Meet our Eco Explorers Team!

Melinda is the Founder & Director of Eco Explorers Australia and has a passion for connecting families and children to nature. She is a trained Forest School Leader (FSI 2017)and also trained in Nature Pedagogy with Claire Warden (2016). Melinda has over 20 years of experience working in community services with CALD families, women, foster care families and supporting failies with children with disabilities. Before having children, Melinda worked and travelled in Cameroon, Africa caring for orphaned chimpanzees and gorillas.

She also founded Australia’s first environmentally friendly toy store and has a deep passion for supporting child's play and child-led learning. With a passion for sustainability, she has been an advocate for children’s nature play and has been providing toys for early childhood centres and educators for over 10 years. Melinda is on the Australian Forest School Association committee board and is currently studying to be certified as a Playwork practitioner.

Adam is one of the founding members of Eco Explorers, and a Forest School Leader (FSI 2018) who has been delivering bush programs to families since we began in 20216. With skills in bushcraft and knowledge of bush foods learned from Aboriginal Elders, Adam wants to pass on these skills to the next generation.

He spent his childhood living and camping in the bush; climbing mountains, exploring rivers, learning to fish, track, make fires and to simply… just ‘be’ at one in nature. He has a background in Outdoor Education and enjoys camping, bushcraft, rock climbing, and meditation.

Adam now hopes to share his childhood experiences with the next generation to inspire a deep connection with nature working as a mentor and positive role model for young boys and men.

Adam runs our ReWild Your Child Forest School Holiday programs.

Kirsti is an Early Childhood Educator who has over 20 years experience working in Kindergartens, Child Care Centres and Primary Schools. She was also a Lecturer at Victoria University (teaching in the Bachelor of Early Childhood/ Primary Education Degree course) and also currently works as a Mentor teacher supervising first-year pre-service teachers for Victoria University.

Kirsti assists with the training of new staff supporting them in their new role as bush playgroup facilitator and as an admin support.

Anne is an early childhood educator with over ten years of experience facilitating playgroups. She lives in the Dandenong ranges with her husband and three children and has worked extensively as a private nanny for many hills families.

With a strong belief in gentle parenting and attachment theory, Anne believes that it takes a village to raise a child, and loves the opportunity to help families connect with others in their area.

Anne has a passion for providing children with open-ended opportunities for play and guiding their natural learning abilities in supported outdoor environments. She believes children are natural artists, adventurers and creators and that they need to connect with nature now more than ever.

Anne runs our Dandenong Ranges bush playgroups.

Trudy is an early childhood educator with 15 years experience working in kindergarten with families and children from diverse backgrounds with diverse needs.

She has also worked in the graphic design industry and welfare and disability sectors.

Trudy is passionate about enhancing children's natural sense of curiosity and wonder about the world they live, in especially in nature. She believes that nature play contributes significantly to positive lifelong outcomes of physical and mental well-being and that when children have opportunities to be in nature they are happier and healthier!

Trudy runs our Newport Lakes and Brimbank Park bush playgroups.

Kirsty is a qualified primary school teacher who has been a dedicated and passionate mother to two kids for the past 6 years. Kirsty is an advocate of child-led, nature-based education for many years, her gentle, empathetic and curious nature is apparent in her facilitating approach.

Growing up on a bush property, instilled a life-long passion for nature and outdoor exploration. It also cemented the idea that Mother Nature is our greatest teacher. She also acknowledges the importance of strong community connection, and takes pleasure in creating a nurturing environment in which both child and parent can be supported and forge new friendships.

Kirsty runs our Templestowe & Bundoora Bush Kids and Kew Bush Playgroup.

Ting is a life-long performer and storyteller who loves working with children and their families. She is passionate about fostering children’s natural curiosity and creativity, and delights in experiencing and learning about nature’s wonders together.

Ting has experience working and volunteering in the not for profit and community sectors, across events, cultural activities, performing arts and media. She has also taught English classes for children in Japan. Ting also started a weekend playgroup to bring together families interested in forming friendships whilst learning about Chinese culture and languages.

Ting's other creative pursuits include writing stories for children for outdoor theatre and picture books. She recharges via dragon boat paddling, roller skating and practising yoga.

Ting runs our Bundoora, Burwood and Warrandyte bush programs.

Amy has been beach-combing for as long as she's been walking! With a Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology & Zoology) and a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary & Secondary), environmental education is one of her passions. She’s previously worked in education for Bayplay, Gould League, Zoos Victoria, Queenscliff's Marine Discovery Centre, Angelsea's Ecologic and Vancouver Aquarium, and has volunteered extensively with Marine Care Ricketts Point.

A mother of two, she enjoys spending time with her family in nature, snorkelling and cooking. Amy has been a casual relief facilitator with us since early 2017 and particularly loves exploring the rockpools with young families.

Amy runs our beach kindy session at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.

Primary School Teacher, Adventurer and Social Anthropologist

Alison is an experienced teachers aide and is highly experienced and regarded for her incredible ability to support and work with children's diverse needs and interests so they thrive in our Forest School programs.

She is a keen gardener and has extensive knowledge about native plants and animals. She loves camping and spending tim ein nature with her boys.

Alison is committed to being an advocate for child led and hands on nature learning for children on the Mornington Peninsula.

Nina is a qualified and experienced early childhod educator who is passionate about outdoor learning. She believes that all children given the opportunity and space shoud have access to the outdoors.

Growing up overseas, Nina's passion for adventure and the outdoors really flourised. She has trekked in Nepal, sailed to Antastica and tree top surfed in Laos. With two children of her own, Nina and her family are always outdoors exporing in nature.

Nina runs our Forest School on the Mornington Peninsula.

Gabriel is a parenting counselor, relationship educator, and founder of RAD Dads (Regional, Active & Dynamic Dads), a groundbreaking program that supports expectant and new fathers during the critical first 1000 days of parenting.

He has worked in the community sector for 15 years supporting families and currently within the NDIS space. .

He is a strong advocate for cultural and policy change, Gabriel is dedicated to equipping dads and parents with the tools, education, and community they need to thrive in their parenting journey.

Gabriel runs our Macedon Ranges bush programs.

Shaney is a qualified Early childhood educator committed to fostering a deep connection between young children and the natural world. She has extensive experience in a career dedicated to nurturing curiosity and creativity in young children through the Arts and outdoor learning.

She has passionately led a bush and beach kinder program, nestled in the breathtaking surroundings of Point Nepean Park in Portsea. In addition to her work as an educator, Shaney is an illustrator of picture books and greeting cards.

As a mother of three young adult boys, Shaney understands the importance of fostering a love for nature from an early age.

Shaney runs our school holiday programs in Frankston & on the Mornington Peninsula