KOLA Kamloops
Bringing outdoor learning to the Thompson Nicola region
We’re excited to expand KOLA’s nature-based learning approach to Kamloops and the surrounding Thompson Nicola region.
Learn more about our Kamloops location, including program offerings, enrollment information, and local partnerships.
🌿 Our Thompson Nicola Setting
Rivers & Mountain Trails
Learn beside the flowing Thompson and North Thompson Rivers and explore the dramatic mountain landscapes that surround Kamloops. With access to riverbanks, grasslands, and alpine environments, students engage with diverse ecosystems that inspire curiosity and connection to the land.
Semi-Arid & Forest Classrooms
Our outdoor learning spaces include sagebrush grasslands, aspen groves, and douglas fir forests — each offering unique opportunities for ecological discovery. These living classrooms become places where students learn to track seasonal changes, study local wildlife, and develop practical outdoor skills grounded in their environment.
Community Spaces & Collaboration
KOLA Kamloops partners with local parks, ranches, and community hubs to create accessible, inclusive learning environments. Whether we’re gathering in a community garden, connecting with Indigenous knowledge keepers, or learning beside a local artist or land steward, our shared spaces remind us that education is deeply rooted in community.
Program Development
Location Secured
We’ve identified stunning, ecologically diverse outdoor spaces throughout the Kamloops region — including forested trails, alpine ridgelines, and arid desert ecosystems — that offer the perfect living classroom for our programs.
Partnerships Established
We’ve built strong relationships with community organizations, outdoor educators, and regional partners across the Thompson Nicola region. These partnerships ground our work in local knowledge, shared values, and long-term community connection.
Curriculum Ready
Our curriculum is fully adapted to reflect the unique climate and biodiversity of the region — from Sun Peaks to Harper Mountain, from rattlesnake grasslands to snow-covered slopes. We’re ready to launch transformative, land-based learning rooted in place, purpose, and belonging.
📅 Program Schedule
Daily Program
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Age Range
9 – 18 years old
Outdoor learning adventures designed for mixed-age groups, fostering mentorship and collaborative exploration. Learners outside the typical age range are welcome to apply and may be considered based on developmental readiness, maturity, or unique fit with the group dynamic.
Why Kamloops Matters
Kamloops holds a special place in my heart as a hub for outdoor adventure and community connection. Nestled in the Thompson-Nicola region, it offers an extraordinary diversity of landscapes — from sagebrush-covered grasslands and arid canyons to mountain forests and alpine meadows. In fact, Kamloops is one of the few regions in Canada classified as an arid desert climate, yet it bursts with biodiversity: deer, marmots, raptors, snakes, wildflowers, fungi, and hundreds of native species that thrive in its unique ecosystems.
The region is also home to Harper Mountain, a beloved local ski hill with a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere that encourages outdoor play through all seasons. And just beyond, Sun Peaks expands the possibilities with its alpine environment — offering year-round access to forest trails, snowfields, and high-elevation learning.
For young people, this is more than a classroom — it’s a living curriculum. The land itself teaches resilience, observation, interdependence, and wonder.
If you’re a parent, educator, or community member in the Kamloops area who believes in the power of outdoor education, I’d love to connect with you. Together, we can create a space where young people develop confidence, curiosity, and a deep connection to the land they call home.
— Emily Grace
Founder, KOLA
Meet Our Team
Giuliana Barros
Community Partner Educator
Giuliana Barros is an experienced educator with a deep commitment to supporting neurodivergent learners through compassionate, evidence-based approaches. Her extensive educational background includes:
- Bachelor of Education – Simon Fraser University
- Master’s in Childhood Education – University of Porto
- Master’s in Special Education – University of British Columbia
- Master’s in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) – Arizona State University (in progress)
With over 20 years of experience, Giuliana brings both academic depth and practical insight to her work with children and families. At KOLA, she supports individualized learning through our Community Partner framework — offering specialized guidance in language development, emotional regulation, and inclusive education.
Her presence strengthens our broader educational team and reflects our commitment to working alongside professionals who share our values of whole-child learning, equity, and inclusion.