My name is Carly Howard, I think of myself as a cat mom/animal lover, and, as a Lego enthusiast.  The reason I am passionate about nature is also the reason I am passionate about educating children; every rain drop, every snowflake, every pebble on the ground is one hundred percent unique.  You will not find two rivers exactly the same nor will you find two people exactly the same.  In the Nature and Community Exploration Club we are able to take a look at how diversity is found not only within ourselves but within nature and within our own communities.  

I started working with children at the young age of 11, I can still remember what I learned in the St. Johns Ambulance Babysitting course and have been enthusiastic about working with children ever since.  I have spent many years working with animals too at locations like the Queen’s Park Petting Zoo, the Vancouver Aquarium, a horse barn, a doggy daycare, and a veterinary hospital. I love that I am able to bring my passion for nature, animals and children together working with NaCEC!

I have studied at Douglas College with a focus on the Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific Northwest and was raised in a home that taught respect for nature and indigenous art and culture. I also studied Medicinal Anthropology, History of the America’s, Biology, Geology, Sedimentology, Psychology, Ancient Philosophy, Weather & Climate, History of the Earth, Oceanography, Geography of Canada and also Geography of British Columbia.  I have since completed an Associate Degree of Environmental Studies. I am a certified WorkSafeBC First Aid Attendant (OFA Level 1) and I am also certified by The Canadian Red Cross in Emergency Childcare First Aid.  

I have a unique passion for recycle/up-cycling and am currently working on creating an online used lego shop. I even spent some time working for the Metro Vancouver Recycling Industry. I love the opportunity of sharing this passion and hobby with children! I have learned education is the key to encouraging people to recycle properly.  Educating children on this and much more is the greatest way we can make a difference in our world and I feel so blessed to have the space to bring this to our Community’s children’s lives. Watch out for some fun recycling and lego projects coming to our program soon!