Outdoor Learning Conference 2025: Full Schedule

Welcome to the 2025 Outdoor Learning Conference

3:15pm MDT

Building Readers and Writers Through Engaging with Place-based Sustainability Issues LIMITED

Thursday May 8, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT

The ability to use language—whether to share ideas, raise awareness, or speak up—is key to building a more sustainable future. Strong reading, writing, and thinking skills are often overlooked but are essential for achieving sustainability goals.
In this session, you’ll discover how to use critical literacy to help students analyze texts (including the environment), consider diverse perspectives, and examine power and justice in their local communities. We’ll explore practical activities, sample lessons, and a framework based on examples from a recent place-based, integrated unit research pilot entitled Who Speaks for the Trees, conducted in upper elementary grades in Canada. Leave inspired and equipped to integrate sustainability topics into language arts—or any subject—and empower students to create meaningful change.

Speakers

Jaime Groeller

Connect Charter School

Jaime Groeller is a settler Canadian who has been teaching for 15 years at a school with a focus on outdoor education and inquiry-based learning. This school is located in what is now often referred to as Calgary, Alberta, but is historically and currently known as Moh'kinstsis, Wîchispa... Read More →

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 →

Ivy Waite

Ivy is a settler educator who lives on and benefits from the traditional lands of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), which includes the Siksika, the Pikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina Nation, and Îyârhe Nakoda. She has taught alongside the human and more than human world in Calgary at... Read More →

Thursday May 8, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Raven

Environmental and Climate Change Education Workshop, Environmental and Climate Education

11:00am MDT

Teaching Math Outdoors for K-5 Educators FULL

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

Raven

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

Rachel Tidd

Executive Director, Wild Learning

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

Environmental and Climate Change Education Workshop

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

Raven

Speakers

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

Indigenous Ways of Knowing Workshop

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

Raven

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

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 →

Starlene Ruttan

Educator, University of Guelph

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 →

Kim Barton

Friday May 9, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm MDT
Raven

Health and Wellbeing Workshop

9:45am MDT

Don't Stop Be-leafing: Games for Every Outdoor Enthusiast! FULL

Saturday May 10, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am MDT

Raven

"Don’t just survive in your classroom...believe in it and make it an adventure! Get familiar with tons of resources and activities for your group! Whether you are on a trip, doing icebreaker games, or having fun, team building will always be important on your journey. This session will cover activities your group can do for team building, confidence, communication and leadership. One key concept that is often overlooked after a trip, pursuit or adventure is the power of a strong debrief. Debriefs can help bring meaning and closure to events and are also a key component for sustainability and improving the growth of your group.
Join us as we explore the classroom beyond four walls and entire nature with attitudes loaded with fun!"

Speakers

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 →

Saturday May 10, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am MDT
Raven

Health and Wellbeing Workshop

Outdoor Learning Conference 2025