MORGAN PAULSON
COMMUNITY LEADER | EDUCATOR
ROLE: Physical Education and Health Educator
SCHOOLS: Morris Williams Elementary School
TOWN: Burns Lake, BC
Having grown up in the Burns Lake area and returned after time away, Morgan Paulson’s connection to the place she grew up shapes everything she does. The surrounding land offers opportunities for skiing, biking, hiking, paddling, and more, yet she recognizes that many students do not always have access to these experiences outside of school. This understanding drives a commitment to creating meaningful opportunities that connect youth to the land, their community, and themselves.
“Working with children and youth is a true privilege. What keeps me coming back is the pure joy and enthusiasm the kids feel when they are experiencing movement, planting gardens, biking, skiing, hiking, gathering wild plants, or trying a new skill,” she shares. She sees students overcome challenges, build confidence, and experience peace through these moments.
“As a teacher, Morgan focuses primarily on a land based phys-ed program, utilizing the abundance of trails and natural habitats around the school and town. Morgan herself is very connected to the plants and wildlife in the Lakes District area and loves to share this passion and knowledge with the kids. Her natural athleticism and abundant energy combined with her love of the land and Lake Babine culture make for a wholesome, grounded, and rich sports program.”
She describes her role as providing “a safe and inspirational environment where learners are able to express themselves in their truest sense, build confidence in their identity, learn to navigate others with respect, and have space to be creative.”
Rather than focusing on delivering knowledge alone, she prioritizes self-discovery, creativity, and connection to the land and community, where she has seen the most meaningful growth in students.
She also values working alongside partners who strengthen these experiences for students. Reflecting on Spirit North, Morgan highlights the strong connection our staff build with youth. “There is pure joy and excitement with the learners when the Spirit North coaches arrive… they connect strongly with the kids, bringing joy, confidence, and inspiration.”
She recalls a moment with a student who had been skiing with Spirit North for years, sitting quietly on a hill and reflecting on the sense of peace and calm stillness the experience gave her, sharing that “I love skiing... It is the only time my brain isn’t racing.”
For Morgan, this moment captured what these experiences can offer beyond physical skill development. They create space for calm, confidence, and connection, shaping how young people carry themselves into the future.