Nastya Shitova (she/her)

Nastya is an educator and artist from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia – the traditional lands of the Ainu and Nivkh people. She grew up beach camping, foraging and learning about native plants with her grandparents, leading to her lifelong love for the outdoors. Vancouver’s resemblance to her hometown led her to pursue a BA in Geography with a focus on environment and sustainability and a Minor in Visual Arts.

Having experienced the importance of place-based learning from her studies and upbringing, Nastya believes that children’s development in outdoor settings from a young age helps build more meaningful connections with the land. She is passionate about utilizing arts-based approaches to help children explore their relationships to place and foster a sense of curiosity for the earth’s resources.

While working at TNNS, Nastya is pursuing an Early Childhood Education Certificate at UCSD. In her spare time she enjoys making lino-prints, going on bike rides and experimenting with her new sourdough starter!