Our Board of Directors:

Lisa Donahue, Board Chair:

A mother and grandmother, Lisa Donahue describes herself as a woman who takes the responsibility of being human into action for the quality of life and the sake of the earth.  She raised her family in various bio-regions in the US, the UK and Canada, which awakened her curiosity and appreciation for the intersection of nature and culture. When volunteering at her children’s school near Lake Ontario, she was introduced to the framework of 8 Shields, and developed a keen awareness and appreciation of the benefits of Deep Nature Connection for all ages. As Chair of the Board of the Nature Connection Mentoring Foundation, Lisa works to advance the vision, development and scalability of the organization.  Since leaving corporate positions with Time Warner, Apple Computer and DK Publishing, she has worked extensively in volunteer leadership positions with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and local and regional environmental organizations. Lisa now lives in Houston, Texas, where she looks forward to the annual migration of Canadian Geese

Bill Clarke, Secretary-Treasurer:

(coming soon)

Joanne Howe, Member-at-Large:

Jo Howe grew up in the rolling hills of SW Ontario, in the Saugeen watershed. She’s spent many hours wandering on foot, by horseback, kayak and car, connecting with the woods and waterways, finding nourishment in the wild.

She feels so humbled to still be walking the trails she followed as a child, sharing them with her own grown children,  and honoured to be stewarding that same 100 acres of land, nestled in the traditional territory of the Chippewas of Saugeen. She acknowledges that land acknowledgement is only the beginning of a beginning to set things right, in the spirit of true reconciliation.

As a lifelong learner, she has engaged in a multitude of communities over the years, following her commitments to foster healthier communications and relationships between people, the land, and the more than human world.

These communities of practice include deep ecology, Work that Reconnects, permaculture, nonviolent communication, holistic bodywork, equine facilitated learning, organic farming, sacred circle dance, independent facilitation, and the nature connection community, particularly in the Guelph area.

“I’ve been delighted to support the work of the Village Hearth Initiative and the Guelph Outdoor School as they’ve made the transition to non profit, reaching an ever growing number of families. The need for deep nature connection has never been more evident, and I look forward to many more years of collaborating as VHI blossoms into a rich and diverse ecosystem, learning as we grow. Thanks for inviting me in!”