Sam Munn

(Leader Christchurch)

Kia ora, I'm Sam, aka Sunny Sam.

I'm passionate about tamariki being allowed to be tamariki in the outdoors. As a kid I loved jumping on my bike and meeting other kids to build cubbies in trees, play in creeks, swim in dams, pick mushrooms, stalk lizards and snakes, and all sorts of other adventures and mischief. Many kids these days have limited time to be wild and free, and I want to give them more opportunities, because I believe (and the studies back me up) that it's so essential for their health and development, and it teaches them so many important lifeskills.

I came to NZ from Oz a few years back, with my (then) 1 1/2 year old and immediately joined up with my local Playcentre, and eventually trained and worked as a Playcentre Coordinator. I learned a lot and loved the focus on child-led play as the best way for children to learn, and my daughter absolutely thrived there. While at Playcentre, I also helped set up an outdoor Wild Wednesday session, where we would explore different parts of the great outdoors of Christchurch. The learning that occurred during our outdoor sessions was so much more evident than at our usual sessions at our centre, and inspired me to keep providing my daughter, other kids, (and myself) time out in nature as often as possible.

I feel really blessed to have been introduced to Elements where I can feel like my job is really worthwhile, and I'm making a difference. When I'm not "Sunny Sam" at Elements, I teach English as a language to adults and also work as a yoga instructor. In my spare time, I love to explore NZ on tramps with my daughter and friends, jump out of aeroplanes, dance zumba, and sing karaoke.

James Lowe

(Leader Christchurch)

Kia Ora everyone! My name is James Lowe, I have worked on a couple of Elements programmes and I am very excited to be involved in many more! I am a qualified and provisionally registered teacher and have experience working with children for the past 8 years in various roles. I graduated at the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning.

I have a passion for volunteering and the outdoors which got me into doing lots of camps including, Camp America, YMCA Camp, Camp Purple, Camp Quality and Camp Diabetes. In the school term I work as a specialist IEP teacher for the Ministry of Education, working with children and teenagers with complex trauma and disabilities.

I am a firm believer that the best education doesn’t happen at a desk or in a classroom but in nature and the outdoors. It’s all about being present and focusing on the here and now. Being attuned to your senses and learning with a hands on approach. Nature gives us the tools to experiment, take risks explore, be gentle, be happy and be ourselves, and many many more. I am looking forward to meet past and future children and their families in the next school holidays at Elements!

Cassie Tenebaum

(Junior Leader Christchurch)

Hi, I'm Creative Cassie, a student who’s been with Elements since the very start - that's over 3 years now! My favourite part of the programmes is seeing the children's mind whirling, from problem solving the best way to make a hut, imaginative play and the characters and stories they create from the simplist of objects and the social aspect of teamwork. You can see by my name that I love all things creative. I paint or draw daily and like to assist children with their creative endeavours or viewing the beauty of nature.

Although I am young, my mum (Director Kim) has always worked in education and has even owned a preschool - so I have always been involved with young learners. I also like seeing friendships blossom between kids as they band together to create amazing things.

Kathryn Prescott

(Leader Palmerston North)

Hi my name is Kathryn. For the past 15 years I have been a part if the Playcentre whanau, both as a parent and now a session facilitator, a job that I truly love. I love and live the philosophy of learning through play and was very excited to find out about the Elements nature based outdoor education programme which has similar ways of supporting children. I tutor in the Playcentre Education programme and I value all that I learn from working with so many different whanau at both Playcentre and now Elements.
I am a mother of 3 children aged 16-11. My children ground me in my love of teaching and learning through play.
At Elements I love watching ‘lights turn on’ and eyes shine as children discover their love of our natural environment, and picking out little moments of learning I see that helps me to get to know each individual child just that little bit better.

George Sutton

(Leader Christchurch & Dunedin)

Hi I am George and I have been with Elements for nearly 3 years and I am studying law at Otago university after finishing my high schooling in Christchurch.

I grew up with two younger brothers and I am the eldest in my extended family, meaning I have a lot of practice looking after young kids and making sure everyone stays safe while also having a good time! I love to spend time outside in natural environments whether it is weekends on Banks Peninsula or trail running and other adventure sports.

The thing about Elements Education that I love the most is seeing kids independence shine through as they create their own games to play and come up with their own ideas for how to spend the time with us at Elements.

Alex White

(Junior Leader Christchurch)

Kia ora koutou, my name is Alex White and I have been working with Kim since February 2017 in the outdoor nature play groups! I have had a close connection with the outdoors and nature for a lot of my life. I have been part of the New Zealand Scouting movement for eight years and still going today. I have received many awards from scouting which include outdoor related activities such as tying knots, building huts, going for tramps and learning about the New Zealand native species. I have also learnt leadership skills throughout scouting.
I am also very connected to the outdoors through my family - we love the mountains and my grandfather was good friends with Sir Edmund Hillary and did multiple expeditions with him.
All of these skills have been put into my work at Elements and I look forward to working with your children and helping them have the best life they can have! Haere rā

Vasudha Roberts

(Junior Leader Christchurch)

Hi my name’s Adventurous Vasudha. I’ve been assisting at Elements for about 2 years. One of my many favourite things about Elements is seeing how quickly the kids accept each other and then go make some amazing creations with each other. It’s incredible seeing their imaginations to either whether to act like heroes or animals. It is also fun as kids can be kids and run around and get wet and muddy - I know I do!

Amy Smaill

(Leader Christchurch)

Tēnā koutou, ko Ararira te awa, ko Te Pataka ō Rakaihautū nga maunga hī, nō Ōtautahi ahau, Ko Amy Smaill tōku ingoa.
Kia ora, I'm Amy!
I have only been involved with Elements Education for a short time but absolutely love the concept of it. I am a huge believer in free play for all ages and have two tamariki of my own.

I have a background working in summer camps in the US and Canada and taught dancing to children and adults for 13 years. Currently I am a student at Te Wānanga ō Aotearoa studying Te Reo Māori and am a tutor for two primary school Kapa Haka groups.
In my free time (which there isn't a whole lot!) I like to get out into nature with the kids and my partner.
At Elements I love watching tamariki explore, create and form relationships with new and old friends. I am constantly amazed at the ideas that they have and how well they work together as a team. Ngā mihi, Amy