About Active Discovery
Who We Are
We help financially vulnerable kids (and their families) flourish through active discovery.
Active Discovery consults with people who work with financially vulnerable kids every day. We create products that turn into active experiences for the kids, helping them discover things they love (and are good at) and setting the stage for them to flourish.
Contact UsWe believe that we can help level the playing field by giving financially vulnerable kids and their families opportunities they don’t currently have.
We believe this can lead them to grow in how they see their future and give them a pathway to progress regardless of their current circumstances.
Mary Ann Sprague-Denison
Founder and Executive Director
Mary Ann feels right at home at the helm of Active Discovery as her coaching career of over thirty years has been dedicated to promoting strong lives on and off the court, and strong efforts in the classroom as well. Coaching NCAA college volleyball, developing youth sport programs and running fitness classes for seniors have kept Mary Ann busy, but through it all, her greatest passion is found in building community and culture through sport (play!). Mary Ann’s college teams regularly earned AVCA’s highest national academic award and won the conference Sportsmanship Award nine times. Her players have graduated and gone into the world as business leaders, professional athletes and loyal family members. Mary Ann received her MBA from University of Missouri and is a USAV CAP Certified Coach and ACE Group Fitness Instructor.
Relocating to California was an easy decision for Mary Ann, as it brought her closer to her daughters and has been the perfect location to begin her non-profit work. Mary Ann believes that everyone is more prepared to prosper with regular activity in their lives. She shares that “every product we give has activity included, because research shows students who are physically active (even for just 10 minutes a day) tend to have better grades, school attendance, memory, and on-task behavior”. Our products lead kids and families in the right direction with toys, equipment, games, videos and snack-sized workouts, all of which foster a higher and more regular level of activity. Mary Ann shares, “I feel confident that every child or adult that has incorporated regular activity in their lives is happier for doing so.
Meet the Team
Liz Bayardelle - Web, Graphic Design, and consultant
Dr. Liz Bayardelle lives in Aliso Viejo, California with a cumulative 200 pounds of furbaby, three human kids, and her (incredibly patient) husband.
Liz has a BA in psychology, a MA in criminology, and a PhD in business psychology. At night and during naptimes, she works as an author, speaker, and digital consultant.
Liz serves as Active Discovery's resident internet nerd and is responsible for website development, graphic design, and any other tasks that require the wrangling of electrons.
Kerstyn Pocklington - Social Media
Kerstyn is currently a fitness instructor teaching Pilates and spin classes at local studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She also has her Master's degree in Educational Counseling and spent her years in Newport Beach California as a high school counselor. She also has a business that helps high school students transition to the next step after high school - whether that's college, trade school and beyond.
Kerstyn spent two seasons as an assistant volleyball coach under Mary Ann, competed in triathlons, and runs social media accounts for local studios in Grand Rapids Michigan. Kerstyn’s personal mission aligns with that of Active Discovery. She's excited to witness the wonderful ideas behind Active Discovery come to life and into the hands of as many children and families as possible through the power of social media.
Kerstyn is excited to work with Active Discovery and help build strong communities through social media and other channels. Kerstyn has 4 active children who give her plenty of ideas for ways to implement Active Discovery kits and Snack-Sized workouts into their daily lives! As somebody who has cherished activity and movement for her lifetime, Kerstyn's work with Active Discovery is a perfect blend of her passion for education, children, adventure and movement.
Jamie Williams Sloan - Board member & Expansion Champion
Jamie is a midwestern gal who currently lives in IL with her family. Her life work has been in human development through a Montessori lens. Working with students (and adults) of all ages and backgrounds, and perhaps most notably as a mother to two, now 17-year-old daughters, Jamie has gained a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and the gift of opportunity. Her daughters, one of whom was born in China, have both attended Montessori school, been home-schooled, attended an International IB school in China, and attended public and private high school in the US. Jamie’s involvement along the way has taught her that human development is a journey unique to every individual, and one key is passion.
Active Discovery has found a way to open the door to passionate engagement for kids who may not have the same opportunities afforded to others. It is her privilege to champion the mission of Active Discovery.
Jeff Pocklington - Expansion Champion, Michigan
Jeff lives in Grand Rapids, MI with his family. He’s worked for the last 10 years in Marketing Research and
Strategy roles at the Amway Corporation. Jeff's kids regret his decision to leave his sales career at The Hershey Company before they were born. "You mean you got free candy whenever you wanted" his eldest daughter once exclaimed! Jeff has also enjoyed positions over the years as a substitute teacher, summer camp counselor, tennis coach and now AYSO soccer coach volunteer. Jeff is passionate about youth development; whether on the field, court, lake, or in the classroom. He holds a B.A. in Marketing from Western Michigan University and a Masters in Marketing Research from Michigan State University. His hobbies include playing pickleball and introducing his kids to new activities such as hip hop, rock climbing, water-skiing, pickleball, soccer, art and music. He realizes his aspirations of becoming a professional tennis player are behind him, but has considered dedicating himself to becoming a national pickleball coach and 5.0+ level player.
Amanda Weitman - Board member
Ms. Weitman is a wealth advisor located in the Corte Madera Wells Fargo Private Bank office. She is responsible for working with high-net-worth clients to effectively manage their wealth, first by identifying each client’s unique goals then coordinating a team of specialists to implement custom, comprehensive wealth plans to help accomplish those goals.
Ms. Weitman began her career with and has been with the firm since July, 1983.
Ms. Weitman earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Economics from Principia College. She received her MBA from Golden Gate University and she earned the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation from American College.
Ms. Weitman received a Masters in Philanthropy from the Lily Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University in 2020.
Ms. Weitman is a native of Marin County. She serves on several local non-profit boards.
Gina Lindquist - Board Member
Executive Director, Adventure Unlimited, 2010-present
Gina Lindquist-Bailey has over twenty-five years of experience in nonprofit management. Currently, she is the Executive Director of Adventure Unlimited, a national youth-focused organization that offers camp experiences, outdoor education, leadership training and community building for both Christian Scientists and secular groups. Her current focus is on creating collaboration among groups with different needs and growing to encompass more diverse constituencies. In all of her roles she has worked closely with young people, empowering them to become servant leaders. Gina holds a B.A. in Environmental Communications from Drake University. She resides in Denver, CO, serves on several non-profit boards, and enjoys skiing, hiking, cycling, golf and just being in the great outdoors.
Mindy McGrath - Board member
Mindy played college volleyball for Mary Ann, and then became her assistant coach for several years before taking over her own programs. Mindy has been teaching Physical Education and coaching for the past 20 years at independent schools in the northwest.
Through teaching she hopes to encourage confidence in students through physical activity and create a space where all individuals feel supported to explore their own abilities regarding health and wellness.
From Mindy, “I have two amazing teenagers that have been my best teammates. They have put up with my crazy coaching schedules and have become extended family to whatever community I am a part of.
My daughter Gracia was born with Hydrocephalus. While this is not the only part of our story it is certainly a big piece of it. She had brain surgery when she was 6 months old and had a VP shunt placed. For the past 13 years of her life, she has battled many challenges and continues to face adversity with a smile. My son and I have been along for the ride and have learned a great deal more about patience, kindness, empathy, and resilience.”
Mary Ann has this to say about Mindy, “Mindy is a true character educator. She has a way of immediately getting through to kids (and adults) with her creative ability to pivot and find a better way. Mindy traveled to British Columbia with me to be a part of the camp team to lead a camp for Ukrainian refugee children, and Mindy became passionate about Active Discovery’s mission and was brimming with ideas. She has always been a consultant for me, and I’m grateful to have her on the Board now!"
Donna Gibbs - Board member
Donna knew from her early days of employment that she wanted to focus her career on mission driven work. For over 30 years she has worked for non profits supporting youth. After a career serving as Alumni Director and supporting development efforts at The Principia, Donna was recruited by Tenacre Foundation as a Program Officer. In this role, Donna had the opportunity to work with Nationally respected educators and non profits working to bring equity to under resourced communities. Her work mainly focused on supporting education non profits, Title 1 district schools and higher education in prisons. When asked what was most gratifying in her work for the Foundation, Donna speaks of the incredible hard working and passionate educators and entrepreneurs she has met and worked with, who are making a difference in the lives of children and families and helping to solve the inequities of our world.
Donna and her husband Doug plan to move to Denver Colorado this winter to be close to family and to enjoy the mountain community they love.
Mary Andrew - Expansion Champion, Florida
Profile: Mary F. Andrew
Commissioner & Board Chair: Florida Region of USA Volleyball
President: Action Gym for Kidz, LLC.
Board Chair: Youth Resources USA, Inc. (a non-profit organization)
Coach Andrew served for 30 years as the Director of the Jacksonville Junior Volleyball Association, a non-profit sport association, where she led the growth of the JJVA program from three volleyball teams with four coaches in 1989 to 65 teams and 80 coaches in 2019. This growth in size and quality programming was significant in 2008 when JJVA moved into its own 20,000 square foot facility and gained several outstanding staff directors and coaches. In 2016 JJVA was proud to design, construct and move to a 76,000 sf, 12 court facility with concessions, a fitness center, offices, reception, and pro shop.
Coach Andrew has forty-two years of work experience in the fields of education, coaching, athletic administration, commercial recreation, and professional sports. She has served on the Florida Region of USA Volleyball Board of Directors for more than 20 years and currently serves as the Commissioner and Board Chair of the Florida Region of USA Volleyball. In her collegiate career as the Head Coach at Florida State College at Jacksonville she served as the volleyball chairperson for the Mid-Florida Conference and as State Volleyball Chairperson for Florida Association of State Colleges.
Coach Andrew has been an invited speaker at the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Convention and the Florida High School Coaches State Convention. In 2002 and 2010 she was selected as the AVCA Northeast/Southeast USA Region Coach of the Year. In 2004, she was selected to the “Florida Region USA Volleyball Hall of Fame” and in 2006 she was inducted into the Florida State Colleges Activities Association “Hall of Fame”. In November of 2015, Coach Andrew was elected to the NJCAA Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame.
Coach Andrew served as the Head Coach of the Florida State College Women’s team for 23 years where she earned a 587-264 win-loss record and won 16 Conference Championships and Conference Coach of the Year Awards. During her career as a high school coach, Coach Andrew coached teams to four Final Four State Championships.
Other awards received by Coach Andrew include the Florida Region Ambassador of Volleyball Award (2009), the Outstanding Service Award (2002) and the Best Tournament Director (2014). In 2002, she was celebrated by the Governor of Florida for her coaching and leadership accomplishments and taking her team to the NJCAA National Championships.
Coach Andrew feels her greatest rewards are when the people she works with achieve their dreams and find happiness through the benefits offered by sports and educational programs.