Meet the Team
Sarah Bland
Lead Educator
Co-Founder
Trustee
Kia ora, my name is Sarah!
I'm a Kiwi who grew up around the dancing embers of campfires, absorbing the smell of West Coast forest air while my little legs tried to keep up on hikes with my family. My heart also fills remembering the delightful lupin ‘boats’ cascading down every creek my sisters and I could find.
I spent endless days with my Dad in our veggie garden.
His modelling of an ever-growing wonder for the intricacies
in nature have brought me so much joy through my life.
Life’s been full of incredible soul-filling adventures!
The adventure of travel - motorbiking through Vietnam, snowboarding in the Swiss Alps, sleeping under the stars in Africa, bicycling through Europe, and trekking in the stunning Himalayas. My mind has been on adventures too - a Bachelor in Education (Teaching) at Auckland University allowed me to see the beautiful complexity of growth and learning. Studying Outdoor Management and Leadership at Otago Polytech melded the thrill of challenge with the importance of coming home safely every night into a useable framework. I’ve taught in some form for 25 years - lots in a formal classroom and the forest, but also sports coaching, mentoring student teachers, and giving training to teachers in Kenya and South Africa.
Wild School is a vibe. It's connection. It's home.
I'm absolutely pumped to be part of it!
We often hear kids say 'today was my best day ever!'
It fills my heart to be part of creating happy childhoods!
Bachelor of Education (Teaching)
Certificate of Outdoor Leadership & Management
Morgan Clode
Lead Educator
Co-Founder
Trustee
Kia ora, I'm a born and bred Southland girl with 10 years of living and loving the Whakatipu region under my belt.
My journey to now, as a Co-founder of Whakatipu Wild School begun in my own early years which were spent playing, exploring and discovering the wonders and beauty of nature at our family beach crib in Colac Bay, Southland. These memories sit with me fondly and combined with 15 years teaching in Early Childhood Education, help to form my strong values and beliefs that nature provides a unique learning environment that benefits the whole self (body, mind and soul) during and long after experienced.
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I have been fortunate to spend many days in nature with tamariki over the past 8 years, and have witnessed first hand the benefits, socially, emotionally and physically. In 2014, whilst working in London, UK, I trained as a Forest School Leader and was involved in the development of an Urban Forest School Programme for Nursery children (3/4 year olds). After returning to NZ, I applied this experience and knowledge into leading a nature play programme at a local preschool and now with the creation of opportunities for children in Queenstown through Wild School & Wild Kindy.
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My most recent and biggest joy in life, is becoming a Mum to our little girl, Ruby. It is a great joy to now have her involved in Wild Kindy and to witness her reap the rewards of natures classroom, experiencing all the joy, awe and wonder that it brings, as she comes along for this exciting journey and experiences the opportunities from Whakatipu Wild School.
Diploma of Education (ECE)
Forest School Leader (Level 5)
Xanthe Wills
Nature Educator
Kia Ora, I’m Xanthe!
I’m an Aussie from Sydney who moved to Queenstown almost a year ago to pursue my love of winter sports (I’m a skiier!) but quickly fell in love with Kiwi life and haven’t left.
Growing up, I loved to explore and create. I’m lucky to have a family that valued exploring, instilled in me a love for travel, and gave me world-wide education that shapes the teacher I am today.
My first degree is in Music a major in Theatre, and I worked as a theatre performer for the majority of my late teens and early 20s. Working mostly in educational theatre and theatre restaurants, I have been fortunate to explore the majority of the east coast of Australia- from Mt Gambier down in South Australia, to Broken Hill in Western NSW, to some stunning locations in far North Queensland. I have performed at over 200 schools and RSLs across Australia! To complement my performance work, I taught dance, drama and music to little ones and chose to follow my passion for early childhood education following Covid.
I studied my Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care in 2021, and am currently studying my Master of Teaching, birth-5years. It’s been an epic journey that I am loving, especially as I get to work in the field and complement everything that I have learnt and am learning.
I’m thrilled to be part of the team at Wild Kindy, to connect with amazing children and share in our passion for the great outdoors. As a child, I was often found making potions in the garden and playing make believe! It’s such a joy to play, connect, explore and create. Let’s get wild!
Bachelor of Music.(Mj, Music Theatre)
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
Masters of Teaching (Birth to 5 years) - In progress
Ange McAtear
Nature Educator
Graduate Diploma of Teaching (ECE)
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Education)
Kia ora, my name is Ange
I grew up in Southland and have called Queenstown home for the last 14 years. The Whakatipu basin has been a special place to me for as long as I can remember. As a child I spent every summer here exploring the rivers and mountains with my family. As an adult I discovered the joys that the winter brings to these same mountains.
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I spent my University years in Otago. While studying psychology I discovered the world of educational psychology and child development. This inspired me to pursue teaching as a career and I completed a postgraduate diploma in ECE.
I loved working as a preschool teacher, but the call of the mountains and travel was strong. After a couple of years I paused teaching to train as a snowboard instructor at Coronet Peak. This led to many back to back winters from Queenstown to Switzerland, Canada and Japan. For the past decade I’ve juggled these two loves. I’ve found my balance here in Queenstown where I'm lucky enough to do both.
I joined the Wild School team in 2022. I’m so grateful to be part of this incredible kaupapa—surrounded by passionate educators and wild-hearted tamariki who remind me every day of the power of play, wonder, and connection. Helping the children of the Whakatipu Basin grow their own love for the outdoors feels like everything has come full circle. I couldn't be more stoked to be a part of it.
