About The Urban Camp

The Urban Camp offers innovation, leadership, adventure camps, Innovation Summits, and Masterclasses.

Our primary mission is to prepare younger generations for “the now” and the future.

We welcome students from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests for inter-disciplinary exchanges and inter-cultural experiences.

We emphasize the fundamental principle that having a dual skillset is most beneficial. To that end, our students learn about innovation, STEM education, leadership, entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability and wellness while practicing English. We believe these skills promote innovative thinking, which empowers learners to navigate a world undergoing constant technological evolution.

To achieve this, we partner with local startups, small businesses, and entrepreneurs to provide unique experiences.

When designing our logo, we wanted to emphasize the idea of duality. The Urban Camp lives in the middle, symbolizing its role as the connector of everything.

The Urban Camp, Shaping Future Innovators — One Experience at a Time.

The Urban Camp's Mission

Our Vision

Our vision to create a safe place for learning was born out of the desire to create positive change and innovation through hands-on projects using innovation, tech and leadership. We believe great things happen when students are given the right tools, environment and opportunity to express themselves.

Our Mission

Our mission is to draw out the stories and voices of our students in a way where they feel seen, heard, and empowered. We love to innovate, reinvent, and we move forward at all times. We’re creating a vibrant community and we can’t wait for you to be a part of it!

Our Mentality

Based on education, awareness and a “think outside the box” approach, we constantly encourage students to develop their creativity, share their ideas and turn them into reality. We believe that students connect and engage better with hands-on courses and a learning setting that differs from the typically structured school environment.

Our Values

The Urban Camp is diverse and inclusive. Everyone is welcome to participate in our camps, innovation summits and masterclasses. We are committed to providing a supportive and collaborative environment where all ideas and points of view are respected. Our goal is to define the future of education.

The Urban Camp's Team

Edna

Founder & CEO

Languages: English, Spanish

Edna’s first “abroad” experience was at nine years old. Edna is an entrepreneur passionate about innovative and technology-driven education. With over 30 years of experience in the international education industry, she has worked for companies such as Four Seasons Hotels and renowned English language schools in Canada. Today, Edna leads The Urban Camp.

Edna and a small team hosted her first online camp during the pandemic despite the challenges and remained steadfast in her mission. The rest is still being written for history.

Edna was invited to moderate a panel at the Women in Tech Regatta 2024 and speak at Google Development Group Burnaby at Northeaster University Campus. Edna will also be part of the third season podcast “Asi Emprendi” with Alex Rocha, a Mexican entrepreneur, and looks forward to continue delivering conferences to parents and schools on the importance of introducing the new generations to innovation and technology.

 

Mariana

Entrepreneur & Silent CEO

Languages: English, Spanish

Mariana’s story is about overcoming obstacles and pursuing happiness. From bouncing back after a failed marriage, raising her daughter alone, and opening several companies to uprooting her life to move from Uruguay to Canada to be with her true love, Mariana’s story is bound to inspire and captivate.

After selling her accessories company in 2015, Mariana retired and journeyed to Barcelona to write a book of her memoirs. After three years of a nomadic lifestyle, Mariana and her husband decided to settle down in beautiful Vancouver in April 2018.

Mariana loves to teach our students from time to time, sharing all the wisdom and showing them the tools to succeed in life. Mariana brings high-valued expertise and insight to The Urban Camp.

Tomoko

VR coding Instructor & CEO of Codeca Educational Technology and Services Inc.

Languages: English, Japanese

Tomoko is passionate about making an introduction to coding engaging, addressing gender equality in the tech industry and creating new and innovative solutions to make coding accessible.

She is a resourceful, committed, and friendly leader, educator, scrum master, and developer with a passion for education and experience in program management and web and mobile development.

She co-founded Codeca Educational Technology and Services Inc., a web VR coding platform that makes coding introductions exciting and engaging. The platform is also used by teachers to help them teach coding for the first time or make coding lessons engaging.
With the C3D platform, students can learn to code while creating their own VR worlds and, with one click, explore their creation with a mobile phone and cardboard VR headsets.

Tomoko has been an instructor at The Urban Camp since its beginnings. Students love her and feel accomplished with their VR creations.

Adiba

NFT Instructor & Other Realities Instructor

Languages: English, Hindi

Adiba Muzaffar is a Content Strategist (with a special focus on video content) currently working for a con-tech startup. She has a demonstrated history of working in nonfiction film, journalism, and new media art. She completed her MFA in New Media Arts from Emily Carr University of Art + Design in 2018.

Adiba has created immersive spaces for our students, helping them understand emerging technologies in a fun, engaging and immersive way.

Jessie

Wellness Coach

Experienced arts administrator and dance artist with a demonstrated history of working in the art and film industry. Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) focused in Food Nutrition and Health from The University of British Columbia.

Jessie joined The Urban Camp in 2023, providing wellness and mindfulness workshops at The Urban Camp. Jessie’s goal is to make sure students recognize and honour what they feel and help them stay grounded and connected with themselves and each other while they are away from home, feeling slightly deregulated. Jessie also focuses on giving them and guiding them through different creative outlets.

Connie

Cybersecurity and Digital Marketing Instructor

Languages: English, German, French

Throughout her live, Connie has always loved supporting the underdog and in line with this principle, she has been offering her advanced digital marketing expertise to nonprofits and small-to-medium-sized businesses as a strategist, analyst, advertiser, developer, IT support, and trainer for over a decade.

Whether she is working with a small startup or a socially responsible multi-million dollar corporation, she loves bridging the technical divide, combing through data, and finding solutions that will help her clients grow.

Connie is also a compTIA-certified cybersecurity professional who loves teaching, supporting, and mentoring organizations and families across the globe in establishing safer online habits.

JP Millan

English Instructor

Languages: English

JP is an ESL teacher with a CELTA certificate with 20 years of teaching experience working with people from all over the world. He is currently located between Vancouver and Calgary, Canada, where he teaches structured and immersive ESL lessons to our students. JP’s lessons are engaging, hands-on and, most importantly, practical for everyday challenges.

JP has worked for well-known ESL schools in Vancouver and now owns his company, EH Canada Language School, where he teaches adult students worldwide.

Who The Urban Camp Works With