Meet the Team

Modelling Connection, Care, and Leadership

A team grounded in purpose, inspired by place.

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The strength of the Canadian Rockies Outdoor Learning Centre (OLC) lies in its people. Every member of the team brings a deep passion for experiential learning and a shared commitment to student growth, safety, and well-being. With backgrounds in environmental science, outdoor education, and leadership, the staff combine technical expertise with a love of the land to create meaningful learning experiences for students across Alberta. The team draws from decades of experience guiding students through wilderness travel, land-based education, and personal discovery. Each educator and instructor bring unique strengths, creating a collaborative learning community that supports student curiosity, resilience, and confidence. Whether leading a canoe journey, teaching avalanche safety, or supporting curriculum design, the team models connection, care, and leadership in everything they do.

Getting to Know Us

A diverse group of educators who bring knowledge, care, and deep respect for the land into every learning experience, the OLC team's collective expertise in safety, outdoor skills and student-centred teaching helps create a welcoming space where learning feels meaningful, adventurous, and real.

Peter Prescesky – OLC Coordinator

Peter Prescesky has dedicated over 20 years to outdoor education, with a passion for adventure and experiential learning. Originally from the Maritimes, he developed a deep connection to nature through sailing and exploration before relocating to Alberta to focus on outdoor education and safety planning.

With 21 years in the public education system, including 16 years specializing in outdoor education, Peter has played an instrumental role in developing two highly successful outdoor programs in Alberta. At the OLC, Peter helped grow the program from its modest beginning of serving 35 students to an educational hub impacting over 3,000 students annually. His unwavering commitment to excellence, safety, and high-quality instruction has played a key role in the OLC's remarkable growth and success.

Peter holds multiple outdoor certifications, including Advanced Wilderness and Remote First Aid Instructor, Avalanche Skills Training Level 2, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Risk Management, Paddle Canada Moving Water Instructor and Big Boat Leader. His expertise ensures students learn in a safe, engaging, and well-supported environment.

Outside of work, Peter enjoys canoe expeditions with his family and exploring the world through travel. His commitment to outdoor education is driven by a belief in the transformative power of nature and hands-on learning.

Ross Heidt – OLC Teacher

Ross Heidt is a passionate outdoor educator with a strong background in sports and adventure-based learning. Before joining the OLC, he spent time in Lac La Biche and Red Deer, Alberta, where his love for fishing, paddling, and camping took root.

A former university hockey player at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Ross gained valuable experience in teamwork and resilience, which now informs his teaching. As a high school teacher for the OLC, Ross integrates his athletic and outdoor expertise to inspire students in backcountry navigation, paddling, winter travel, and environmental stewardship.

Ross holds certifications in Wilderness First Responder (40-Hour), Avalanche Skills Training Level 2, Paddle Canada Waterfront Instructor and Big Boat Leader, and CSIA Level 2 Ski Instructor. These qualifications allow him to lead students through a range of outdoor activities, from skiing and avalanche safety to paddling and water safety.

When he's not teaching, Ross enjoys exploring the mountains, fishing in nearby lakes, and sharing his love for the outdoors with his community. His deep connection to the natural world and his diverse skill set make him an invaluable asset to the OLC team.

Braeden Kelly - OLC Teacher

Braeden Kelly – OLC Teacher

Braeden Kelly grew up in St. Albert, Alberta, spending much of his childhood exploring Jasper National Park. His passion for outdoor education developed through years of hiking, backpacking, skiing, and canoeing with his family.

Braeden holds a double major in Environmental Science and Physical Education from the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus, where he competed on the varsity cross-country running and skiing teams. He later completed his Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary, inspired by his family’s legacy in teaching.

At the OLC, Braeden works extensively with K-8 teachers to co-create outdoor learning experiences that connect directly with the curriculum. Drawing from his previous experience in climbing, paddling, nordic skiing, and park interpretation for Parks Canada, Braeden's instructional approach is backed by several certifications including Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors Level 1, Avalanche Skills Training Level 1, Wilderness First Responder (80 hour), and Paddle Canada Moving Water Instructor and Big Boat Leader.

In his spare time, Braeden enjoys rock climbing, backcountry skiing, kayaking, mountain biking and exploring the outdoors. He is passionate about fostering student curiosity and environmental stewardship.

Robbie Kuhnlein – OLC Instructor

Robbie Kuhnlein is an outdoor educator, ski guide in training, and certified arborist with a deep-rooted passion for backcountry travel. He holds a degree in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership from Mount Royal University and specializes in risk management and wilderness safety.

At the OLC, Robbie teaches backcountry navigation, risk management, avalanche awareness, and environmental stewardship, helping students build confidence in outdoor settings. He holds certifications in Avalanche Operations Level 1, Avalanche Search and Rescue Level 2, 80-hour Wilderness First Aid, and Paddle Canada Waterfront Instructor and Big Boat Leader.

In addition to his outdoor education background, Robbie is also a certified arborist with multiple climbing and rigging certifications. He has years of experience working with trees, using technical climbing skills for pruning, removal, and hazard assessment. His background in rope systems and aerial work translates well to his time spent in the mountains, whether climbing rock, ice, or working at height in the treetops.

Outside of teaching, Robbie spends his time rock climbing, ice climbing, and backcountry skiing, constantly refining his technical skills in mountain environments.

Colleen Lee – OLC Teacher

Colleen Lee grew up on a Saskatchewan prairie farm, where she developed a deep appreciation for the land and outdoor adventure. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics from Augustana University College and later pursued a Bachelor of Education in Outdoor, Experiential, and Environmental Education from Lakehead University.

Colleen has over 18 years of experience in outdoor education, including 13 seasons as an instructor with Outward Bound Canada, where she led multi-week wilderness expeditions. She has also co-led international student service expeditions to India, Peru, and Russia.

At the OLC, Colleen works closely with Kindergarten to Grade 12 teachers, co-designing safe and engaging land-based learning experiences that integrate curriculum with outdoor exploration. Her extensive certifications include Association of Canadian Mountain Guides Hiking Guide, Interpretive Guides Association Apprentice Interpreter, Outdoor Council of Canada Field Leader Instructor, Avalanche Skills Training Level 1, Paddle Canada Moving Water Instructor and Big Boat Leader, Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors Level 1, and Wilderness First Responder (80-Hour).

Outside of work, Colleen enjoys hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, and playing music with her husband and children. She is a committed lifelong learner, always striving to grow both personally and professionally.

Emmalie Louwerse – OLC Instructor

Emmalie Louwerse grew up in rural Ontario, where she developed a love for adventure through kayaking, hiking, and exploring Canada’s wilderness. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from Thompson Rivers University and has worked in diverse outdoor roles, including ski patrol, mountain bike patrol, trail mapping, and backcountry lodge operations.

Emmalie joined the OLC in 2022 as an Outdoor Learning Instructor, where she specializes in introducing students to outdoor skills in paddling, climbing, and winter sports. Her certifications include Wilderness First Responder (80-Hour), Paddle Canada Waterfront Instructor and Big Boat Leader, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors Level 1, Association of Canadian Mountain Guides Top Rope Climbing Instructor, and Avalanche Operations Level 1. Currently, she is pursuing a teaching certificate with the University of British Columbia and working towards her Avalanche Skills Training Instructor certification.

Outside of teaching, Emmalie enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and exploring remote landscapes. She is passionate about helping students build confidence and resilience in outdoor environments.

Tori Reid – OLC Teacher

Tori Reid is a high school Outdoor Education and Science teacher with a strong commitment to place-based learning. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the University of Victoria and a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia.

Tori began her teaching career at the Bamfield Marine Science Centre on Vancouver Island, where she developed her passion for hands-on environmental education. She has since taught a diverse range of subjects, from Physics to Climbing to Geography of Middle Earth.

At the OLC, Tori specializes in canoeing, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and mountaineering. She holds certifications in Wilderness First Responder (80-Hour), Avalanche Skills Training Level 1, Paddle Canada Waterfront Instructor and Big Boat Leader, and 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training.

Outside the classroom, Tori is an avid traveler and outdoor adventurer, having lived in Sweden, New Zealand, and aboard a tall ship sailing the Atlantic. She is passionate about integrating global perspectives into outdoor education and fostering student curiosity.

Inspiring Hearts and Minds