Email Barnsy

Liam “Barnsy” Barnes, Director

I started at Fireside as a junior instructor. Since then, I’ve led many epic adventures spanning BC, Yukon and Ecuador. As Director, I helped build Fireside’s World Bound and Vancouver Outdoor School’s Fieldschool from the ground up. I also created our Parkour & Filmmaking curriculum, which we’ve shared with hundreds of kids in order to help them develop physical literacy and risk management skills.

I am preparing for Jeff to pass the family business on to me when the time is right. My mission is to co-create the punk rock or electric guitar of education - we need something fast, furious, out-of-the-box and real to help us stand against modern challenges.

Heather Potkins, Lead Expedition Guide + World Bound Climate Change Coordinator

My lifelong love for the canoe has led me all over North America while competing and training at a national level. I have worked as a head paddling coach, at-risk youth climbing program coordinator and adaptive outdoor experience educator. 


I hold a French bilingual degree in Biology and Environmental Studies, and I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge of ecosystem function and conservation. With Fireside, I co-developed the curriculum for and led the pilot expeditions for World Bound Canada and World Bound Ecuador. I also acted as the Principal Instructor in Vancouver Outdoor School’s Upper Fieldschool during its first year, designing a climate change curriculum that checked off BC highschool requirements while being 100% outdoor and experiential.

Carmen Chandler, Lead Expedition Guide

The idea of Paying it Forward is one of the driving factors for my passion for Outdoor Education. As a teenager, I had the opportunity to participate in many different experiences. Being a part of the Fireside team is my chance to facilitate similar life-changing experiences for the next generation.

I’ve been with Fireside since 2016 and am a certified BC Teacher. The Yukon river is always a highlight of my summer because it is magical to see the youth discount from their devices and start to wonder and joy the wilderness offers. I love being a part of Fireside because it feels like family.

Sol Woollard, Junior Instructor

I started my Fireside journey when I was 14, three years ago. A close friend and I joined BC Explorer and spent three weeks exploring the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound, and Garibaldi. Since I joined... firstly, my outdoor skills have been greatly improved. Secondly, I found that Fireside has really helped me with my public speaking skills and confidence in what I do.

As a Fireside Instructor, I want to pass this on... it is a massive world, explore every bit of it. Every single time you don't do something because it's too hard, too complicated, or too scary, you miss out on skills, stories, and experiences. I love the outdoors, but I also love board games, Dungeons and Dragons, and reading Fantasy. I can explore the real world, and Fantastical worlds as well.

Daniel Mikolela, Junior Instructor

I was 15 when I joined my first Fireside program as a camper in Yukon Explorer. Fireside helped me with my social skills and my connection with nature. Never before had I been outside having camping, canoeing and hiking experiences in this way. As an instructor, I have helped Barnsy develop his parkour program over the past two years while also guiding on the Sunshine Coast.

I’m passionate about rapping, parkour, sound engineering, composing, voice acting, and makeup art! As a Junior Staff, I want to help the next generation to keep their curiosity about the world and see things in a positive light instead of having it suffocated by the reality of climate change or the boundaries of the conventional education system.

Patrick Beattie, Junior Instructor

I have been with Fireside since 2019, when I went on a high school trip to Sechelt Inlet. That same year, I also went on Yukon Explorer, and it was one of the greatest adventures that I have ever been on. I have not only grown as an individual, but I have also learned to become a real leader and role model. I want to pass on what it is like to not worry about all the stressors of the modern world, especially social media, and I want the next generation to really appreciate not only other cultures but also the natural world and teach them how we can save it.

I am 21 years old. I have ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety. I love learning new things (trying to learn Spanish), I LOVE the natural world, and I will never back down from a challenge or a new adventure. I am attending Selkirk College, and my long-term goal is to become a Park Ranger.

Margherita Macchi, Expedition Guide (Italy Specialist)

Following my brothers’ steps, I decided to sign up for Fireside in 2019... I found myself travelling the country with BC Explorer and Yukon Explorer with an amazing group of people, learning and sharing timeless experiences. I was asked what is a leader like. Although it’s very hard to find one, coherent, and all-comprising answer, it surely includes listening, caring and supporting others. Since then, this is what I’ve been trying to cultivate.

Aside from working with World Bound Italy, I am currently studying Global Sustainability Science at Utrecht University, Netherlands. This gives me the tools to understand sustainability in its complexity and I’m focusing on the aspect of business and innovation. With this I can combine a holistic approach with a more specialised one. Meanwhile, I am building a community in Utrecht to share the beauty of Italian culture.

Taiki Ishikawa, Expedition Guide (Japan Specialist)

As an educator, my commitment is to make learning fun, experiential, and relevant for all learners. I believe that educators must recognize the rapid shifts and changes in our world, which is why the development of a World Bound Japan course is incredibly important for both visitors to Japan and Japanese learners and families.

In my role, I try to inspire learners of all kinds through inquiry-based learning practices that focus on science, culture, and space. My “Space for All” passion-project for accessible space education flourished when I taught this to neurodiverse students.  I strongly believe many will become world innovators in solving the problems caused by climate change. I am excited to explore "peace-making skill sets" from a Japanese perspective. It is crucial for youths to develop peacemaking skills and strategies, to navigate the conflicts that will arise due to compromised resources and environments caused by climate change.

Ethan Barnes, Instructor and Lead Writer

I joined the team as a writer but found myself pulled into the world of outdoor experiential education. I now work for Vancouver Outdoor School as an intensive 1:1 support worker and with Fireside as a guide-in-training. I hold a Master’s of Linguistics from Lancaster University, a BA in Literature and Language from UBC, and I’m currently completing a Master’s of Counselling where I plan to apply the out-of-the-box wisdom I’ve learned from Fireside.

Daniel Macías Barajas, Recruiter - International Camps Association

Daniel creció en el mundo del campismo, de niño atendió campamentos en México y Estados Unidos. Daniel tiene un Master en Gestión y Dirección de Centros Educativos por la Universidad de Barcelona. Sus veranos de estudiante los pasó siempre trabajando como miembro del staff en varios campamentos en Estados Unidos, Canadá, Alemania y España. Desde 2007 dirige la corporación International Camps Network a través de la cual gestiona recursos y fomenta la promoción de una vasta red de Centros Educativos al Aire Libre especializados en técnicas de Aprendizaje a través de la Experiencia. Entre los programas que dirige se encuentran Camp Europe y Camps Canada, éste último programa fortaleció los lazos con Fireside Adventures para crear una sinergia donde Daniel es ahora oficialmente el coordinador para Latinoamérica de Fireside Adventures. Y está muy emocionado por ello!