Haley Culin (formerly De Turse)
Director of Sun School
I have always been passionate about getting students outside, learning from the land. I created Sun School to follow this passion and be able to specialize in teaching science in an outdoor setting. 
Education
Good standing member of the Ontario College of Teachers / 2022 - present
Bachelor of Education, Trent University, Ontario / 2022
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Trent University, Ontario / 2020


Outdoor Education
Sun School: Nature Detectives / April - June 2024 
As a participant of the Canadian Conservation Corps program I designed and facilitated outdoor education workshops as a community service project. My Sun School: Nature Detectives workshops had a focus on bird conservation, students learned about migration and how they can help birds in their community. I was able to reach 1,115 students and 108 teachers. Workshops were predominantly run in schools in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board as well as events for Big Brothers Big Sisters and for the City of Peterborough during National Youth Week. 
Canadian Conservation Corps Program / August - December 2024
During my participation of the Canadian Conservation Corps program I did a three month internship at Le Nichoir, a wild bird rehabilitation centre in Hudson, Quebec. I aided in the care for and enrichment of injured birds and helped release rehabilitated birds. 
Young Nature Leaders Grant - Nature Canada / April 2024
I was a recipient of Nature Canada’s Young Nature Leaders grant to help fund my Sun School project.
Women for Nature's mentorship program / Nov 2024 - Apr 2025
I am participating in the Nature Canada's Women for Nature's mentorship program. I was a panelist for the March leadership webinar on Community of Practice. I was also on the Selection Committee Member for 2025 Nature Canada Young Nature Leaders grant. 
Additional Qualification Courses
  • Outdoor Experiential Education / July 2023
  • Kindergarten, Part 1 / July 2023
  • Teaching English Language Learners, Part 1 / June 2023
  • Special Education, Part 1 / June 2022
  • Mathematics, Primary and Junior, Part 1 / June 2022
Certificates
  • Canadian Conservation Corps completion certificate / June 2024 
  • Remote First Aid / August 2023
  • Outdoor Council of Canada - Field Leadership Level 1 / August 2023
  • Trent University - Innovation in Teaching Prize / June 2022
  • Inclusive Recreation Certificate / June 2021
  • Centering Black Youth Wellbeing: A Certificate on Combating Anti-Black Racism / March 2021
  • SafeTALK certificate / September 2019
Community Connections 

Peterborough Field Naturalists Club / January 2025 - present

Being a member of the Peterborough Field Naturalist group allows me the opportunity to get more involved in my community through citizen science, such as bird counts and running monthly events for the Junior Naturalist group, including the new Nature Journal Club. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters / January 2016 - August 2021

I volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters as an in-school mentor and Big Sister. This was an incredibly meaningful experience where I was able to provide support and mentorship to a youth in my community.