The National Team

Joel Hilchey - Founder & Executive Director

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Joel is the founder of The Beanstalk Project. With a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, a passion for youth engagement, and an eye for opportunity, he has been a professional leadership speaker & facilitator since 2006.

He speaks at schools and conferences across North America, inspiring character by juggling, storytelling, and playing with mousetraps.  Check him out online at www.joelhilchey.com.

Hillary Newkirk General Manager

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Hillary has spent many years in the camping and outdoor recreation business, both in Canada and England. A talented facilitator and manager, she is great at getting things done.

Liz Travis - Executive Assistant

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Liz is the newest addition to the Beanstalk Project's National Team.  She has a passion for the arts and is a certified KinderMusic teacher.

Brandon Love 
- Student of Wonder in Residence

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Brandon is the world’s first, and only, Student of Wonder. He inspires curiosity by combining his loves of magic, psychology, philosophy, learning and teaching.

  www.studentofwonder.com

...And Many More!

A huge number of other volunteers are continuously involved to help make The Beanstalk Project happen.

Marc Beaudin, Kathryn Chan, Celine George, Alena Hart,  Kat Owens, and Yazhini Subramanian were all instrumental in running the first launches in early 2010.

The Launch Location Teams - Coordinators & Mentors

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Every Beanstalk Project Launch location has a team of people who work with the National team to ensure things run smoothly.

Additionally, every launch has many mentors who work with the students throughout the entire event.  These fantastic volunteers often have a great deal of leadership experience, work experience, entrepreneurship backgrounds, and/or involvement with social justice causes.