Nafeesa Salar

Forest Play Teacher

Nafeesa holds a Bachelor of Education from McGill University and is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Mental Health & Addictions at Dalhousie University. Over the past decade, Nafeesa has taught elementary and high school students, led student programs, and even run her own wedding planning business, she loves both structure and sparkle. She also serves on the board of the NOOK Homeschoolers’ Centre as treasurer and social media manager, supporting a vibrant community of families and lifelong learners.

Whether she’s in a classroom, a homeschool nook, or out beneath the trees, Nafeesa creates learning spaces that honor each child’s pace, passions, and natural drive to understand the world. She believes that when children are trusted as active participants in their own learning, they grow not just in knowledge, also in confidence, creativity, and a lasting love of discovery. For her, learning is at its richest when children have the freedom to explore, the tools to dive deep, and the encouragement to follow their wildest curiosities.

At home, Nafeesa homeschools her two sons using Montessori principles, weaving together hands-on learning, purposeful play, and lots of outdoor exploration. She nurtures independence, resilience, critical thinking, and joy,  believing that every child can flourish when rooted in the right environment.

At Forest Play, Nafeesa hopes to help children climb trees, ask big questions, dig in the dirt, and discover just how capable they truly are. Her dream is for every child to leave the forest a little braver, a little more curious, and much more connected to nature, to learning, and to themselves.