Brent Cameron M.A., Ph.D.
Principal of SelfDesign Learning Community, Executive Director of SelfDesign Learning Foundation (Co-founder Wondertree, Virtual High and SelfDesign Learning Community and author of the SelfDesign book)

Brent was inspired by his daughter’s natural ability to learn from the day of her birth in 1977. In 1983 when she walked out of school after two weeks Brent and Ilana began an experiment that became Wondertree. For the next 13 years they worked together including many other people to develop a number of programs and to develop a body of work to describe a methodology of SelfDesign.

Brent has been working with SelfDesign (formerly Wondertree) since 1983 and working to sustain the rights of children to be legitimate in their desires to design their own learning path. Brent has created many workshops and presentations that feature multimedia presentations of the Wondertree experience. His focus is on understanding who we really really are and on how we naturally learn as an enthusiastic process. His current passion is to work with communities who are planning sustainable learning communities. He is consulting to a project in Colorado called VISION, and he has recently finished writing a book on his discoveries in SelfDesign.

Kathleen Forsythe Ph.D.
Vice-Principal SelfDesign K-9 Program
(Co-founder of the SelfDesign Learning Community and Past President of the Foundation for 14 years)

Kathleen is one of the first ‘knowledge architects’ in the world and has been instrumental in introducing the concept of open learning to North America over the past twenty-five years. Her work has always put original ideas into practice in a practical and cost effective manner. She has been a SelfDesign Board member for over 10 years and through her work in the epistemology of the imagination and the biology of love, has contributed to the foundational work in Natural Learning. A passionate educator, Kathleen Forsythe has worked with learners of all ages.

 

Michael Maser B.A. B.Sc. B.Ed. M.A.
Special Projects Director, Organizational Communications, Marketing and Outreach (Co-founder of Virtual High and SelfDesign Learning Community)

Michael began working as an educator after working as a geologist, journalist and researcher. Frustrated in pursuing conventional classroom teaching, Michael joined with Wondertree in 1992 where, with Brent Cameron, he co-created and directed the award-winning and innovative ‘Virtual High’ program for teens in Vancouver from 1993-97. Concurrently, Michael completed his Master’s through Simon Fraser University on this pioneering, remarkable learning community. Michael, like Brent before him, is inspired by his daughter’s innate intelligence and ability to learn. Michael has a wealth of knowledge of educational methodology that supports natural learning and he is currently writing and researching a book for teen-age learners. Since helping to co-design SelfDesign in 2002, Michael has completed Executive and Learning Consultant duties and many special responsibilities for SelfDesign. In 2007 Michael initiated SURPASS, a leadership training workshop for teens, 13 – 17 years, and in 2009 he joined SelfDesign High to work as part of the Stewardship team and as course mentor for ‘Planning 10′ (BC Grad Program).

Darrell Letourneau M.Ed.
Director Professional Development
(Co-founder of the SelfDesign Learning Community;
Author of Thesis “Electronic Deluge: Computer Technology and Teacher Transformation”)

Through over two decades in the natural laboratory of their home, Darrell, Janet and their children have been actively exploring a multitude of adventures in the constantly evolving process of natural learning they pursue together with their children. Darrell is a passionate educator with 30 years of experience from kindergarten to university. He runs a consulting practice dedicated to helping communities, schools and businesses develop a holistic, earth-sustaining online presence. He enjoys exploring ways of expressing SelfDesign’s unique and boundless approach to life and learning in the world.

River Meyer M.A.
Family and Learner Liaison for SelfDesign Learning Community and SelfDesign book co-author

River Meyer, M.A., has worked with children and families for 30 years in a variety of capacities including family support services for special needs infants and toddlers and for alternative learning programs, guardian ad litem for minors, counseling and mediation, and currently as Family Liaison for SDLC and writer for SelfDesign. She is co-author of Brent’s book SelfDesign: Nurturing Genius through Natural Learning. Her current passions include expanding SelfDesign concepts throughout North America and internationally, exploring the interface between environmental languaging and the development of self, and deepening her understanding and use of SelfDesign by creating an emergent-learning home atmosphere with her daughter.

Barbarah Nicoll
Vice Principal SelfDesign High High School Director

Barbarah Nicoll has been involved with Waldorf Education for 20 years.  As the past School Coordinator for the Nelson Waldorf School, Barbarah has created the foundation and vision for the development of the International School of the Kootenays.  Barbarah holds a Bachelor of General Studies Degree, a Waldorf High School Teacher Diploma and a Masters of Arts in Integrated Studies from Athabasca University. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understanding The Heart in Connection to Learning and Education, By Barbarah Nicoll

 

 

Parker Cook
Director of Business Development and Administration, Executive Director of SDLF and SelfDesign Learning Systems Inc.

Parker has been working and volunteering with SelfDesign and the Wondertree Foundation (as consultant, Treasurer and Board member) over the past 16 years. Parker is providing a business development framework to SelfDesign Learning Community. Parker is also Executive Director of SelfDesign Global & SelfDesign Learning Systems, leading it on it’s journey to provide affordable access to SelfDesign Learning Communities and to the SelfDesign learning methodology and philosophy to children and adults of all ages anywhere in the world with internet access.