About Us
Active Explorers is a gymnastics/sports integrated preschool dedicated to providing early childhood education and physical activity for preschool and kindergarten-age children. Our distinctive child-centered program establishes a robust foundation through an innovative curriculum and a Reggio inspired learning environment. We address intellectual, physical, and social needs through diverse learning experiences, including guided discovery, inquiry projects, lively letters, art, music, cooperative play, and student-inspired play provocations. We firmly believe that physical activity is integral to child development. Our program affords children the opportunity to have daily access to an onsite gymnastics’ facility, to encourage and refine gross motor development, body/spatial awareness, locomotor skills, eye-hand coordination, balance, strength, flexibility, cooperation and sportsmanship.
Sarah Curtis – Owner/Classroom Teacher
Sarah Curtis is fully certified as a Child Development Supervisor. She holds a Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Calgary and an Alberta teaching certificate. Sarah has had the opportunity to work in many different youth settings as a teacher and coach. She has been employed as a teacher with the Calgary Board of Education since 2008, working with children from Kindergarten to grade 6 in a classroom setting and a learning support role. She has been a preschool, recreation and competitive level gymnastics coach for over 10 years, holding Level 1 & 2 Theory, Technical and Practical certification and Level 3 Theory with the Alberta Gymnastics Federation. She is a mother of three energetic little girls, and believes strongly in fostering independence, curiosity and a love for learning. As an educator, she is very passionate and committed to providing meaningful and engaging learning opportunities for children.
Jillian Battison – Classroom Teacher
Jillian is fully certified as a Early Childhood Educator and holds a Bachelor of Communication from MRU, a Bachelor of Education from UBC and both a BC and Alberta teaching certificate. Jillian is originally from Vancouver but spent a few years in different parts of the world including two years in Vienna, Austria studying and working as an au pair, and a year teaching English in South Korea. Jillian is an avid reader, a burgeoning bike rider and likes to spend as much time on her feet as she can. What Jillian enjoys most about early childhood education is witnessing young students begin to build confidence in themselves and their ideas as they learn how to interact with others and the world around them. As a close second however, is instilling a love of reading, storytelling and imagination.
April Delainey – Classroom Teacher
April Delainey is certified as a Child Development Supervisor. She graduated from Mount Royal University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s of Applied Child Studies, as well as, her diploma in Early Learning and Child Care and a certificate in Children’s Mental Health. April’s philosophy in teaching is that through inquiry-based projects children will develop a lifetime love of learning. Her passion for helping children grow into well-rounded young adults can be seen through her planned learning experiences, daily interactions and connections with both the children and their families. April believes it is important to teach both the mind and the body to allow children to excel in all possible avenues in their futures. When April is not teaching she enjoys spending her time outside and being active whether it be camping, hiking, playing volleyball with her friends or going for walks with her dog Daisy.
Quinn Waldren – Classroom Teacher
Quinn Waldren is certified as a Child development Educator. She is graduated from Mount Royal University in spring 2022 with a degree in Child Studies (Major in Early Learning and Child studies and a minor in physical education). Quinn was born and raised in Calgary. She believes strongly in play-based learning and scaffolding learning around each child’s interests. She is passionate about physical literacy, and the environment as the third teacher and believes that there are tremendous learning opportunities that can be explored through the beauty of the outdoors. When Quinn is not teaching, she enjoys spending time outside in the mountains, cross-country and downhill skiing, kayaking, hiking and enjoying nature walks.
Kristi Hamby – Classroom Teacher
Teacher Kristi is a certified Level 1 Early Childhood Educator who is currently completing her ECE level Two and has plans to pursue her ECE Level Three. Originally from Calgary, Kristi attended Mount Royal University for Interior Decorating. After graduating, she relocated to Canmore to follow her passion for the outdoors. While in Canmore, Kristi had the opportunity to work as a classroom lead in a daycare program. This experience inspired her to further her education, leading her to enroll in the Lethbridge College ECE distance learning program. During this time, she began co-teaching at a before and after-school care program, gaining extensive experience working with and programming for children aged five to twelve. Kristi firmly believes in child-led programming, centering all activities around the children’s interests. Her ECE philosophy places a strong emphasis on the environment as the third teacher. She believes that the natural world is a place where everyone can discover, create and deeply learn about themselves and the world around them through exploration.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn”
~ Benjamin Franklin