree, Urban Beach Clothing and Go Kayaking North West.
Our enthusiastic and diligent Volunteer Trainees form the main body of our Outdoor Instructor Team. Always smiling, they work hard to provide engaging and enjoyable activity sessions for our groups. They work, train and study in all weathers!
Will, Harry, Hannah, Marcus, Esme, Evie, Nate, Tabbi, Jess, Cilla and Izzy.
Hilary has worked at Heatree for almost four years and looks after all bookings for School residentials and day visits. This can be rather like a large jigsaw puzzle and often involves working across three calendar years. With a BA in Business Management, Hilary also maintains the bookings database and keeps the Outdoor Education Office ticking over, providing support to the Instructors and Students.
Having previously worked at Heatree as a Volunteer Instructor, Anna returned some years later in a different role, managing the bookings for all non school groups. Alongside this, she uses her background in design to oversee the marketing of the Centre, including managing the website. With a BA (Hons) in Photography she also manages photography for the Centre. In her spare time she loves to travel and explore the outdoors with her young family and Border Collie.
Kate
Stella
Jenny
Stewart
Pat
Dan
Diane, Head Housekeeper
Anna
Karen
Emma
Colin
John
Claire
Carly
Paul
Sam
Jonathan Bishop (Chairman)
Ruth Lane (Secretary)
Clare Palmer (Treasurer)
Stuart Murray
James West
Matt Pitts
Phil Lawson
Mark Sugden (Clerk to the Trustees)