Outdoor Learning Conference 2025: Full Schedule

Welcome to the 2025 Outdoor Learning Conference

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11:00am MDT

Empowering Schools: A Comprehensive School Health Approach to Climate Change LIMITED

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

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

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 (Indoor Space)

Health and Wellbeing Workshop

2:00pm MDT

School Ground Solutions at The Intersection of Health, Education and Nature LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:15pm MDT

203 (Indoor Space)

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

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)

Health and Wellbeing Workshop

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 (Indoor Space)

We will start this session in Room 203, using an LCD projector to show a variety of outdoor activities that engage and empower participants of different ages. We 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. Grant will email an opinion piece "On Activists and Bystanders" to those who preregister for this session. He will also draw from his recently published and highly praised book, "Outdoor Magic: The Power of Nature Connection". Activities for the outdoor component will depend upon Grant's pre-walk near our outdoor meeting place.

Please this session will end outside at Bee.

Speakers

Grant Linney

Presenter (1100+ presentations), 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 (Indoor Space)

Environmental and Climate Change Education Workshop

Outdoor Learning Conference 2025