Kyle Horvath
(he/him)
Kyle Horvath (he/him) is a queer cisman who grew up on the treaty lands of the Hatiwendaronk, Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation peoples. The colonial name for this area is Welland, Ontario, Canada.
Kyle has worked internationally in the field of Adventure and Nature-Based Therapy as a Wilderness Expedition Guide, Behavioural Interventionist, Family Outreach Counsellor, and Recreational Therapist since 2013. Kyle is dedicated to creating more inclusive communities wtih a focus on amplifying the voices of those who are marginalized by our current systems of oppression. Kyle's work aims to de-center the power and privilege of our current structures to build a more equitable and sustainable future. Kyle's long-term goal is to recreate a community of practice that supports families and children in non-punitive ways. One day, his hope is that all families are provided access to resources that sustain healthy communities.
Kyle is leading the national representative’s group as well as being on the quad chair team.
ky.horvath@gmail.com
Virginie Gargano
My name is Virginie Gargano, I am from Canada. I am a professor and researcher at Université Laval’s School of Social Work and Criminology, specializing in Adventure and Nature-Based Interventions. My work spans research, teaching, and practice focused on the design, implementation, and evaluation of outdoor group interventions, including activities such as hiking, whitewater paddling, rock climbing, and surfing. I am also actively involved in training practitioners through the initiative Dehors, which supports safe, ethical, and evidence-informed practice in nature-based interventions.
What drew me to this field is the unique capacity of nature to function as a meaningful intervention context. Outdoor environments allow for the simultaneous engagement of physical, psychological, social, and existential dimensions, while fostering presence, engagement, and experiential learning. Nature-based interventions provide a powerful setting to support emotional regulation, agency, and overall well-being.
I strongly encourage professionals in my region to explore Adventure and Nature-Based Therapies, as they offer innovative and deeply human responses to current psychosocial challenges. In a context marked by service overload and increasing complexity, these approaches help renew practice, strengthen helping relationships, and reconnect individuals and communities with their environments in support of holistic and sustainable health.
virginie.gargano@tsc.ulaval.ca
