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Welcome to the 2025 Outdoor Learning Conference
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Friday, May 9
 

6:00am MDT

60 min Gentle Movement & Mindfulness Session
Friday May 9, 2025 6:00am - 7:00am MDT
201
Connect body, mind and spirit in this gentle all levels yoga and meditation class.  We encourage you to bring your own mat or towel if you can.

Speakers
avatar for Sylvia Ann Fox

Sylvia Ann Fox

Elder in Residence
Sylvia Ann Fox, Ii’sts’pan’sts’aa’kee (Singing Alone from Above) has been the Traditional Wellness Coordinator at the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge for the past 8 years. She is the mother of three beautiful children and four grandchildren.Sylvia Ann studied Arts... Read More →
avatar for Heidi Davis

Heidi Davis

First Thunder Wellness
Heidi Davis - Iiniipoiakii, Buffalo Talking Woman, is a Recreation Therapist and Yoga Facilitator from Lethbridge (Sikookitoki), Alberta. She is passionate about offering inclusive, inspiring yoga, movement and art based programs that include story, connection, and options for all... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 6:00am - 7:00am MDT
201

6:00am MDT

Sacred Buffalo (Tunnel) Mountain Hike *Unguided*
Friday May 9, 2025 6:00am - 8:00am MDT
Meet at the lower parking trailhead (easy walk or drive from the Banff centre) for 6am departure. The hike is quite steep but is a smooth and well maintained trail with great views. This is an unguided hike where you accept all responsibility for your own safety. There will be at least one person on the hike who know the area however. You may be comfortable in sneakers with good tread but hiking boots are recommended for ankle support. More information on the trail can be found here.

Last year this was a conference favourite connection and community building space.
Friday May 9, 2025 6:00am - 8:00am MDT
Tunnel Mountain Trailhead (Lower Parking Area) https://maps.app.goo.gl/hj3xn6gvHkQwPr8u5

7:30am MDT

Breakfast at Vistas (included)
Friday May 9, 2025 7:30am - 8:45am MDT
Buffet breakfast.

Break is officially open until 9 but our Keynote will begin promptly at 9am.
Friday May 9, 2025 7:30am - 8:45am MDT
Vistas Dining Room

8:45am MDT

Morning Gratitude
Friday May 9, 2025 8:45am - 9:00am MDT
Join to begin our day together in the right way. 

Speakers
avatar for Sylvia Ann Fox

Sylvia Ann Fox

Elder in Residence
Sylvia Ann Fox, Ii’sts’pan’sts’aa’kee (Singing Alone from Above) has been the Traditional Wellness Coordinator at the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge for the past 8 years. She is the mother of three beautiful children and four grandchildren.Sylvia Ann studied Arts... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 8:45am - 9:00am MDT
Kinnear Centre

9:00am MDT

Climate and Environment Keynote Speaker
Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Ellen Field

Dr. Ellen Field

Assistant Professor, Lakehead University
Ellen is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University. Her research interests are in policy and practice of climate change education in the Canadian formal education system. She teaches Environmental Education (B.Ed) and Climate Change Education (M.Ed... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Kinnear Centre

10:00am MDT

Coffee Break (Included)
Friday May 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:15am MDT
Bring your own snacks!
Friday May 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:15am MDT
Kinnear Centre

10:15am MDT

Break/ Reflection Time
Friday May 9, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MDT
Friday May 9, 2025 10:15am - 11:00am MDT
Kinnear Centre

10:59am MDT

*Education Session B*
Friday May 9, 2025 10:59am - 12:15pm MDT
Friday May 9, 2025 10:59am - 12:15pm MDT
Kinnear Centre

11:00am MDT

Assessment of/as/for Learning, Environmental and Sustainability Education, and High School Learners
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Join us for a hands-on and discussion-based workshop where we’ll explore, share, and co-create tools for assessing learning in Environmental and Sustainability Education (ESE). Youth are becoming more engaged in environmental justice and issues in their communities. Yet, challenges persist for educators to provide authentic, interdisciplinary ESE experiences. We will share and explore strategies to deepen ESE teaching and assessment that follows learners’ interests, highlights critical ESE issues but remains consistent with curricular learning goals. With a focus on place-based education (PBE), inquiry, and outdoor learning, participants will deepen their approach to teaching and assessment in ways that foster meaningful connections between students, their communities, and the natural world. This workshop is designed for formal and informal educators seeking innovative ways to facilitate ESE learning for high school students and assess its depth and impact beyond the classroom.
Speakers
JB

Janna Barkman

Seven Oaks School Division
Janna is a teacher advisor at Maples Met, a project-based learning secondary school in Winnipeg. Her teaching centers ecojustice and place-based pedagogies, designing learning experiences that build students’ connections to self, community, and the natural world. She completed her... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Beaver

11:00am MDT

Compost and Climate: The Environmental and Emotional Benefits of Community Engaged Composting LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

"In this hands-on workshop, we will engage in various compost-related activities and lessons to explore how the environmental benefits of composting. Additionally, we will embrace composting as a ritual to help our communities emotionally process the anxieties of climate change. Together, we will learn how to build compost, the science behind composting and climate impact, and ways to facilitate composting as a healing practice amidst climate crisis. We will lead participants through a series of composting activities centered on four key themes:
Compost as habitat: building home
Compost as nutrient cycling: creating closed loop systems
Compost as death and rebirth: processing grief, cultivating emergence
Compost as gift: reciprocity and interconnection
Workshop participants will deepen their technical skills on how to manage composting systems and broaden their understanding of the efficacy of compost as a learning tool to assuage climate doom-ism and foster climate hope."
Speakers
TW

Tamika Whitenack

Garden Educator, The Edible Schoolyard Project
Tamika Whitenack is a lifelong student of the outdoor world! As an educator with The Edible Schoolyard Project in Berkeley, she designs and facilitates experiences that promote students' connection to each other and our ecosystems. Tamika believes that gardens and food offer exciting... Read More →
avatar for Sophia Maria Fox

Sophia Maria Fox

Garden & Cooking Educator, The Edible Schoolyard Project
Sophia Fox loves teaching out of doors with her favorite co-worker, Mama Earth! She holds a MEd and has been working in education for 20 years, teaching and learning in diverse settings including wilderness camps, horticultural therapy, ranch programming, and currently at The Edible... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Deer

11:00am MDT

Forest Play: Curiosity Inspired Learning FULL
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Owl
Rediscover your childlike passion for the world and join us for a fun day of exploring nature and building connections! Grounded in the rhythms of the natural world, Forest Play is a successful outdoor program that has been running in Canmore since 2011. In this experiential session, Dave will share some of the core elements of the program that help children connect to nature, self, and others. In this workshop, you will:
• rediscover a child-like passion for the natural world
• experience what it is like to participate in a program based on the Coyote mentoring model
• be introduced to the natural learning cycle and essential routines that ground and reconnect us with the natural world
• experience how stories can be used to create powerful learning experiences
Speakers
DV

David Verhulst

Forest Play
Dave believes the natural world is one of our most powerful teachers and mentors. Through sharing stories and experiences in the landscape, he helps children and adults develop a strong connection with themselves and nature. In 2011, he co-founded Forest Play in Canmore based on Forest... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Owl

11:00am MDT

Nature Journaling: A Tool for Conservation and Connection LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Come explore the world of nature journaling outdoors! Nature journaling can act as a catalyst for observation, evoking curiosity and a sense of wonder in students of all ages. Nature journaling is interdisciplinary by nature and can be easily incorporated into regular classroom routines. Join Sonya and David as they share their own experiences of nature journaling, and the role it has played in both their personal and professional development. Participants will gain insights into the art of nature journaling, play with
watercolours, and practice five different exercises they can take into their community or into their classroom.

No previous art experience necessary.
Speakers
avatar for Sonya Rokosh

Sonya Rokosh

Environmental Educator & Teacher, School District 73 (Kamloops-Thompson), British Columbia Conservation Foundation (BCCF)
Sonya Rokosh splits her time working at a local horticultural therapy farm in Kamloops, substitute teaching, and engaging with both youth and educators in the grasslands. She has over 19 years of experience in the world of outdoor education & leadership. She sits on the board of directors... Read More →
DN

David Norwell

David Norwell is an author, illustrator, and philosopher dedicated to his community. He is the author of the bestselling illustrated travelogue - A Complex Coast: A Kayak Journey From Vancouver Island to Alaska. "A Complex Coast" was a finalist for the 2024 BC and Yukon Book Prizes... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Porcupine

11:00am MDT

Semer des graines: Le jardin scolaire pour entrer en relation avec le territoire /Planting seeds: school gardening as a way of connecting with the land LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
"Lorsque l’on travaille dans le jardin scolaire avec les élèves, les apprentissages vont bien au- delà des concepts à l’étude dans les programmes de sciences. Le jardinage scolaire nous permet de tisser des liens avec le territoire mais aussi avec notre communauté. Cet atelier présentera des pratiques gagnantes pour jardiner avec les élèves et abordera des notions liées à l’acquisition de la langue, au développement durable et à l’ouverture à la communauté.

By gardening with our students, whether this happens inside or outside, we create a more natural and experiential way to co-create knowledge where learning goes beyond the science curriculum. School gardening allows us to develop our relationship with the land and with our community. In this workshop, we will explore accessible ways to garden with our students and we will explore concepts linked to language acquisition, sustainable development and relationship with community."
Speakers
JM

Julie McLean

École élémentaire et secondaire publique Rivière Rideau, Child and Nature Alliance of Canada
Julie is a teacher who is passionate about outdoor education in all its forms. She currently teaches outdoor sciences and is the coordinator of a forest and nature school program in a Franco-Ontarian school where she coaches and mentors other educators in implementing this type of... Read More →
CL

CYNTHIA LAPIERRE

Conseil de la Nation Huronne-Wendat
"Cynthia Lapierre yiatsih. Franco-Ontarienne chia' Wendat endi'. Yänionnyen' iwayitiohkou'tenh. My name is Cynthia Lapierre. I am Franco-Ontarienne and Wendat. I am Bear Clan. I have called many Lands home. I was born and raised on the traditional lands of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Turtle

11:00am MDT

Teaching Climate Science and Salmon Education in the Outdoors LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
In this interactive workshop, participants can expect to learn about the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), and how they partner with the local Tribes, other non-profit community-based organizations, and their Educational Service District to facilitate professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers. This workshop will showcase hands-on examples of outdoor STEM activities that focus on sustainable fishing of salmon in the marine environment while also incorporating Tribal fisheries, climate science, and human action. In this workshop, participants can expect to learn how partners have implemented a unique and progressive statewide climate initiative to provide culturally appropriate climate education and resources for K-12 educators. Additionally, participants will learn how collaborative models for professional development can lead to successful funding proposals, increased outreach, and more broadly reaching teachers and their students.
Speakers
avatar for Nathan Zabel

Nathan Zabel

Education Manager, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association
Nathan manages the development, coordination, and implementation of NSEA’s Students for Salmon and Camp Keystone education programs, providing outreach and recruitment, communication with teachers and families, as well as program supervision and oversight. He also supports teacher... Read More →
avatar for Grace Maxa

Grace Maxa

Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association
Grace coordinates the implementation of NSEA's Students for Salmon and Camp Keystone education programs. She spearheads the direct facilitation of both programs, connecting preschool and elementary aged youth to salmon and watershed education. She also supports NSEA's teacher training... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Butterfly

11:00am MDT

Teaching Math Outdoors for K-5 Educators FULL
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Explore new ideas and my tried-and-true favourites for teaching math outdoors in this engaging workshop! Learn how to make the most of the features of a variety of outdoor spaces to create engaging, hands-on math lessons. Using natural materials, math tools, and inexpensive DIY resources, we'll engage in activities that teach key concepts like number sense, place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, and more. This session is designed for educators working with K-5th grade students and will provide practical strategies you can use immediately!
Speakers
avatar for Rachel Tidd

Rachel Tidd

Executive Director, Wild Learning
Rachel Tidd is passionate about using outdoor and place-based learning to enhance literacy and math instruction. She is the author of the book Wild Learning: Practical Ideas for Bringing Teaching Outdoors and the Wild Math® and Wild Reading® Curricula series. Rachel is a former... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Raven

11:00am MDT

Building communities of care LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
This workshop focuses on teambuilding through hands on learning activities. It uses relational approaches to help create space for individuals to work together and engage in activities that supports students’ sense of belonging and well-being. These activities are most beneficial when implemented outdoors. They can be adapted for a wide range of ages. The activities encourage communication, reflection, expression and collaboration. They will show students the importance of working together and supporting one another which is essential in educational settings and contributes to students’ well-being. When students feel included and have strong connections and relationships with their peers they are more likely to be successful in other areas of learning.
Speakers
avatar for Laurel Donison

Laurel Donison

PhD Student, Kings Western University, Brock University and Peel District School Board
"Laurel Donison is an Early Childhood Educator, an Outdoor Educator with the Peel District School Board and a PhD student in the Child and Youth Studies Department at Brock University in Ontario. Laurel works as an Outdoor Educator in a forest on the traditional territories of the... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Cougar

11:00am MDT

Building resilience through the cycle of the year LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
"Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle." Ogalala Sioux holy man Black Elk

As we cycle through the year, we see the children we work with coming full circle and yet leaping ahead in terms of development, group cohesion and connection to the land. This workshop will focus on the resiliency that develops in children through learning outdoors for a full cycle of the year and discuss how educators can create space for connection to the land, building community, and fostering independence with intention, and also by trusting the process.
Speakers
avatar for Alix Wilson

Alix Wilson

ECCE Instructor, North Island College
My journey as an educator started in 2011 when I opened a nature-based in-home licensed family childcare centre. In 2015 I became a founding member of Hand-In-Hand Nature Education, starting as an educator in the Early Years program. Over the course of 9 years, I expanded our program... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Bear

11:00am MDT

Diverse Voices, Open Spaces: Storybook Adventures with Loose Parts LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
This workshop invites participants to explore the power of storytelling in outdoor spaces, with a special focus on incorporating loose parts to deepen engagement and creativity. Grounded by the work done by Nadia Kenisha Bynoe and Angelique Thompson, we'll learn how to share stories that celebrate diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences. Using stories as a starting point, participants will foster a deeper connection to nature and one another.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
-Understand the significance of using storybooks in outdoor spaces.
-Identify and challenge dominant narratives in outdoor recreation and environmentalism.
-Utilize loose parts to enhance creativity and engagement in storytelling.
-Develop a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of nature, culture, and identity.
Speakers
avatar for Isabella Liu

Isabella Liu

Science Teacher & Department Coordinator, Branksome Hall
Isabella Liu Branksome Hall Innovation & Technology Coordinator Isabella Liu is the Innovation & Technology Coordinator at Branksome Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In this role, she supports K-6 digital learning & citizenship. A recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Moose

11:00am MDT

Empowering Schools: A Comprehensive School Health Approach to Climate Change LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
203
Climate change poses a severe threat to the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. Research indicates that extreme weather events and the stress linked to climate change can negatively impact young people's mental health, academic performance, and levels of physical activity. Schools can play a crucial role in tackling these issues. One model to utilize is the Comprehensive School Health (CSH) model, which is built on four essential pillars: teaching and learning, social and physical environment, healthy school policy, and partnerships and services. In this workshop, participants will brainstorm innovative programs, policies, and practices aimed at addressing climate change within each pillar of the CSH model. Using a CSH model can help alleviate climate anxiety and empower students with the skills needed to face environmental challenges.
Speakers
BB

Brenton Button

Assistant Professor, University of Winnipeg
Brenton Button is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Winnipeg, Canada. He is also a qualified K-12 teacher. His research interests include factors influencing children’s health during the school day, outdoor education, and rural health. Brenton... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
203

11:00am MDT

Getting grounded with nature journaling LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Join us for a hands-on Creative Nature Journaling Workshop designed to spark curiosity, foster reflection, and enhance mindfulness. In this session, you will explore journaling routines inspired by Project Zero and John Muir Laws, combining observation, sketching, reflective writing, and watercolour painting. No prior art experience is needed—just a willingness to connect with nature and reflect creatively. This workshop will provide fresh ways to explore the natural world and inspire self-expression.

Through interactive stations, you’ll practice thinking routines and art techniques that help ignite curiosity and engage deeper thinking. You’ll leave with practical tools to enhance your own journaling, and ideas to inspire your learners to foster creativity. Also, you will gain valuable strategies to help learners better understand and interpret the world around them. Don’t miss this opportunity to nurture your creativity, well-being, and connection to nature!
Speakers
avatar for Alison Katzko

Alison Katzko

Katzko, Calgary Board of Education, and GEOEC (Global, Environmental, Outdoor Education Council of Alberta).
"Educator, artist and outdoor enthusiast, Alison Katzko currently teaches elementary students in Calgary, Canada. Alison is a watercolour artist and has done public art projects with the City of Calgary. She is also on the Executive Board of the Global, Environmental and Outdoor Education... Read More →
CE

Carissa Esau

GEOEC/CBE
"Carissa Esau is a math, science, music and outdoor education teacher at a junior high school in Calgary, AB. She has been involved in a number of outdoor education programs including overnight programming, outdoor journaling and painting, climbing, rappelling and canoeing. In the... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Wolf

11:00am MDT

Our Stories, Our Land: Connecting Personal Narratives to the Land LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
This interactive workshop delves into the profound link between our personal narratives and our connection to the land, offering insights from two individuals with unique perspectives on land and identity. Through storytelling and shared experiences, participants will explore how connecting our stories to land can foster land stewardship, respect for diversity, and a deeper sense of belonging. The workshop will emphasize how these connections can enrich student engagement with curricula, enhance well-being, and support environmental education. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for integrating personal and community stories into learning, creating meaningful connections to the land that strengthen both educational outcomes and environmental consciousness.
Speakers
AF

Allyson Fedak

Winnipeg School Division
Allyson (Ally) is an educator with 15+ years of experience in community organizations and education, focused on creating anti-oppressive spaces for young people, families, and community groups, particularly through decolonizing education. She is currently the Anti-Racism and Climate... Read More →
MR

Mohammed Razi

Winnipeg School Division
Mohammad was born in northwest Iran to a family of five in a region called Balouve, meaning "land above water." At twenty, he fled to Turkey, becoming a refugee for two years before arriving in Canada as a landed immigrant in October 1988. Mohammad enrolled in English classes at Isaac... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Squirrel

11:00am MDT

Taming the Anxious Brain with Nature in Mind FULL
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
This workshop delves into nature-informed therapy (NIT), an innovative approach that harnesses the healing power of nature to address anxiety and stress-related challenges. Participants will explore the neuroscience behind anxiety, gaining insights into its manifestations and the profound mental health benefits of connecting with the natural world. Through experiential exercises, attendees will learn practical nature-based strategies to enhance emotional regulation and resilience. The workshop will also focus on integrating NIT into existing mental health practices, discussing potential barriers and facilitators for successful implementation. By blending evidence-based techniques with the restorative qualities of nature, participants will leave equipped with valuable tools to promote mental well-being for themselves and those they support. Join us to discover how to cultivate a calmer, more balanced state of mind through the transformative power of nature.
Speakers
avatar for Heidi Schreiber-Pan

Heidi Schreiber-Pan

Founder and Director, Center for Nature Informed Therapy
Dr. Heidi Schreiber-Pan is the founder and executive director of the Center for Nature-Informed Therapy. Dr. Schreiber-Pan, a licensed professional counselor with a PhD in counseling psychology, is internationally recognized for her expertise in nature-based mental health, resilience... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Toad

11:00am MDT

askîhk kiskinohamâtowin Métis Land-Based Learning LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
201
Askîhk Kiskinohamâtowin - Weaving Métis Ways of Knowing into Land-Based Learning: Land Based Learning is central to Métis ways of knowing and being. When we create relationships to the land, we have a responsibility to live in reciprocity by protecting and caring for the land and all that lives on it. Seeing the land as a relation is an important Métis worldview. Join Rupertsland Centre for Teaching and Learning in exploring what Land-Based Learning could look like in schools, what it is and resources to support this learning.
Speakers
HB

Holly Brandsma

Rupertsland Institute
Holly Brandsma, is a proud Métis woman, Educator, mother and wife connected to the historical Métis community of mânitow sâkahikanihk - Lac Ste Anne and resides in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan - Edmonton. Holly has facilitated learning in various capacities such as consulting, as a... Read More →
CD

Cheryl Devin

Rupertsland Institute
Cheryl is a proud Métis woman- otipemisiwak esquao- mother, and educator. She has over 30 years of teaching experience with Northern Lights School Division, Edmonton Public Schools and Elk Island Public Schools and the Alberta Teachers’ Association. She has recently retired from... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
201

11:00am MDT

Indinawemaaganidog: Roots of Connection Honouring all our Relations LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
"“For Nishnaabeg people, belonging is not just a feeling, but a practice...” (Leanne Betasamosake Simpson)
This workshop invites participants to connect more profoundly with the natural world by exploring one of the 13 Moons through Anishinaabe teachings, focusing on the ""Budding Moon."" This unique experience combines learning, sensory engagement, storytelling, and modeling methods that participants can share with their own learners.

Using the metaphor of a tree’s growth, we’ll journey through the rings and buds, symbolizing the continuous cycle of learning, growth, and renewal. Each element of the tree offers a powerful reminder of our connection to nature: the roots that ground us, the trunk that supports us, the branches that reach outward, and the buds that inspire new growth."
Speakers
avatar for Elder Melissa Roberts

Elder Melissa Roberts

Indigenous Advisor, Community Elder in Thunder Bay Ontario
Melissa Roberts is an Elder, knowledge keeper, cultural advisor, powwow dancer, grandmother, and retired educator, living her life according to the Seven Sacred Teachings. With over 31 years of experience at Lakehead Public Schools, she has dedicated herself to promoting understanding... Read More →
JS

Jasmine Sgambelluri

"Jasmine Sgambelluri from Thunder Bay, Ontario is a proud member of Pikwakanagan First Nation, and an educator with 15 years of experience. She is a passionate advocate for relationship-based learning and believes in the power of building connections to foster growth and understanding... Read More →
KB

Kali Bernst

Principal of Indigenous Education and Program, Lakehead Public Schools
Kali Bernst, Principal of Indigenous Education at Lakehead Public Schools, brings 20 years of experience to her role. Born and raised in Thunder Bay, and a proud member of Dokis First Nation, Kali has a deep commitment to fostering student growth and curiosity. Her teaching philosophy... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Chickdee

11:00am MDT

Integration of OneHealth, Two-Eyed seeing, and Ethical space in Environmental Education LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Educators become students in this innovative session that will strengthen your ability to meaningfully and respectfully engage with communities that are not your own, including local Indigenous Nations, organizations, and collectives.  Using the TACARE (“Take Care”) approach for community-centered conservation initiatives, educators will embark on a Roots & Shoots journey to engage in community mapping, learning along the way how to meaningfully integrate Indigenous knowledge systems in their work. Attendees will learn how to address the intersection of biodiversity loss, climate change, and environmental inequity through the lens of OneHealth, two-eyed seeing, and ethical space with their students.
Speakers
avatar for Alison Cuffley

Alison Cuffley

Senior Manager, Canada Programs, the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada
Alison has been with the Jane Goodall Institute since 2022, after a decade of working with SPCAs and Humane Societies across the country to improve and develop their decolonization and equity policies, especially as they relate to OneHealth and respectful relationships with Indigenous... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Kingfisher

11:00am MDT

Relating to Place by Mapping with our Bodies: Indigenous Wayfinding and Decolonial Remapping FILLING
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Wayfinding means knowing where we are, where we want to go, and identifying the best route to get there. The workshop presenters will share their experiences delivering land-based programming on an urban campus to show how wayfinding has helped students develop their sense of place and belonging in the city. This mapping workshop offers an alternative way of understanding our relationship to place and provides a means of restorying urban and other places as Indigenous land. Participants will be invited to see the land through an Indigenous lens and learn about inherently place-based Indigenous knowledge systems. Participants will map place with their bodies, explore Indigenous and decolonial approaches to mapping, and learn to notice and relate to often overlooked natural and built landforms and landmarks. This 75-minute mapping activity and interactive discussion will involve critical reflections about place, wayfinding, and Indigenous kinscapes – the constellations of relationships between people, land, and place."
Speakers
NF

Nicki Ferland

University of Manitoba
Nicki Ferland (she/they) is a two-spirit Métis mother, wife, aunty and helper. Her parents are both descended from scrip-bearing Métis families with ancestral roots in St. Vital and St-Boniface (Winnipeg), and Lorette, Manitoba. Nicki has a Master of Education in Indigenous Land-Based... Read More →
MY

Meghan Young

University of Manitoba
Meghan Young (she/her) is a Red River Métis woman from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is Métis through her maternal side with ancestral connections to St. Norbert, St. Vital and St. Boniface, Manitoba. Meghan has an undergraduate degree in Indigenous studies and is currently a graduate... Read More →
AW

Ashley Wolfe

My name is Ashley Wolfe, and my traditional name is White Thunderbird Woman. My maternal line comes from Peguis First Nation (modern day Selkirk and St. Peter’s, Manitoba) and I currently reside near Beausejour, in the RM of Brokenhead, and I am Wolf Clan. I am a Land-Based Educator... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Great Blue Heron

11:00am MDT

Relationship with Land, Truth and Reconciliation LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Going outside is an act of reconciliation and ignites a passion to advocate for Mother Earth. Join us for an experience that will deepen our relationships with land, truth, stories and reconciliation. Adrian Alphonso and Lise Brown have developed a model for outdoor educators call "The Seven Relationships of an Ethical Forest and Nature School in Kanata" that has guided their work in Treaty 1 and has also been adopted by the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada to guide their Forest and Nature School Practitioners Course. After spending time on the land in a recent workshop, a learner said "[This was] not only practical but profound personal and professional development. It was so much more than just learning about Forest School, it was about reconciliation" (Learner in wînipêk, 2024). This workshop will be outdoors, experiential, fun and meaningful. It will hold space for you as a learner, no matter where you are in your relationship with land, truth and reconciliation.
Speakers
avatar for Lise Brown

Lise Brown

Momenta Inc.
Lise Brown (she/her), Facilitator and Co-Founder of Momenta Inc. (2006). Lise began her career at camps in Manitoba as an outdoor educator and guide. Lise completed a Bachelor of Recreation in 2001, a Master of Social Work in 2007 at the University of Manitoba, and the Forest School... Read More →
AA

Adrian Alphonso

Momenta Inc.
Adrian Alphonso is from Anishinaabe and Guyanese parents and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. Adrian is passionate about Indigenous perspectives in tourism and storytelling. He is a bicycle knowledge holder, Truth & Reconciliation Facilitator and Experiential Educator. Adrian... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Racoon

11:00am MDT

Turtle Island Time LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

This interactive workshop is designed to immerse participants in the Okanagan Syilx teachings of the 13-moon calendar and provide insight into Indigenous perspectives on time in contrast to the colonial calendar. The session will stimulate thoughtful discussion, encourage hands-on exploration, and promote deep connection to the land.

Speakers
avatar for Michael Ross

Michael Ross

Educator / ADHD Advocate / Film Maker, Central Okanagan Public Schools
As a settler born and raised in the Okanagan Syilx territory, Michael has been teaching outdoor and sustainability education in since 1998.From 2007-2017, he administered taking 120 grade 12 students to the Rockies for a week long expedition of self discovery.In 2018, he co-founded... Read More →
CM

Coralee Miller

Coralee Miller is a member of Westbank First Nation and works as a Docent at the Sncewips Heritage Museum. Her main duties include booking and leading tours, both in the museum and out in the community core. Coralee’s favorite part of her job is storytelling and engaging the community... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT
Snail

12:15pm MDT

Lunch (Included) LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 12:15pm - 1:30pm MDT
Please note Vistas lunch service starts at 11.30am and finishes at 1.30pm.

Large selection of GF, DF, vegetarian and vegan option buffet.

Please stagger your lunch start times based on your workshop theme choice for Education Session B

12:30pm - Indigenous Learning workshop participants
12:45pm - Health and Wellbeing workshop participants
1:00pm - Climate and Environment workshop participants

*Please always let elders skip the queue*
Friday May 9, 2025 12:15pm - 1:30pm MDT
Vistas Dining Room

1:30pm MDT

Break/ Reflection Time
Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:00pm MDT
Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:00pm MDT
Kinnear Centre

1:59pm MDT

*Education Session C*
Friday May 9, 2025 1:59pm - 3:15pm MDT
Friday May 9, 2025 1:59pm - 3:15pm MDT
Kinnear Centre

2:00pm MDT

Branching Out: Exploring Forestry Education
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
PLT’s new Explore Your Environment: K-8 Activity Guide includes 50 hands-on, multidisciplinary activities to connect children to nature and increase young people’s awareness and knowledge about their environment. Activities integrate teaching about the environment into a multitude of subjects using hands-on classroom studies and outdoor field investigations. The guide is user-friendly, and works in classrooms and nonformal settings, in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Activities are organized by grade level (K-2, 3-5, and 6-8) and align with national standards for science, English language arts, math, and social studies. Many activities offer variations for a different grade level or focus. While lessons can be conducted both indoors and outdoors, all suggest meaningful ways to take student learning outside.
Speakers
JF

Jenna Forslund

Project Learning Tree Canada
"Jenna Forslund, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a dedicated educator with 14 years of public school experience, currently teaching high school science. She holds a Master’s in Education for Sustainable Development from the University of Manitoba and serves as a sessional instructor... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
201 (Indoor Space)

2:00pm MDT

Building Climate Literacy – Supporting the Climate Education Framework Through Environmental Storytelling. LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Join us for an exciting, hands-on workshop where we'll uncover the magic of Environmental Storytelling and Climate Education in New Brunswick. Together, we'll journey through the fascinating story behind the new NB Holistic Curriculum, connecting its tenets to our own personal narratives.

Get ready to dive into the Climate Education Framework with teacher supports that will empower you to create captivating environmental stories tailored to your classroom or school. Throughout the workshop, you'll craft a reflective activity journal brimming with creative ideas to seamlessly integrate climate education into your daily teaching practice.

Come ready to reflect, create, and have fun as we bring climate education to life in our learning spaces!
Speakers
avatar for Crystal Roberts

Crystal Roberts

Experiential Learning Lead, New Brunswick Department of Education & Early Childhood Development
Crystal Roberts is a bilingual educator in New Brunswick who is passionate about experiential learning and taking the curriculum outdoors. During her work supporting K-12 experiential learning opportunities over the last 5 years, she has been pursuing her Masters of Education degree... Read More →
avatar for Meaghan Wilbur

Meaghan Wilbur

Anglophone North School District- NB
With 19 years of teaching experience in Bathurst, New Brunswick and an MEd in Curriculum, Meaghan is a passionate educator with a love of experiential, hands-on outdoor learning. She has served as a STEM lead, Personalized Learning lead, and Numeracy lead in her district and brings... Read More →
NL

Nikki LeBlanc

Nikki is a passionate educator with over 7 years of experience across high school, middle school, and elementary levels. She currently teaches Grade 3 French Immersion, focusing on hands-on, inquiry-based learning and outdoor education. Nikki believes that nature-based, experiential... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Beaver

2:00pm MDT

Charting the Future of Outdoor Learning: Emerging Trends and Transformative Practices LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Outdoor learning is evolving rapidly in response to global challenges like COVID, climate change, the growing emphasis on EDIAR, geopolitical shifts to the right, emerging technologies, and the growing mental health crises. How do we ensure it continues to meet societal needs while staying grounded in its foundational principles? In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore emerging trends, identify the future skills and knowledge outdoor educators will need, and discuss gaps in current pedagogical practices. Whether you are an educator, scholar, policymaker, or practitioner, your voice is essential in shaping the future of outdoor learning. Join this interactive workshop to engage in meaningful dialogue, contribute to impactful research, and leave equipped with new ideas and strategies for navigating the evolving landscape of outdoor learning. Join us to shape the conversation and co-create a vision for the future of outdoor learning. Your voice matters in this collaborative journey!
Speakers
JD

Janet Dyment

Acadia University
Janet Dyment currently works as a faculty member in the Department of Community Development at Acadia University, in Nova Scotia. She’s also worked at the University of Tasmania, Lakehead University, and the University of Boston. Prior to her academic appointments, she worked for... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Butterfly

2:00pm MDT

Il était une fois en Antarctique... LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Il était une fois en Antarctique raconte l'histoire d'une expérience vécue par Carrie lors de son expédition en Antarctique. Cette narration démontre comment un récit de notre propre vécu peut enseigner des concepts d'adaptation, d'écosystèmes et de changements climatiques et engage les futures scientifiques dans nos salles de classe. Au cours de cette session, les participants apprendront comment développer les attitudes, compétences et connaissances requises auprès de leurs élèves de la maternelle à la 9e année afin qu'iels se mettent à la place des explorateurs de notre monde. En utilisant des ressources gratuites de National Geographic sur le cadre des explorateurs et des leçons axées sur le lieu créés par Carrie lors de ses derniers expéditions et voyages, les participants vont pouvoir appuyer les concepts scientifiques qu’iels enseignent en racontant leurs propres histoires, tout en encourageant les élèves à penser à leurs propres narrations scientifiques.
Speakers
avatar for Carrie Antoniazzi

Carrie Antoniazzi

Teacher, École les Aiglons
Carrie Antoniazzi is a teacher and lifelong learner. During her 20 years in education, she has been a teacher, district mentor, professional development specialist for a science center and a consultant. Carrie currently teaches science, careers, and design thinking to grade 7 to 9... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Turtle

2:00pm MDT

Little Explorers, Big Discoveries: The Schoolyard Expedition" FULL
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Ignite curiosity and adventure while becoming an explorer of your community! Join this hands-on session to discover practical tools and resources that make outdoor learning exciting and accessible. Packed with versatile activities spanning science, physical education, art, math, and language arts, this session will help bring exploration right to your schoolyard. You’ll learn how to use the included materials to engage students in meaningful, curriculum-connected experiences, and you’ll receive resources to get started—for free! Leave this session ready to foster your students’ love for nature and learning in every subject area
Speakers
avatar for Court Rustemeyer

Court Rustemeyer

President, GEOEC - Global, Environmental, & Outdoor Education Council
Court has been a full-time outdoor educator in Calgary, for over 17 years. He is President for the ATA Specialist Council - GEOEC. He is also an Executive Director for the Outdoor Council of Canada, serving as the Director of the Prairies. Court was the recipient of the 2020 EECOM... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Kingfisher

2:00pm MDT

Storied Landscapes: Strategies and activities for place-response teaching and learning LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
As we accept the reality that we are in the opening act of an environmental polycrisis, educators are often looking for ways to instil hope and agency in their students, and doing this with a connection to the wisdom of the land. How can we develop confident practices of inquiry with our students that embrace nature as co-teacher? How can we re-introduce ourselves to our earthly home while finding outdoor solutions to classroom problems, not to mention global challenges? Participants will explore experiential tools for introducing climate change to students, practice restorative sensory interaction with the landscape, and weave their stories together with those of others to build a vision for place-responsive learning that contends with environmental anxiety and apathy.
Speakers
GT

Glen Thielmann

University of Northern British Columbia (School of Education)
After a short bear-chased career/careen as an ecosystem geographer and a longer career as a high school Social Studies and Geography teacher in Prince George, BC, Glen has found his way into teacher education (lecturer) and environmental studies (PhD candidate) at UNBC. He is involved... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Deer

2:00pm MDT

Unlocking the Power of Song for Environmental Learning LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
yes
Speakers
RR

Remy Rodden

Remy Rodden Envirosongs/Songs for Environmental Education
"Remy Rodden, aka the “envirosinger,” is a Yukon-based environmental educator and singer-songwriter who’s been inspiring kids and adults alike for over 30 years. Known for his catchy, eco-friendly tunes, Remy combines music and nature to help people groove their way to greener... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Chickadee

2:00pm MDT

An exploration of how Celtic wisdom and nature connection can promote well-being on a personal and collective level. LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
The workshop will be an intimate nature-based experience, where participants will explore spiritual, emotional and metaphorical connections. Informed by ancient Celtic wisdom, this immersive experience will guide participants on a journey that promotes well-being by incorporating the ancient wisdom of the Celtic Trinity Knot, indigenous Irish craft skills and nature connectedness activities that foster mindful practice. The journey aims to generate an interconnectedness with the past, present and future. The workshop will use a holistic approach to create a sense of purpose in the individual through Celtic wisdom, the Irish language and the arts.
Speakers
avatar for Niamh Oliver

Niamh Oliver

Student, Atlantic Technological University - Mayo Campus
Niamh Oliver is a student on the MSc in Outdoor Education Sustainability and Well-being in ATU. She works within the youth work sector and has a deep connection to rural communities and Celtic traditions. Raised in a farming family, Niamh has cultivated a keen interest in Irish folklore... Read More →
avatar for Peter Walsh

Peter Walsh

Student., Atlantic Technological University, Castlebar Campus, Mayo, Ireland
I have worked as an Outdoor Instructor for over 20 years in the west of Ireland. I have recently started a Masters in Outdoor Education, Sustainability and Well-being. 
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Racoon

2:00pm MDT

Celebrating and Sustaining Experiential and Outdoor Education Programs LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
This workshop invites educators, administrators, and advocates to both celebrate the immense value of outdoor and experiential learning and to confront the challenges these programs face. We will:
Examine the anatomy of exemplar experiential programs, showcasing innovative practices and their impact on students.
Explore strategies to build resilience and longevity into programs, focusing on advocacy, sustainable funding models, and embedding these approaches into the broader educational framework.
Engage in dialogue about the tensions inherent in critical pedagogies and their transformative potential for education systems.
Join us to envision a future where outdoor and experiential learning is not only celebrated but firmly rooted as an essential pillar of education. Together, we’ll strategize ways to ensure these vital programs thrive for generations to come.
Speakers
avatar for Nick Townley

Nick Townley

Outdoor Education Teacher, TREK Outdoor Education Program, Vancouver School Board, TREK Outdoor Education Program, Environmental Educators Provincial Specialist Assocation (EEPSA), and Take Me Outside
"Nick lives, works, and adventures on the shores of the Salish Sea. He has taught for the past ten years with the Vancouver School Board’s TREK Outdoor Education Program. He is the president of EEPSA, director of Take Me Outside, director of Classrooms to Communities, and a past... Read More →
RB

Ryan Barfoot

qathet School District, Outdoor Council of Canada
Ryan Barfoot (@rybarfoot) completed his Bachelor of Education specializing in Outdoor and Experiential Learning at Queens University and a M.Ed. in Curriculum Development and Implementation at Simon Fraser University. His research interests include transformative education, contemporary... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Toad

2:00pm MDT

Deepening the Connection to Nature Through Music and the Arts (English) LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Music and the arts have a way of sharing from deep within;  a wonderful way to create rich engagement to helping the earth.  Using music, dance, drama, art and language arts, participants will learn about ways to inspire students to feel a deeper relationship with natural spaces in their school yards and community.  Participates will engage in arts experiences that help to develop empathy and care of the land around them through creative movement, role playing, sound experiences and more.

If you attended in 2024 this workshop will be introducing new activities that expand on the 2024 session.
This session will also be offered in French in Session Block E.
Speakers
avatar for Jennifer Engbrecht

Jennifer Engbrecht

Music Teacher, Louis Riel School Division
Jennifer Engbrecht was thrilled to have the opportunity to present about learning in nature through music and the arts in 2024, and is so happy to return this year in 2025. Jennifer has been infusing various subject areas into music classes for many years - especially the environment... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Squirrel

2:00pm MDT

Nature's Path to Wellness - for you and your students FILLING
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Alberta’s Provincial Park System offers a natural space to rejuvenate and enhance your teaching practice. This session promotes personal wellness through nature-based activities, which you can apply with students/youth to create a balanced, healthy learning environment. You’ll explore:

• Sensory Exploration: Engage in activities that heighten sensory awareness, promoting mindfulness and presence. • Reflective Practices: Experience journaling, guided meditation, and quiet contemplation to support mental well-being. • Interactive Games: Enjoy games that build teamwork, communication, and relieve stress, adaptable for classroom use. • Storytelling: Use storytelling to connect with nature, enhancing mindfulness, creativity, and reflection.

Immerse in these land-based activities to support your wellness and gather tools for a wellness-centered learning environment.
Speakers
avatar for Vicki Perkins

Vicki Perkins

Environmental Education Coordinator, Alberta Forestry & Parks
Vicki (she/her) grew up on the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Anishinabeg, Seneca, and Chippewa peoples. Time spent among the majestic white pines and flowing waters sparked her passion for nature and storytelling. For over 25 years, Vicki has worked internationally... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Bear

2:00pm MDT

Playful Literacy Routines FULL
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Join Megan & Lisa to review effective and efficient literacy routines that build supportive relationships with people, place and Indigenous ways of knowing. We’ll build on participant experiences and expertise to consider how slow pedagogies, alongside pedagogies of place and play, can support structured literacy. Finally, we will reflect on our role as teachers when provisioning and curating texts, resources, and loose parts that support playful literacy outdoors. This workshop will be interactive and engaging for all participants, however this session will be best suited for school teachers with classroom experience teaching Language Arts K-7.
Speakers
avatar for Megan Zeni

Megan Zeni

Teacher Consultant, Provincial Outreach Program for the Early Years (POPEY)
Megan has over 25 years’ experience as a professional K-7 educator, is widely known for her expertise in school gardens and risky play at school and is currently employed as an Early Learning Teacher Consultant (locally with SD#38 as well as provincially with POPEY in BC). Megan... Read More →
LT

Lisa Thomas

POPEY
Lisa Thomas is the Program Coordinator and a Teacher Consultant for the Provincial Outreach Program for the Early Years (POPEY), and has been with POPEY since its inception in 2014. She has 23 years of experience as a classroom teacher and teacher consultant in BC, and completed her... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Wolf

2:00pm MDT

School Ground Solutions at The Intersection of Health, Education and Nature LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
This workshop is centered around how building nature spaces on school grounds at scale ensures that all youth are educated and empowered to act for climate change, biodiversity, health benefits of nature, and positive actions they can take for a nature rich future for all. Participants will explore the impacts of equitable access to nature on youth mental health, learning outcomes, and stewardship values, discuss the Learning By Nature initiative which aims to grow and scale nature-based solutions nationally, and will discover how this initiative can foster relationships, inspire and support the wider community to learn in and by nature.
Speakers
LH

Laura Hergott

BC Parks Foundation
Laura Hergott is the Manager for the Healthy By Nature initiative at the BC Parks Foundation. With a background in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Laura was drawn to the Healthy By Nature initiative by the evidence-based research backing spending time in nature for health. As... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
203 (Indoor Space)

2:00pm MDT

Slowing Down: Connecting to Nature Right Where/Who You are LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
In our fast-paced world, outdoor education can often mirror society’s emphasis on personal achievement and destination-focused experiences. This workshop invites outdoor educators to explore the profound benefits of slowing down and deepening our connection with nearby nature. Through guided experiences, participants will learn practical strategies for helping students develop authentic, mindful connections with nature in their immediate surroundings. These practices support emotional regulation and foster lasting relationships with the natural world. We’ll continue by exploring the ultimate accessibility of nature: our own embodied experience. By dissolving the perceived boundary between self and nature, participants will discover how the connection found in natural settings can be accessed anywhere, transforming both their personal practice and their approach to outdoor education.
Speakers
avatar for Stephanie Aleksiuk

Stephanie Aleksiuk

Thimbleberry Learning
Stephanie Aleksiuk is the founder of Thimbleberry Learning, an environmental education consultancy in Calgary. She holds an MA in Environmental Education from Royal Roads University, where her research involved finding ways to support teachers to take students outside for learning... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Snail

2:00pm MDT

The Power of a Relational, Values-Driven Approach to Building Adult Capacity for Outdoor Early Learning LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
From 2021-2023, the Lawson Foundation supported eight diverse projects working to build adult capacity to support outdoor early learning. The work targeted professional learning, early learning and child care programs, and multi-sector influencers of outdoor learning (e.g., Indigenous knowledge keepers, government officials, nonprofit partners). This workshop will share 4 Calls to Action based on taking a relational, values-driven approach to systems change. We will share our learning about effective approaches to foundational components of change-making: professional learning, outdoor learning spaces, parent engagement, and organizational policy change, and we will reflect on differences in how Indigenous ways were honoured in this work. We offer practical, actionable considerations to support early learning leaders (e.g., post-secondary faculty; early learning directors, managers, and pedagogical leaders) to gain a more nuanced understanding of change-making for outdoor learning.
Speakers
CA

Christine Alden

Program Director / Fondation Lawson, Directrice de programme, Lawson Foundation
Christine Alden, M.Ed., Ph.D., has worked in the fields of early child development and education for thirty years. She began her career as an elementary teacher in Latin America, which catalyzed her interest in child development. Over the last twenty years, she has worked in early... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Otter

2:00pm MDT

Walking the Labyrinth: A Journey of Mindfulness and Wellness in Nature LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Join Prospect Human Services in an immersive workshop exploring the ancient practice of labyrinth walking, a powerful tool for restoring the mind-body connection, reducing stress, and fostering mindfulness. Grounded in the principles of place-based education, participants will engage with their natural surroundings as a classroom, constructing a labyrinth from locally sourced materials.

Through walking meditation, journaling, and reflection, you’ll experience the therapeutic benefits of this meditative practice while learning its history and how to adapt it for diverse contexts. Discover how physical environments shape learning and well-being and leave with practical tools to integrate mindfulness into your community or workplace.
Speakers
avatar for Marjan Akbari

Marjan Akbari

Program Coordinator, Prospect Human Services
Marjan Akbari is an Art Program Coordinator with Prospect Human Services, where she has dedicated over eight years to teaching essential skills through art, outdoor activities, and community-building initiatives for individuals with developmental disabilities. Despite her academic... Read More →
avatar for Meagan McNichol

Meagan McNichol

Outdoor Pursuits Program Coordinator, Prospect Human Services
Meagan McNichol (she/her) is an Outdoor Pursuits Program Coordinator working with persons with disabilities at Prospect Human Services in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) within Treaty 7 territory. Meagan spent much of her youth adventuring in Kananaskis Country, leading to an Ecotourism and... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Moose

2:00pm MDT

Beyond the Child: Exploring Land-Led Pedagogies in K-6 Outdoor Education LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
This interactive, outdoor workshop invites educators to explore the shift from traditional child-centered pedagogies to land-led pedagogies in outdoor education. Emphasizing the land as a teacher, this session fosters reciprocal, respectful relationships between students and the natural world. Drawing from Natural Curiosity’s Four Branches of Environmental Inquiry and Indigenous Perspectives, participants will engage in hands-on activities, group discussions, and reflection-based practices. They will also explore a spiral model of learning and assessment that is rooted in the natural cycles of the seasons. This holistic framework helps educators deepen their connection to the land and integrate seasonally attuned teaching practices into their classrooms.
Speakers
AM

Alyson McMullen

Natural Curiosity/University of Toronto
Alyson (she/her) is of Mushkegowuk (Swampy Cree), Irish and French ancestry. She is an educator (RECE, OCT) whose work is centered around decolonizing education through land centered inquiry based practice. Alyson is a graduate of the Waaban Indigenous Teacher Education Program at... Read More →
KS

Krista Spence

Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Lab School/University of Toronto
Krista Spence, (she/her) BA, MA in Ed., RECE, Teacher-Librarian and Land-based Educator, works at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Lab School, an elementary school in downtown Toronto. Krista was the recipient of the ‘Outstanding Early Childhood Educator’ EECOM award... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Eagle

2:00pm MDT

Eels are Life: Following Katew Through Their Life Journey to Help Us Learn More About Ours - A Land & Sea-Based Learning Unit Example LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
In our session we will be exploring the traditional teachings around eels in the Mi'kmaw culture while weaving this knowledge together with cross-curricular outcomes from varying topics in science, math, language and social studies. This is meant to be a template for a fully developed unit that fits into a Land & Sea Based Learning Guide that can be adapted by teachers to fit their grade and specific classroom. The guide will be organized around the cultural activities, rather than the outcomes, in order to demonstrate how a land-based activity can bring together different topics and subjects in a way that makes more sense to learners. How to adapt the teachings and learning experiences to specific grades and school settings, as well as how to evaluate the learning experiences will also be discussed.
Speakers
JS

Jennifer Sawlor

STEM Mentor, Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey
My name is Jen and I am a passionate educator, nature lover, and ally of Indigenous peoples and their teachings. In my 22 year education career, I have worked as a teacher in many different types of school systems in culturally diverse communities across Canada and the world. For... Read More →
AB

Anika Braithwaite

Wagmatcookewey School - Wagmatcook First Nation
Anika is a dedicated, passionate teacher who goes above and beyond for her students. She's been actively pursuing professional development in areas like STEM and land-based learning for many years and is constantly working collaboratively with other educators to bring Indigenous ways... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Great Blue Heron

2:00pm MDT

Healing with the Land: Indigenous Perspectives on Forest Immersion and Children’s Wellbeing LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Speakers
JB

Jacqueline Bennett

Manager of National Programs, Child & Nature Alliance of Canada
"I am passionate about creating authentic connections between people and the land as a pathway to fostering health and wellbeing. I live, work, and play on the traditional territory of the Mi'kmaq and Beotuk. I am proud to be a Nêhiyaw-iskwêw, with heritage from Kahkewistahaw First... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Raven

2:00pm MDT

Leading through Land-based Learning LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Owl
In this interactive session, Dr. Lindy Phelps-Henderson takes participants on a journey through Indigenous land-based practices as they align with everyday classroom activities. As an educator and Metis citizen, Lindy strives to centre Indigenous knowledges and ways of being in her daily work in a K-12 land-based school. Language revitalization, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Technology, and the Arts are aligned with traditional and modern land-based practices. The First Nation Holistic Lifelong Learning Model and traditional medicine wheel are at the heart of Lindy's doctoral research and school-based planning, assessment, and evaluation. She welcomes participants from all sectors and levels of education to join her in this celebration of learning from, on, and with the land. Participants will leave with ready-to-use lesson ideas as we share examples of land-based learning from Treaty 3 territory.
Speakers
LH

Lindy Henderson

Kaa'Naa'Matay Wiigiiam (The Teaching Lodge)
Dr. Lindy Phelps-Henderson is the principal of a K-12 land-based school called Kaa'Naa'Matay Wiigiiam (The Teaching Lodge) on Washagamis Bay First Nation near Kenora, ON. For over twenty years Lindy worked with youth in the public school system as a classroom teacher, forest school... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Owl

2:00pm MDT

Let's Meet Kakwa (Porcupine) LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
"The porcupine was the original bead producer for Indigenous people. We use the guard hair in our regalia, we take the quills and color them and produce works of art. This slow moving creature can be useful when a person is in survival mode and are very useful for regalia (roach making), as well as fur for tufting, and quills for art work.
I am usually gifted animals or use what has been taken by traffic. Information about how the porcupine was gifted its quills and what are the best methods of coloring quills will be presented. The workshop will also include how to clean and prepare quills including dying and then 3 styles of quill artwork is shown.
Using quills is like beading; it is a way to learn to be in the present and not thinking of the what if's, or worrying about what happened earlier. It is a mindfulness technique that allows you know what's next. If you aren't in the moment you have the possibility of being poked."
Speakers
GP

Genevieve Prevost

Teacher
"Genevieve Prevost is a nehiyaw-skwew (cree woman) from the Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation in Saskatoon. A medicine carrier, knowledge keeper and teacher. She has been teaching for 18 years in a variety of areas including on reserve, inner-city elementary and Indigenous inner... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Porcupine

2:00pm MDT

When ¢ik̓ku (robin) connects you to Land: How to use your experience and weave Indigenous knowledge "in a good way" (Marshall and Zimanyi, 2024). LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
As Dr. Albert Marshall and Louise Zimanyi remind, in “Walking together,” that our doings as we go about learning and connecting with Land must be done “in a good way.” Embedding Indigenous perspectives in what we do as educators therefore calls on us to be good in the way we develop “content” and/or embed Indigenous perspectives. Through the listening experiences of ¢ik̓ku (robin) the session proposes to go through the process of embedding Indigenous knowledge in lessons aimed for outdoor learning. This will be achieved by creating hands-on activities and using them on the spot! Participants will leave with ready-to-use strategies, ideas from colleagues, and stories that stem from local places. They will also experience being, knowing, and doing. Working in a good way is a process that can be learned from a familiar more-than-human named ¢ik̓ku!
Speakers
avatar for Faye O'Neil

Faye O'Neil

School District #5
"Faye O’Neil was born on her homelands of Ktunaxa ʔamaʔkis at the beginning of the headwaters of the miȼ̓qaqas akinmituk (Chickadee River/Columbia River) where she played in the water and on the land.  She shares Ktunaxa and European ancestry, is a community member of the ʔaq̓am... Read More →
DS

Dr. Sylvie de Grandpré

Conseil Scolaire Francophone (SD#93)
Sylvie has been an energetic K-9 educator for 34 years. She is the principal of a new school where gardening, outdoor/environmental education, and Indigenous perspectives drive learning. She spends a lot of time outdoors with more-than-humans, whether deep in a forest or while strolling... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT
Squirrel

3:14pm MDT

*Education Session D* LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:14pm - 4:30pm MDT
Friday May 9, 2025 3:14pm - 4:30pm MDT
Kinnear Centre

3:15pm MDT

A Curriculum of Connection: How Outdoor Education can help move the needle on Canada’s Sustainable Development Goals
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Ultimately outdoor education is about building connections - helping participants connect to self, others, and the more than human world. As Outdoor & Environmental Educators we are passionate about taking people outside because we experience the value of it in our work every day. We know that our work can build resilience and social skills, foster a deep care for nature, and inspire curiosity, creativity and an environmental ethic in our participants. There is also an growing body of research that makes direct links between nature connection, combatting tech addiction, and improved mental and physical health outcomes. However, we are not always great at communicating the value of what we do to larger goals and impacts. In this interactive and experiential workshop we will explore the links between Canada’s  17 Sustainable Development Goals and the outcomes of outdoor learning.
Speakers
FH

Fiona Hough

Outward Bound Canada
Fiona Hough is the Senior Manager for Curriculum and Research at Outward Bound Canada. With over 30 years of experience in outdoor, environmental, & experiential education, she specializes in social-emotional leadership development as a central component to the work of outdoor educators... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Deer

3:15pm MDT

Connecting to place through writing outside. FULL
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Join Frances McCoubrey for 75 minutes of writing, journaling and working with literary devices - all outside. You will leave this workshop with writing exercises you can do next week with your elementary or secondary level students. All lessons require very little prep and utilize materials you already have in your classroom or school. Writing exercises will connect you and your students to the playful way you can use a literary device to describe places you explore, they can ground you in a moment and they can draw your attention to the magic and mystery of the natural world. Come prepared to write with low pressure, accessible exercises inspired by Lynda Barry, Adrienne Gear and John Muir Laws.

Please bring a clipboard, a writing utensil and if you like a sitting pad.
Speakers
FM

Frances McCoubrey

SD27, EEPSA
Frances has been working as an educator connecting people to nature since her first job as a naturalist in 1996 at the Scout Island Nature Centre. Her experience as a naturalist along with training through her BEd, MEd (Counselling) and BSc in Environmental Science along with a passion... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Toad

3:15pm MDT

From Awe to Action: Inspiring Inquiry and Environmental Responsibility Through Nature Exploration LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Owl
Experience the transformative cycle of discovery through nature observation, awe, and inquiry in this immersive workshop. By closely observing the intricate details of the natural world, you’ll awaken your senses, forge a deeper connection to the environment, and spark a curiosity that drives exploration and understanding through research. As your connection deepens, you’ll cultivate a lifelong appreciation and sense of stewardship for the planet, empowering you to inspire others. Aligned with the Morpho Institute’s mission to inspire conservation, the workshop equips educators with practical tools to promote environmental responsibility in classrooms and communities. Experience community-based conservation initiatives and explore the integration of scientific inquiry, Indigenous knowledge, and community engagement to empower educators as catalysts for change.
Speakers
DR

Dr. Rosanna Ruiz

The Morpho Institute
Dr. Rosanna Ruiz has over 30 years of expertise in environmental education, conservation, and program development. She began her career as a naturalist for the City of Anaheim, which laid the foundation for her work in land conservation. At Sierra Foothill Conservancy, an accredited... Read More →
CD

Christa Dillabaugh

The Morpho Institute
Christa Dillabaugh is the founder of the Morpho Institute, an organization advancing Amazon conservation through education. With a deep appreciation for neotropical rainforests, Christa launched Amazon Rainforest Workshops, LLC, after leading many field programs for students and university... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Owl

3:15pm MDT

How Outdoor and Environmental Education Empowers Participants to Address Climate Change & Other Global Environmental Challenges LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
203
In this indoor workshop, Grant will explore the critical link between having positive and repeated outdoor experiences and developing the will and empowerment to address climate change and other pressing environmental problems. There will be a brief overview of the pressing need to address climate change on a systemic basis. Much of this presentation will be slide-based, portraying a wide range of outdoor experiences that engage and empower. Grant will also draw from his recently published book entitled "Outdoor Magic: The Power of Nature Connection." Breakout group discussions will also enable participants to flesh out and personalize
Speakers
GL

Grant Linney

Climate Reality Project Canada
Grant Linney is an actively retired outdoor and environmental educator. In a career spanning six decades, he has connected children of all ages (+ adults) to nature through hands-on experiential education in all four seasons. He has won numerous teaching and environmental awards at... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
203

3:15pm MDT

Mastering the use of PHENOLOGY in your OUTDOOR classroom LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Literally meaning “the science or study of appearances”, participating in phenology in your classroom is a teaching technique worth incorporating into your outdoor learning practice. Whether you’re looking for ways to take your science curriculum outdoors, need ideas for climate change education, or want meaningful approaches to help students connect with the land, this technique is one for you and your students. Explore a plethora of ideas and resources and consider your own model to make this approach work for your teaching area. Additionally, we’ll explore creative approaches to recording your phenological observations in student nature journals.
Speakers
avatar for Andrea Barnes

Andrea Barnes

Environmental Education Specialist, Alberta Parks - Kananaskis Country
Andrea is passionate about teaching and learning outdoors. She has been the Formal Education Specialist with Alberta Parks in Kananaskis Country for over 20 years where she has been developing, delivering, and evaluating field experiences for students and professional development... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Snail

3:15pm MDT

Principles for Transformative Learning With/In/For the More-Than-Human World: Ecologizing Professional Learning for In-Service Educators LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
This session considers how the design of in-service educators can support deep, meaningful, and transformative learning. It will introduce research that examines educators’ experiences in a program called Spring TIPS (Teaching Imagination in Place), exploring in practice and theory the principles of Relationality, Immersion, and Affect upon which this program was based (Judson & Datura, 2023). By introducing some principles that bring into focus what it means to learn with/in/and for the natural world and what may be required to ensure this learn supports unlearning and new learning, this session will offer practical insights to anyone seeking to support transformational learning in their own contexts.
Judson, G. & D. Datura, M. (2023). A walking curriculum: From “good ideas for walks” to transformative design for eco-social change. International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership, 19(2), 1-19.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Gillian Judson

Dr. Gillian Judson

Assistant Professor, Simon Fraser University
Dr. Gillian Judson is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. She gratefully works on unceded traditional Indigenous territories, including those of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Kwantlen, Qayqayt and Tsawwassen Nations... Read More →
BB

Beverley Bunker

Beverley Bunker is currently a Helping Teacher for French Immersion and Intensive French programs in Surrey, BC. She has over 15 years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, Faculty Advisor for pre-service teachers, and teacher librarian with a focus on inquiry, language... Read More →
KK

Kelsey Keller

Kelsey Keller is an educator, PhD student, momma to 3, bibliophile, and coffee enthusiast. When not in her grade 3/4/5 classroom or doing ‘homework,’ Kelsey can be found forest bathing, making messes, and jumping in with both feet. She is passionate about outdoor/environmental/place-based... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Turtle

3:15pm MDT

The Big Reconnect: How Innovative Outdoor Education Cultivates Connection to Self, Community, and Nature in K-12 Schools LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
"Participants will inhabit the roles of teacher and student in an interactive outdoor learning experience using innovative technology and project-based learning to connect to self, community, and nature. Guided by Cornell Lab and Friends Academy educators, participants will engage in 21st century outdoor learning activities that spark connection, inquiry, research, and collaboration.

Participants will also learn about Cornell Lab’s K-12 Education Program and how it partners with schools like Friends Academy to build science skills in young people. Through its partnership with schools, the Cornell Lab inspires young people to connect to local habitats, explore biodiversity, and engage in participatory-science projects. This workshop will model and explore how the Cornell Lab partnered with Friends Academy, providing its educators with professional development in an inquiry-based approach to science, and partnering with students and teachers on a cutting-edge interdisciplinary project."
Speakers
avatar for Susan Licher

Susan Licher

K-12 Education Learning Coordinator, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University
Susan Licher is the K-12 Learning Coordinator at Cornell Lab of Ornithology where she develops and delivers transformational training for educators that supports them in connecting students to nature, strengthens their skills in using participatory (citizen) science, and increases... Read More →
DM

Daniel Mendel

Friends Academy
Daniel Mendel is the Dean of Innovation at Friends Academy. His work is focused on K-12 program development, innovative teaching and curricular design, and teacher support and training. Through pedagogical approaches such as problem-based learning and interdisciplinary project-based... Read More →
JH

Jen Halliday

Jen Halliday is the Associate Head of School and Director of Academic Affairs at Friends Academy, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the academic vision and ensuring the delivery of exceptional educational experiences for all students. With a deep commitment to fostering a... Read More →
AK

Alana Kessler-Yudin

Alana Kessler-Yudin is the Forest Program Lead at Friends Academy, where she fosters outdoor learning experiences that connect students to nature and inspire personal growth. She holds an M.A. in Special Education with a focus on Arts Integration and a B.A. in Religious Studies from... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Otter

3:15pm MDT

Water Connects All Things: Combination Workshop Two Educator Guides! – Foundations of Water Education and Water in Earth Systems Certification Workshop LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Join our Combination Certification Workshop for Foundations of Water Education and Water in Earth Systems. Participants will receive copies of the Foundations of Water Education: A Water Literacy Education Guide and the Water in Earth Systems Guide. Throughout the workshop, participants will engage in interactive, hands-on activities from the guides, focusing on water, climate change, and environmental justice. These fun, dynamic activities are designed to be both educational and engaging. Be prepared to move, learn, and have fun while gaining ready-to-use lessons that support curriculum outcomes. Participants will have pre-conference, easy-to-complete work to do to help meet workshop requirements.
Speakers
avatar for Maxine Koskie

Maxine Koskie

National Education Coordinator - Project WET Canada, Canadian Water Resources Assoctation - Project WET Canada
Maxine Koskie, B.Ed., is the National Education Coordinator for Project WET Canada, bringing over 38 years of K-12 teaching experience. She has been a passionate advocate of the Project WET Program since 1996, serving as a dedicated educator, outdoor leader, and community member... Read More →
avatar for Billie Jo Reid

Billie Jo Reid

Canadian Water Resources Association - Project WET Canada
Billie Jo Reid is the National Program and Delivery Coordinator for Project WET Canada, a role she embraced in March 2024. Her journey with Project WET began in 2016 as an Outdoor Educator, where she first participated in a Project WET Workshop. Later that year, she became a certified... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Raven

3:15pm MDT

“Scavenger Hunts, Compass Courses, Maps and More: Engaging Your Students with Curriculum-Connected Outdoor Exploration” FULL
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
"Scavenger hunts are a staple in most outdoor educators' toolboxes. Do you want to learn how to maximise both fun and learning in your scavenger hunts? Do you want to learn tips and tricks to weave in compasses and maps to your scavenger hunts? This is the workshop for you!

In this hands-on workshop participants will get a crash course on how to intentionally design and facilitate various scavenger hunts and map/compass courses. Participants will not only get to try several different styles of scavenger hunts, there will also be a discussion on how to modify them for various curricula and locations."
Speakers
avatar for Braeden Kelly

Braeden Kelly

Canadian Rockies Outdoor Learning Centre
Braeden Kelly (BSc, BEd) is an outdoor, environmental, and experiential educator with the Canadian Rockies Outdoor Learning Centre. He works with teachers in the Canadian Rockies Public School division to co-create outdoor experiential learning experiences that connect to the curriculum... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Porcupine

3:15pm MDT

"Because I Wanted Everyone to Know We Need to Take Care of Our Lands": Exploring Children's Rights and Generating Their Perspectives of the Outdoors LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
In this workshop, we will explore what children have to tell us about their outdoor play environments and cultivate our own “voices” about our outdoor experiences. Framed through the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, we will share findings from a recent participatory research study, The Voices of Play, that investigated children’s use of the voices of drawing and photography in outdoor play environments within an early childhood education and care setting. Our hope is that you will be able to learn from the children’s voices and perspectives and reflect on how their knowledge may relate to your own experiences and settings. We also hope that these results help adults in choosing or designing outdoor play environments to best support children’s health and well-being from their perspectives. As an expansion on this information, we will also engage in the experience of drawing and photographing our outdoor connections with the outdoors.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Kimberly Squires

Dr. Kimberly Squires

Assistant Professor, University of Guelph
Kimberly Squires (she/her) is a Registered Early Childhood Educator, Ontario Certified Teacher, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Council of Outdoor Educators... Read More →
avatar for Starlene Ruttan

Starlene Ruttan

Starlene is a Child & Youth Worker, Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE), Ontario Certified Teacher and a Forest and Nature School Practitioner. As a daughter, wife, mother, auntie, friend, and educator – she works to inspire both children and adults to make positive lasting... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Eagle

3:15pm MDT

Connecter l'esprit et le corps en nature: une approche immersive pour les éducateurs et les élèves LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Plongez dans un atelier dédié aux éducateurs et conçu pour révéler les nombreux bienfaits de l’éducation en plein air. Découvrez comment intégrer des pratiques de pleine conscience dans votre quotidien professionnel. À travers des activités adaptées à la fois à la nature et aux espaces urbains, vous apprendrez à réduire le stress, et à adopter des rituels de bien-être qui favorisent le soin de soi. Ces pratiques, simples et accessibles, pourront être intégrées dans votre routine et partagées avec vos élèves pour modéliser des comportements de santé mentale positifs.

Plus qu'un simple apprentissage éducatif, cet atelier vous offrira des clés pour améliorer votre bien-être mental tout en permettant à vos élèves de bénéficier indirectement de ces bienfaits. Venez découvrir comment ancrer la pleine conscience dans votre environnement de travail et dans la vie scolaire, afin de nourrir vos propres pratiques et, par extension, celles de vos élèves. Un moment de ressourcement et de partage à ne pas manquer !
Speakers
MH

Marieke Herrera

Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre Est
Marieke has nearly 30 years of experience working with children and adults focusing on education. She taught French as a second language to RCMP members and to English speaking parents of her school board. Marieke was a facilitator in Nortel’s LearnIT workshops (teaching Internet... Read More →
E

Elizabeth Bianchi

CECCE
"For over 30 years, I’ve dedicated my career to Early Childhood Education, but it wasn’t until the challenges of COVID-19 that I truly discovered the transformative power of nature. During the isolation of lockdowns, I started taking daily walks outside. This not only lifted my... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Cougar

3:15pm MDT

Nature-based learning and risky play in a public school setting FILLING
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Join Sylvie for an engaging and interactive session focused on the benefits of nature-based risky play. Through an active session that includes exploring natural environments and sample materials, participants will gain insights and examine practical strategies to bring risky play into any public school outdoor classroom. Participants will have opportunities to ask questions and discuss their own experiences and strategies for overcoming challenges in implementing these practices in various settings.
Speakers
avatar for Sylvie Tissandier

Sylvie Tissandier

Edmonton Public School Board
Sylvie Tissandier is a certified Forest and Nature School practitioner and teacher in Edmonton where she developed and implemented a nature play and forest school program in an urban K-3 public school. With a passion for fostering students' connection to nature, Sylvie offers opportunities... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Racoon

3:15pm MDT

To Build a Yarn Environment LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
What does intersectionality look like? How can we visually represent collaboration? What does it mean to queer space? Working together, participants will connect the natural environment + yarn + installation art + music + questions + conversation and collaboratively build a giant yarn environment to move through, to rest in, and to be curious about. We will work together to co-design a temporary and immersive art installation and unpack ideas, pedagogies, and practices about intersectionality, collaboration and collectivity, and queerness. Come ready to wander and wonder, throw colourful balls of yarn around, and crawl, walk, and roll through an interactive opportunity help build a space where we can see all the beautifully colourful ways that we can connect to each other. Pursuant of joy, curiosity, and compassion, this is a workshop you don't want to miss!
Speakers
MR

Mark Reinhart

Lambton-Kent District School Board
Mark Reinhart (he/him, mostly) is a multidisciplinary artist, performer, educator, and community developer. His practices and pedagogies are grounded in queerness, and the curiosity for intersectional and phenomenological ways of seeing, experiencing and being in the world. He works... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Bear

3:15pm MDT

Bridging Land, Learning and Culture LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Experience a transformative approach to outdoor education that bridges Indigenous knowledge with cross-curricular learning. Developed in collaboration with land based leaders and educators, our Outdoor Education curriculum immerses students in activities like wildlife identification, tracking, traditional harvesting, and seasonal activities like wild rice gathering, trapping, and ice fishing. Through discussion, this workshop will guide participants through integrating these land-based practices with key academic subjects, including literacy, math, and science.

Participants will explore how to braid together outdoor education, traditional knowledge and curriculum expectations. They will discover how doing this can enrich students' learning, promote respect for Indigenous heritage, and empower educators to build meaningful connections between culture, community and the classroom.

This workshop is presented by outdoor educators Weslie, Daniel and Alysha-Lynn, who live and work in Lac Seul First Nation, Ontario.
Speakers
AK

Alysha-Lynn Kooter

Lac Seul Education Authority - Lac Seul First Nation
With over three years of experience as an outdoor educator, I am dedicated to empowering both teachers and students to connect with nature in meaningful ways. Currently, I teach in Lac Seul First Nation in northwestern Ontario, on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek and Ojibwe... Read More →
WW

Weslie Wabano

Lac Seul Education Authority - Lac Seul First Nation
"I am a land-based educator and Indigenous leader in our community, with over five years of experience teaching students the essential skills of hunting, fishing, and traditional knowledge. My connection to my culture drives my passion for sharing the wisdom and practices of Indigenous... Read More →
DB

Daniel Bottle

Daniel Bottle, a proud member of Lac Seul First Nation, is an Indigenous educator and community leader with over five years of experience facilitating land-based learning in his community. With a focus on traditional teachings, Daniel guides students through hands-on experiences in... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Great Blue Heron

3:15pm MDT

Indigenous and Land-Based Education at Akinomaagayegaamikoong: A Reciprocal Model for Public Education LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about ways of being in relationship to land through the model used at the Indigenous and land-based learning centre, Akinomaagayegaamikoong in our school district. Spending time on the land, participants will make connections to the lands, relationships with treaty partners and bringing Indigenous Knowledges into outdoor education practices in a culturally sensitive manner.

The facilitators will walk participants through a model adapted from First Nations and Métis Math Voices in collaboration with our treaty partners that guides Indigenous and land-based learning at Akinomaagayegaamikoong. The adapted model integrates the 5Rs, UNDRIP, treaty rights, culture, language and inquiry-based education into land-based learning. We will use the model to illustrate a best practice in creating programming that reflects and centres local Nations and Indigenous students, and is good for all.
Speakers
JB

Jennifer Bailey

Upper Grand District School Board
Jennifer is a K-12 educator who has worked in the Upper Grand District School Board for the past 14 years. Prior to this, Jennifer taught Outdoor Education at Bark Lake Leadership Centre in Ontario, where she delivered a traditional Outdoor Education program, including leadership... Read More →
JF

Jerica Fraser

Upper Grand District School Board
Jerica Fraser is a Rotinonhsión:ni (Kanien’kehá:ka) educator and the Indigenous Education Lead in the Upper Grand District School Board. Throughout her career, she has focused on anti-racism and anti-oppressive education not only in her classroom, but in the education system as... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Butterfly

3:15pm MDT

Learning/teaching Indigenous games LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
While the workshop will be centred on learning/playing Indigenous games, the foundation the session will be built on learning about the importance of protocol. Within Indigenous circles being mindful of protocol is important. Each group or nation has its own protocol for various cultural settings. In this session, participants will actively participate in learning about protocol as well as taking only what you need when it comes to harvesting from Mother Earth to create many of these games.
Speakers
avatar for Terry Lakey

Terry Lakey

Lead Teacher, Red Deer Pubic Schools
Terry Lakey has been a teacher with Red Deer Public since 1999. As well as a classroom teacher, he has spent many years developing and sharing, both with students, district staff, and provincially as well, resources connected to Indigenous peoples authentic histories, stories, and... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Moose

3:15pm MDT

Moving from truth to living reconciliation : A settlers journey integrating Indigenous teachings into my life (both personal and professional) - bilingual materials provided (French & English) LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Tansi / Hello (French description follows)

Please join me as I tell my story of learning about truth and then finding a way to live reconciliation as a settler educator. Let's learn to walk on this pathway together.

This session will be a heartfelt sharing of my candid journal entries and experiences as I embarked on my journey from Truth to lived reconciliation. Over the past 2 years, I have had a full transformation in my approach to life as I have learned to embrace the teachings of my new Sundance Society in Enoch, Alberta ( The Northern Buffalo Sundance Society) I have developed some very solid relationships over the process and bridged some divides ( both personally and with my new Indigenous brothers and sisters) as well as healed some deep personal wounds. It is an ever evolving journey and one that I hope by sharing will encourage others to cross the same bridge towards authentic and lived reconciliation.

I will also ask participants to join me in a talking circle activity that explores the 4 healings as they pertain to the Medicine Wheel and the 4 directions that I have learned and modified with the help of my Indigenous knowledge keeper friend ,the late Roderick Freeman ( High Flying Eagle) , into an ELA / FLA / CALM / HEALTH workshop to do with students. All materials will be provided as well as a link to my ressources so you can make use of it at your respective school sites or other groups.

I sincerely look forward to sharing my story with you all and to hearing your stories as well!


Tansi / Bonjour

Rejoignez-moi afin que je puisse raconter mon histoire vers la découverte de la vérité et mon voyage à trouver des moyens de vivre la réconciliation en tant qu'éducateur "colon".
Apprenons à marcher ensemble sur ce chemin!

La session comportera un partage d'extraits de mes journaux intimes ainsi que mes expériences le long de mon voyage de la Vérité envers une "réconciliation vécue". Ces 2 ans, j'ai eu une transformation complète dans mon approche à la vie à mesure que j'ai accepté les apprentissages du Northern Buffalo Sundance Society à Enoch, Alberta. J'ai développé des relations solides à travers ce temps et j'ai également bâti des ponts à travers certaines "fossés" ( personnelles ainsi qu'avec mes nouveaux confrères autochtones) puis guérit certaines vieilles cicatrices émotives. C'est un voyage en évolution constante et j'espère qu'en partageant, je puisse encourager d'autres à prendre le saut aussi entre vérité et "réconciliation vécue"

Il y aura aussi une activité en cercle qui explore les 4 guérissons associés avec le cercle d'influences et les 4 directions que j'ai développé avec l'aide de mon maintenant défunt bon ami et Gardien du Savoir Roderick Freeman ( High Flying Eagle). Les ressources s'appliquent pour un cours de santé ou de français et seront fournies ainsi qu'un lien aux copies numériques afin que vous puissiez vous en servir.

J'ai bien hâte de partager mon histoire avec vous et d'entendre les vôtres aussi !
Speakers
avatar for Marty McKeever

Marty McKeever

Marty McKeever is a settler who teaches at Paul Kane High School in Saint Albert, Alberta. He has been teaching French Immersion for 18 years and Wildlife for 5 years. He is an outdoor enthusiast who on weekends can be found hiking, fishing, camping or visiting the dog park with... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Wolf

3:15pm MDT

Nurturing Kinship with Nature's Rhythms: Storying the Seasons through Etuaptmumk/Two-Eyed Seeing LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
In experiencing nature's cycles, each place has it own seasonal rhythms that unfold. The Grandmother Moons describe what is happening in nature at that time across Turtle Island and will be different depending on what Lands you are on. The book 'Walking Together' begins in early Spring: in Unama’ki (Cape Breton) it is Squoljuiku’s/Frogs Croaking Time Moon when the peepers are active; in Tkaronto (Toronto), the Tamarack trees are growing their blue-green needles. Berries-ripening or the strawberry moon will soon yield sweet fruit. Creating, nurturing and sustaining kinship through respectful and reciprocal relationships is essential to Etuaptmumk/Two-Eyed Seeing and for the benefit of all. Reflecting on nature’s rhythms from where you are from (flora/fauna, migrations, waters, harvest, languages, traditions), you will create a seasonal storied circle. We will collectively collage our stories to reflect the gifts of multiple perspectives for the benefit of all.
Speakers
avatar for Louise Zimanyi

Louise Zimanyi

Professor, Humber Polytechnic
"Louise Zimanyi is of French-Canadian and Hungarian descent and lives as a guest in Tkaronto/Toronto, Treaty 13 territory, also part of the Dish with One Spoon territory. As an Early Childhood Education professor/researcher at Humber Polytechnic teaching ""Land-based Play and Co-Learning... Read More →
DA

Dr. Albert Marshall

Eskasoni First Nation
Elder Dr. Albert Marshall (O.C, LLD) is from the Moose Clan of the Mi'kmaw Nation, Eskasoni First Nation in Unama'ki (Cape Breton), Nova Scotia and a fluent speaker of Mi'kmaw. He has brought forth the concept of Etuaptmumk (eh-doo-ahp-duh-mumk), the gift of multiple perspectives... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Beaver

3:15pm MDT

Walking with Our Relations: Nature's Wisdom in Supporting Student Emotional Health LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Speakers
avatar for Marla Klyne

Marla Klyne

Marla Klyne Consulting
"Marla has spent her five decades gathering wisdom from both the land and the classroom. As a Métis educator, she looks to her ancestors when offering nourishment for the contemporary needs of today's educators and learners. Alongside her husband on their Manitoba ranch, the animal... Read More →
Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Kingfisher

4:30pm MDT

Afternoon Social and Exhibitor Fair LIMITED
Friday May 9, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm MDT
Friday May 9, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm MDT
Kinnear Centre

5:30pm MDT

Dinner (NOT included with registration)
Friday May 9, 2025 5:30pm - 7:00pm MDT
Choose your own dinner adventure. You can stay on-site and pay for dinner at Vistas or McLab or take a stroll or bus into Banff to experience the downtown diversity of restaurants available. Bookings recommend always!

Enjoy your meal and then return to the Kinnear Centre for live music and connection time.
Friday May 9, 2025 5:30pm - 7:00pm MDT
Choose your own adventure

8:00pm MDT

Live Music and Dancing on the Patio
Friday May 9, 2025 8:00pm - 11:00pm MDT
Join us to sit and enjoy around the fire or dance to the Patio with Heather's beautiful music.

Heather's songwriting spans the emotional spectrum, a skill complemented by her diverse instrumental abilities that have become the hallmark of her musical identity. Not just a musician, but a one-woman band, Heather seamlessly blends traditional instruments with a contemporary flair, creating a stage presence that sets her apart. With a radiant energy, captivating stage performances, and undeniable talent, she has redefined what it means to be a solo artist.
Boasting three full-length albums, Heather weaves a tapestry of stories that captivate listeners with each phrase. Her musical journey, she notes, is a perpetual quest for tone and stage sound, an ongoing exploration fueled by a relentless passion for her craft. Her setup is unparalleled — an acoustic guitar, clawhammer banjo, electric lap steel, and overdriven harmonica rack mic, and a uniquely designed double-chambered cajon, all part of a mesmerizing performance that involves drumming with her feet, playing multiple instruments, and triggering loops with precision.
Friday May 9, 2025 8:00pm - 11:00pm MDT
Kinnear Patio Firepit 1
  Social Event
  • about In the realm of mountain music, Heather Gemmell stands out with her signature style — a flat-brimmed hat, cascading golden locks, and an infectious smile that radiates through her performances. From Kimberley BC, A trailblazer in her own right, Heather secured the prestigious CBC Searchlight 2022 Fan Choice Award for her compelling song "NorthStar Burning," a poignant narrative that resonated deeply across western Canada. The song delves into the devastating arson that crippled her hometown ski hill and local economy, capturing the hearts of thousands.<br><br>Heather's songwriting spans the emotional spectrum, a skill complemented by her diverse instrumental abilities that have become the hallmark of her musical identity. Not just a musician, but a one-woman band, Heather seamlessly blends traditional instruments with a contemporary flair, creating a stage presence that sets her apart. With a radiant energy, captivating stage performances, and undeniable talent, she has redefined what it means to be a solo artist.<br>Boasting three full-length albums, Heather weaves a tapestry of stories that captivate listeners with each phrase. Her musical journey, she notes, is a perpetual quest for tone and stage sound, an ongoing exploration fueled by a relentless passion for her craft. Her setup is unparalleled — an acoustic guitar, clawhammer banjo, electric lap steel, and overdriven harmonica rack mic, and a uniquely designed double-chambered cajon, all part of a mesmerizing performance that involves drumming with her feet, playing multiple instruments, and triggering loops with precision.<br> <br>As a Seydel Harmonica endorser, she never leaves behind her arsenal of mouth harps and Rackit 2.0 microphone.<br>Heather's uniqueness extends beyond her instrumentation; it permeates her evolving persona. Over her fifteen-year career, she has become a powerhouse in the East-and West Kootenay musical landscape, garnering respect and acclaim. Her dedication to music is palpable every time she takes the stage, delivering performances packed with what she describes as "Roots &amp; Blues-grass," a fusion of Canadian/Americana flavor. Always one to engage with her audience, Heather steps off her kick drums, mingles with the crowd, and distributes hand-made percussion instruments during her shows. With a new wireless instrument system enhancing her interactions, her performances are a captivating, eye-catching experience that transcends age barriers. Heather Gemmell is not just a musician; she is a dynamic force shaping the future of mountain music with her unparalleled talent and evolving artistry.
 
Outdoor Learning Conference 2025
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