Business Profile: Second Nature Adventures in Discovery is dedicated to helping people reconnect with the world around them. There are two complimentary sides of the business: Experience Manitoba and Discover Nature. Experience Manitoba offers custom-designed, intimate and engaging tourism experiences and team building adventures. Discover Nature offers customized solutions for reconnecting with nature, supported by kits, workshops, materials and signage basing the content on the habitats and ecosystems in the region.

 Her Story: Following her passion into the wilderness, Heather Hinam has a passion for Manitoba’s wilderness. After completing an intense academic program that included a PhD in conservation biology, she worked as an ecotourism guide at a resort hotel in Manitoba. When the resort closed, Heather needed a new way to share her knowledge and be immersed in the natural environment that she loved so much. She decided the best way to do this was to create her own business and enable people to establish a personal connection with nature.

Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth, MB4Youth Division connected Heather with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF), where she received financing, business resources and mentoring. Lindy Norris, a CYBF mentor, provides advice and support to help Heather run her business.

In her first year of business, Heather has already received an award recognizing her commitment to sustainable tourism. She believes that the business is growing into a driving force in
nature education and tourism in the province. “Being an entrepreneur has made it possible to combine all my talents and passions into a job that brings me constant satisfaction,” she said.

Short Quote:
“CYBF made it possible to build my business where other funding centres couldn’t. CYBF’s support for the intangible elements that many home-based businesses need is what got Second Nature off the ground.”
- Heather Hinam, Second Nature Adventures in Discovery

 Mentor Quote:
“My mentor has been instrumental in helping me create a brand for my business. She has been a great sounding board as I build the image of my company, offering helpful and actionable advice when I’m working out marketing ideas. My business is a little difficult to describe and she helps me break it down into workable pieces”
- Heather Hinam, Second Nature Adventures in Discovery

Canadian Youth Business Foundation
Canada’s Entrepreneur Gateway
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is the ‘go to’ place for youth entrepreneurship. As a national charity, we are dedicated to growing Canada’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-34, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring, to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. www.cybf.ca

Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth, MB4Youth Division
The Citizenship and Youth division of Manitoba Education works closely with youth, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, community groups, educational institutions, provincial departments, and other levels of government to facilitate hiring and employment for students and young people. www.edu.gov.mb.ca