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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!

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Board of Directors

KATIE SCOTT (she/her/hers)

Board of Directors President

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

CYNDY HOGAN (she/her/hers)

Board of Directors Treasurer

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Staff

JULIA WHIDDEN (she/her/hers)

Founder, Executive Director & Instructor

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!

ALANNA CANARAN (she/her/hers)

Program Coordinator

Name: Alanna Canaran
From: Toronto, Ontario. Halifax, Nova Scotia is now my home, at least for most of the year. I’m like a piping plover and migrate South for the winters to teach diving, but always head back up North at the first signs of spring. 
Education: BSc Marine Biology at Dalhousie University and University of King’s College. 
Work Experience: I am a science communicator with expertise in ocean education. I have experience as a science producer for Ocean School, and a TV host for Jump In, a show on EastLink all about women and scuba diving in Nova Scotia. I also had the opportunity to star in Jawsome: Canada’s Great White Sharks, a documentary on CBC: The Nature of Things. I offer PADI Scuba Diving and Mermaid courses with a focus on sustainability and the conservation of the blue planet. I hope to encourage people to be more conscious of the underwater world so that they can shift their mindsets and way of life to live for a better ocean.
Hobbies: Anything and everything water related, I’m in! My favourite water activities are scuba diving and freediving. I feel so at peace when I’m underwater and truly feel like I’m home when diving in the ocean. 
Why I love Terranaut Club: A STEM program for girls+ run by women in STEM is just such a great idea to help break down barriers and make STEM more accessible. I didn’t always have a career role model in my life who looked like me and who I could look up to, so I want to be that for others to show that whatever they want to do, they can do.

DANI GUÉRIN (she/her/hers)

Program and Digital Content Lead

Name: Dani Guérin
From: Hamilton, Ontario
Occupation: Program and Digital Content Lead and Aerial Course and Zipline Guide at Treetop Trekking
Education: I just completed my Bachelor of Science with Honours in Marine Biology at Dalhousie University where I conducted research analyzing blue whale calls to determine their spatiotemporal presence in waters surrounding Nova Scotia. I am currently on track to publish my work in a peer-reviewed scientific journal! I have also taken a field course in Costa Rica where I helped conduct research on the nesting habits of Olive Ridley sea turtles!
Past Work Experience:  Wildlife Conservation Program Lead at Terranaut Club; Camp Director, Canoe Coordinator, Interpreter and Camp Staff at the Royal Botanical Gardens Discovery Camps in Hamilton, Ontario; Biodiversity Day Coordinator and Teaching Assistant in the Department of Biology at Dalhousie University; Girls Volleyball Coach with Scotia Juniors Volleyball Club. 
Hobbies: Canoeing and kayaking, hiking, volleyball, snorkelling, cooking and baking, and reading.
Why I love Terranaut Club: Having worked extensively in outdoor education programs, my favourite part has always been getting kids involved in science and getting them excited about taking part in conservation and citizen science. Having learned so much more about biology and marine science at Dal, I’m super eager to continue sharing this knowledge with the next generation. Terranaut’s program is centered around getting kids knee deep in natural sciences, in ways I could have only dreamed of doing when I was growing up. I am so excited to be able to deliver these fantastic programs to what I’m sure will be fantastic groups of kids for another summer with Terranaut!

HUNTER HOGAN (she/her/hers)

Contract Marine Biology Program Lead

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!

LAUREN LEEFE (she/her/hers)

Contract Marine Biology Program Lead

Name: Lauren Leefe
From: Bridgewater, NS
Occupation: When not at Terranaut Club programs, I am working as a Masters student in Dr. Ramón Filgueira’s lab at Dalhousie University. My graduate project is centered around building a risk assessment framework for dermo disease (Perkinus marinus) in Nova Scotian oyster farms.
Past Work Experience: Field volunteer for ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, spent three years as a Research Assistant/Lab Manager in Dr. Trevor Avery’s lab at Acadia University, and was Program Lead for Terranaut Club in Summer 2023!
Hobbies: Hiking, diving, going to the beach and travelling!
Why I love Terranaut Club: It is so special to be able to see the impact that Terranaut Club programs have in creating spaces for girls+ to dive into their passions and try new things for the first time. I love anything nature and science related, so when I had first heard about Terranaut club’s mission in connecting girls+ with opportunities in STEM, I knew it was an organization I wanted to support. Every time I attend a Terranaut Club program it truly feels like magic, and I cannot wait to be back at programs this summer!

SOFIA MACFARLANE (she/her/hers)

Wildlife Conservation Program Assistant

Name: Sofia MacFarlane
From: Nackawic, NB (now Antigonish)
Occupation: Wildlife Conservation Program Assistant
Past Work Experience:  Counsellor and Leadership Director at Camp Glenburn (NB), Assistant Field Technician with the Freshwater Monitoring and Quality group at Environment and Climate Canada. 
Hobbies: Hiking, canoeing, skiing, and watercolour.
Pets: Luna, 5-year-old brown lab.
Why I love Terranaut Club: Growing up in rural New Brunswick gave me many opportunities to spend time outside and appreciate nature’s beauty. This experience inspired me to pursue a degree in Environmental Sciences. STEM activities, like those organized by the Terranaut club are so important for girls and gender diverse youth to explore STEM careers and, most importantly, to build confidence by trying new things!

LIZZY MACSWEEN (she/her/hers)

Marine Biology Program Assistant

Name: Lizzy MacSween
From: Belleville, Ontario
Occupation: Marine Biology Program Assistant
Past Work Experience:  Salmon Restoration Student with the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Hobbies: Playing guitar, hiking, crafts and going on adventures!
Pets: None currently but I will always stop to pet a dog!
Why I love Terranaut Club: Being part of Terranaut Club gives me the opportunity to contribute to something far greater than myself. Growing up, I was fortunate to be surrounded by strong, independent, and inspiring women in STEM who shaped my path. Now, I hope to share my passion and become a role model for girls and gender-diverse youth the same way those women in my life did for me. I’ve always learned best through hands-on experiences, and I’m excited to help inspire others and teach STEM in that same engaging, practical way! 

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!

JENNA WRIGHT (she/her/hers)

Program and Development Assistant

Name: Jenna Wright
From: Kitchener, Ontario
Occupation: Program and Development Assistant
Education: I just completed my BSc Honours in Marine Biology with a Minor in Ocean Sciences at Dalhousie University. I conducted research on the migratory behaviours of Atlantic salmon as they navigated a Norwegian fjord.
Past Work Experience:  I worked at a small family-run greenhouse and farmers market. 
Hobbies: Kayaking, hiking, dancing, hockey and piano.
Pets: Freya, my 6-year old rough collie, and two cats, Keeva (2 years old) and Ophelia (10 years old).
Why I love Terranaut Club: I have always had a passion for STEM, and my time at Dalhousie allowed me to follow my passion of the marine sciences. When I discovered Terranaut Club I was immediately drawn to its mission of empowering girls and gender diverse youth to find their love of STEM through immersive hands-on experiences. I am so excited to begin my journey with Terranaut Club to foster the same sense of passion and to build a welcoming and inclusive community where kids can explore their STEM curiosities!

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2024 Volunteers

• Emma Carmichael
• Christine McLauchlan
• Emma Cooke
• Andie McKee
• Sam Charron
• Jenny Bellafontaine
• Taylor Long
• Anaïs Pierre-Estimé
• Aidan Soth
• Alexandra Vance

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