Youth Career Catalyst

Brandon Boltz

Alberta Facilitator

(He/Him)

Bio coming soon…

Kat Wood

Alberta Facilitator

(She/Her)

“I began working for Outward Bound Canada in 2013. Whether I’m working or exploring just for fun, I love connecting with the land and being in nature with a community of people who are all learning (and playing!) outside together. I feel so lucky to have met so many fabulous friends and teachers in this way.

Guiding wilderness based trips is one of my passions. I find time in nature to be so rejuvenating. When I’m outdoors, I feel the most alive and most connected to myself. Many of the memories I treasure are simple – lying on my back eating berries in the sunshine, silently watching a deer wander through the forest, laughing till I cried while sitting around a campfire in the evening. I hope that through my work with OBC, more folks can enjoy rewarding experiences in wild spaces, and develop a sense of belonging and joy in the process.

I am a registered Social Worker in Alberta, and also completed the Adventure Guide Diploma through Thompson Rivers University. Most of my career has involved working for multiple different organizations in any given year (including wilderness therapy programs, which I find especially meaningful). Piecing together different types of work within the outdoor sector has created opportunities for me to travel, explore, and (best of all) go rock climbing! I believe that there are many pathways to having meaningful and beautiful life experiences, and that ideally our work can support this.”

Chantal Solomon

British Columbia Facilitator

(She/Her)

“My ancestors came from Africa, Europe & Eastern North America. Somehow, I was lucky enough to grow up on Vancouver Island. I’ve spent my education & career dedicated to Art, Herbal Medicine and supporting people. I am passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation, personal development and creating with future generations in mind. 

In my free time, I enjoy travelling, biking, paddling, gardening and going to art shows & concerts. My main mediums of Art are print making, painting & storytelling. I have worked on many inspiring creative projects and love helping ideas take form.

I wanted to be apart of this project because a similar program helped me turn my life around when I was 16. After growing up in & out of foster care and choosing to be a foster parent myself. I saw first hand how youth employment programs can help support & transform life paths. In 2023, I was a participant in Outward Bound Canada’s Training Academy and fell in love with their mission to get youth into wilderness! I felt this project would be great opportunity to learn & share with a like-minded community.”

PJ Richards

British Columbia Facilitator

(He/Him)

Bio coming soon…

Milton Hill

Ontario Facilitator

(He/Him)

“Hi, my name is Milton Hill and I’m an Outdoor Educator/Instructor who has been with Outward Bound Canada for two and a half years. I have been working professionally since 2019 after graduating from Fleming College’s Outdoor Adventure & Outdoor Education Program. I enrolled in the program at 52 years of age after nature pushed my reset button during a canoe trip to Algonquin Park in July 2017. I knew I had to go back to being outside and  connected with nature as my work.

As an instructor/outdoor educator, my primary task is to be an ambassador of the outdoors and to introduce people to the natural world that we all are a part of. Aside from helping students learn how to enjoy their outdoor experiences, I also draw from and share from my life experience of the past 60 years.

I am inspired & guided in my work by many different nature based & humane philosophies, both ancient and modern. On this Indigenous land, I am moved by ‘Akinomooshin’ learning by interacting with the land and language, as the basis of outdoor education in Ontario is Indigenous Knowledge & Ingenuity. I do my best to give credit where credit is due.

I also enjoy crafting things from wood, wool, canvas, leather, skins to make some of my own winter clothes, boots, mittens, and shelters. I also enjoy following the cycle of the seasons and the way the animals move in harmony with it. Each thing in its season.

I am originally from Bermuda, have two children, two grandchildren, and have had to learn to adapt to the climate & ecosystem of Canada over the past 20+ years. I enjoy nerding out on human and social systems and dynamics, geo politics and strategy amongst a host of other things. Most of all, I am a life long learner and a perpetual student of humanity’s journey through space & time.”

Samantha Beam

Ontario Facilitator

(She/Her)

“I am a firm believer in the power of programs and opportunities for youth, having seen the impact on my own life. I was fortunate to be selected as a Rotary Youth Exchange student out of high school, which had a significant impact on the trajectory of my life, instilling a passion for travel, languages and cultures of the world. Years later I would join Canada World Youth and participate in a cross-cultural exchange, volunteering in Ghana and Fredericton. These experiences inspired me to support the next generation of youth in their journey. I worked as a Project Leader with Katimavik’s National Experience and also with Outward Bound Canada’s Training Academy for Outdoor Professionals, and now I’m excited to be a part of the Youth Career Catalyst Program! I look forward to meeting amazing youth and learning together.

My employment and life journey hasn’t been typical, and I’m proud of every step. I am a wanderer, with experience moving around and living in 4 provinces. Professionally, I’ve held roles in the airline, financial, service and tourism industries. I hope to inspire others to pursue their dreams and to be flexible as our goals, desires and identity shifts throughout our lifetime. Nothing brings me more joy than connecting with people, learning from and about them, and sharing my knowledge so that together we can work to find something exciting to pursue next!”