Terranaut Club is made up of a group of passionate and dedicated women in science unified by the mission to create and provide opportunities for girls+ to gain interest in STEM careers and become environmental leaders in their own communities
Do you share these passions?
Consider volunteering with us!
Board of Directors
KATIE SCOTT (she/her/hers)
Board of Directors Secretary
Name: Katie Scott
From: Cape Sable Island, NS (now East Hants)
Occupation: Environmental Education Specialist
Past Work Experience: Elementary School Teacher, Educator at the Museum of Natural History, Department of Natural Resources, Shubenacadie Wildlife Park, Whale Watching and Fishing Tour Guide, and Museum Curator!
Hobbies: Birding, camping, canoeing and reading.
Pets: Lyla, 7-year-old black lab and beagle mix!
Why You Volunteer with TC: I believe outside is the best classroom and I’m honoured to have joined Terranaut Club to help support and create opportunities, while breaking barriers for girls+ to not only participate in STEM but lead it!
JULIE TOMPA WOLTHAUSEN (she/her/elle)
Board of Directors
Name: Julie Tompa Wolthausen
From: Halifax, NS (originally from Streetsville, ON)
Occupation: Executive Director, National Operations & Programs, Parks Canada
Past Work Experience: 20+ years of management experience with Parks Canada at the local, regional, and national levels in areas ranging from conservation, planning, external relations and operational protected areas management.
Hobbies: Adventures and travel with my family, camping, hiking, cycling, snowboarding and soaking up nature at our little cottage in Lunenburg county.
Pets: Only two teenaged kids 🙂
Why You Volunteer with TC: Having the opportunity to experience nature as a child led to my career in conservation and a passion for the outdoors and adventure. I am motivated by Terranaut’s mission to facilitate opportunities for girls+ to experience nature in a fun and engaging way, particularly those who have experienced barriers or who haven’t had the opportunity.
ERICA PORTER (she/her/hers)
Board of Directors
Growing up, I wondered what career path would be interesting and rewarding for me. Becoming a Fisher and Ocean Techinician never crossed my mind. I always enjoyed cosmetics and doing my hair but was equally as keen getting muddy and doing outside chores. I grew up in a small Nova Scotian community with a nearby wharf, which allowed access to the beautiful Avon River. My dad has been a Fisher for as long as I can remember and has a strong connection with the river. On the Avon, we would fish from his boat, beach comb on the banks, or simply relax and enjoy the cool breeze on a hot day. He would also take me to the woods, always pointing out animal tracks and observing trees (I wish I could remember all the names!).
When I was 12, I got my first summer job at a local farm but retained small jobs (normally involving fishing with dad) during the school year. At 16, I started part-time commercial fishing. After graduating high school, I was given the opportunity to fish full-time and took it. Now, ten years later, I love my field of work and wouldn’t change it for the world. Through the years of welcoming diverse groups of people to our fishing operations, we slowly transitioned from commercial fishing to fishing to collect ecological data for science. I am proud and privileged to share my knowledge and experience to the STEM world all while being outside in nature almost every day.
Outside of work I can be found searching for waterfalls, knitting, and spending time with my dog Kiefer! I am delighted to be a part of Terranaut Club and to inspire girls+ to find and pursue their passion! There is no limit to what you can do if you set your mind to it.
SALLY MARCHAND (she/her/hers)
Board of Directors President
CYNDY HOGAN (she/her/hers)
Board of Directors Treasurer
MARIA PAWLOWSKA (she/her/hers)
Board of Directors
Staff
HUNTER HOGAN (she/her/hers)
INTERIM DIRECTOR [FOR THE 2026 SEASON]
Name: Hunter Hogan
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Education: BSc in Biology (Co-op) from Acadia University in 2022, and just completed her Master of Science at Acadia University in May 2025.
Occupation and work experience: This is my fifth summer with Terranaut Club. I recently completed my MSc, during which I worked closely with the organization Field School in Miami. My research focused on mercury levels and maternal offloading in three shark species. I also have a strong interest in education and science communication, and I was thrilled to include a chapter in my thesis dedicated to Terranaut Club and the meaningful impact we make as an organization.
Throughout both my undergraduate degree and master’s research, I worked as a research assistant and project manager in Dr. Trevor Avery’s lab at Acadia University, where I had the opportunity to work with a wide range of local Nova Scotian freshwater and saltwater fish species. I continue to take on contract work with the lab, including mercury content analysis, and I help out with ongoing projects whenever possible.
My future plans include continuing my work in ecotoxicology by pursuing a PhD — and alongside that, I hope to further expand my outreach and science communication efforts.
Hobbies: Hiking, running, gardening, and travelling!
Why I love Terranaut Club: Terranaut Club and the community of kids that we serve hold a very special place in my heart. The work we do with Girls+ is life-changing, and I feel so fortunate to be part of it. My favourite part of the job is seeing returning participants year after year — watching them grow and develop into confident and curious young individuals is so incredibly rewarding.
Having the opportunity to be a role model for youth in a primarily male-dominated field is something I deeply value. If I’d had access to a program like this growing up, I know I would have followed my dreams much sooner and believed more strongly that girls+ belong in these spaces.
I absolutely adore this organization — and this likely won’t be the last you see of me!
JULIA WHIDDEN (she/her/hers)
Founder, Executive Director & Instructor [ON MATERNITY LEAVE FOR THE 2026 SEASON]
Name: Julia Whidden
From: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Occupation: Executive Director of Terranaut Club and Citizen Science Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
Past Work Experience: Fulbright Canada Visiting Researcher at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Atmospheric Science in the Shark Research & Conservation Program, Field School Intern, Instructor at Action Potential Lab, Masters student and Research Assistant in Dr. Trevor Avery’s lab at Acadia University
Hobbies: Reading, gardening, kayaking, amateur instrument playing, printmaking and general craftiness!
Pets: Gandhi, a 16 pound grey Tabby cat (Mayor of the world) and Lemon, a wee ginger Tabby cat with white paws (Assistant to the Mayor of the world).
Why you Volunteer with TC: While in the Shark Research and Conservation Program at the University of Miami, I founded F.I.N.S. (Females in the Natural Sciences), an outreach program that teaches local girls about shark conservation and marine science by volunteering with an all-female crew on shark research expeditions. I fell in love with STEM outreach and environmental education, and realized that this is what I wanted to pursue! After a few years of dreaming, planning, and shaping, I reached out to Danielle, Emma, and Christine, and Terranaut Club was born. Our goal was to create hands-on programs for girls+ that would get them excited about science and nature and expose them to inspiring women in these fields, and we’re grateful to all those who have helped us achieve this mission. Terranaut Club is a part of me!
DANIELLE QUINN (she/her/hers)
Directors of Operations & Development, Program Instructor, Founding Board Member & Former Board President
I’m from a small town in New Brunswick, where I spent my childhood exploring the always-changing marshes and woods behind my house, and summers fishing and swimming in the St. John River. It wasn’t until much later – roughly my second year of university – that I realized my life-long love of nature could become a career! I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Acadia University in 2010 and remained there to do a Masters in Biology studying how fish communities have changed over time across Nova Scotia. Following graduation I worked in a research lab with a focus on marine conservation, and in 2016 began a PhD in Biology at the Ocean Science Centre at Memorial University in Newfoundland.
On top of my love of nature, a common thread throughout my education and current work is statistics and coding. I have over 10 years of experience coding for projects involving fish, mammals, marine invertebrates, insects, and plants. I love to code, and I love to teach coding! I’ve developed and taught statistical analyses courses across North America and as far away as South Africa, and I love to incorporate this into Terranaut Club programs. I’m incredibly excited to be a part of the Terranaut Club Team and to have the opportunity to encourage girls+ to discover their love of science and nature!
SOPHIE DUNCAN (she/her/hers)
Program and Outreach Assistant
Name: Sophie Duncan
From: Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Occupation: Program and Outreach Assistant
Education: Presently enrolled at StFX in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Just finished year two.
Past Work Experience: Over the past three years, I have had summer jobs working as a lifeguard at both Nova Scotia beaches and at pools. I have also worked as a swim instructor. I enjoy volunteering in my community, in particular, with the Special Olympics Swim and coaching sports. Fun Fact: I was both a participant of Terranaut Club and a Jr Volunteer Leader.
Hobbies: I’m an avid runner, swimmer, and triathlete and have a passion for the outdoors! In my free time, I enjoy hiking and camping, I love to explore new trails and places! In the summer months, you will find me near, on or in the water!
Why I love Terranaut Club: Growing up, Terranaut Club offered me fun and engaging STEM experiences that sparked my curiosity. My first Terranaut Camp was an eye-opener, I got to explore science hands-on and for the first time, I truly understood the concepts. It inspired me to pursue a science education and showed me how important it is for girls to see themselves in these roles. I’m so eager to be part of this amazing team and to get our participants excited about science, the great outdoors and a love for our shared Earth!
2025 Volunteers (Thank You!)
- Katie Goddard
- Émilie Rose Guérin
- Ashley Jensen
- Lucy Goddard
- Kathy Liu
- Lili Keddy
- Gracie Rushton
- Gretchen McPhail
- Kareina Cadel
- Jessa Rushton
- Jorja Prager
- Emma Carmichael
- Sarah Brown
- Sally Marchand
- Emi Nakamoto
- Lauren Leefe
- Montana McLean
- Emelyne Huntley
Terranaut Club 