The overarching theme for the 2025 Outdoor Learning Conference is “Exploring Place and Pedagogy”. Conference key focus areas will include Indigenous Knowledge, Health & Wellbeing, Literacy & Numeracy, Systems Change and Environmental & Climate Change Education.
We will hear from experts in these fields through keynote presentations, panel discussions and hands-on workshops that specifically address school system issues. We hope that you are able to come and build community through inclusion, inspiration and ideas.
Meals included with conference ticket:
Superintendents and directors
Principals and vice-principals
Academics and researchers
Curriculum coordinators
Consultants
District Leads
Educators with system level influence
outdoor learning and teaching the curriculum
policies, guidelines and best practices
risk and safety management
training and supporting staff in their outdoor teaching journey
evidence-based research
supporting school mental health through outdoor learning
Indigenous pedagogy and decolonizing education
inclusivity and offering opportunities for all
If you have any questions, please contact leadershipconference@takemeoutside.ca
We’re excited to share that we've been able to increase capacity and now have a limited number of spots available. If you would like to attend, please register below.
We are committed to supporting underserved or underrepresented communities to attend our event. If you face financial barriers to attend and identify as Black, Indigenous, another Person Of Colour, lived experience with a disability, LGBTQ2S+ or another marginalised group. Please reach out to leadershipconference@takemeoutside.ca for the potential of a subsidised registration (limited places).
We recognize that many educators will be relying on financial support or funding to enable them to participate. With that in mind:
Dr. Mariana Brussoni is Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership, Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, Investigator at the British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute and Director of the Outside Play Lab. Her award-winning research investigates children’s outdoor play and learning, focusing on parents’ and educators’ perceptions of risk, design of play-friendly environments, and changing systems to ensure children have the time, space and freedom to play and learn outside every day. Further details: https://www.outsideplay.org/
Megan has over 25 years’ experience as a professional K-7 classroom teacher and is a mum of 3 active teenagers. Megan is widely known for her expertise in school gardens and risky play at school, and is currently employed as a Teacher Consultant with the BC MOECC provincial outreach program for the early years (POPEY). Megan is particularly interested in how teachers enact pedagogies of place and play in outdoor learning environments. Her PhD research resulted in a FREE teacher capacity building tool for outdoor play and learning available at teacher.outsideplay.org. To learn more about her work, visit: https://meganzeni.com
Dr. Sean Lessard is from Montreal Lake Cree Nation in northern Saskatchewan Treaty 6 territory. Sean is an award winning writer and researcher with his interest related to Indigenous Youth Wellness both in and outside of school places. Sean is well known for designing and developing innovative programming in schools that empower and create spaces for high level achievement in youth. His most recent work is co-designing land based wellness programming and writing kids books.
Dr. Kevin Kiers has over 30 years of experience teaching and leading students outside. He developed division-wide outdoor schools for Grades 5-9 in Alberta that engaged thousands of students and teachers in outdoor learning experiences. He has led more than 300 nights of backcountry trips with students, directed curriculum-based outdoor education programs using the Expeditionary Learning Model, and chaired Burman University’s Outdoor Leadership Department. He now teaches in Burman’s School of Education, focusing his curriculum and instruction courses on indoor and outdoor teaching methods. Kevin’s Alberta-based doctoral research identified seven factors for successful outdoor learning. He is the author of New Camp Director (2024), lead editor of the textbook Outdoor Experiential Learning in Canada (December 2025), and author of the upcoming instructional book Teach Outside.
Dr. Mariana Brussoni is Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership, Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, Investigator at the British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute and Director of the Outside Play Lab. Her award-winning research investigates children’s outdoor play and learning, focusing on parents’ and educators’ perceptions of risk, design of play-friendly environments, and changing systems to ensure children have the time, space and freedom to play and learn outside every day. Further details: https://www.outsideplay.org/
Megan has over 25 years’ experience as a professional K-7 classroom teacher and is a mum of 3 active teenagers. Megan is widely known for her expertise in school gardens and risky play at school, and is currently employed as a Teacher Consultant with the BC MOECC provincial outreach program for the early years (POPEY). Megan is particularly interested in how teachers enact pedagogies of place and play in outdoor learning environments. Her PhD research resulted in a FREE teacher capacity building tool for outdoor play and learning available at teacher.outsideplay.org. To learn more about her work, visit: https://meganzeni.com
Nicole McKenzie is the principal of Ci:tməxw Environmental Community in Maple Ridge, where she has led for the past three years. With a Master’s degree in Nature-Based and Place-Conscious Learning, Nicole is passionate about creating a learning environment that connects students with the natural world. At Ci:tməxw Environmental Community, the values of community, place-based education, and sustainability are at the core of everything they do, ensuring students develop a deep understanding of ecology and their relationship with nature.
Nicole’s leadership is focused on fostering a school culture where students not only thrive academically but also grow as responsible stewards of the environment. She looks forward to sharing her experiences and collaborating with other educators to further the impact of nature-based and sustainable learning practices.
Erica Phipps, MPH, PhD, is a long-time advocate for strategies to improve children’s health and well-being by reducing toxic chemicals and other environmental hazards in the places where they live, play, learn and grow. She serves as the Executive Director of the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE), a national collaboration of organizations that work together to advance children’s environmental health protection (healthyenvironmentforkids.ca). She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa where she co-leads a national research consortium focused on prenatal environmental health. With a passion for collaborative approaches, much of Erica’s work focuses on fostering intersectoral relationships and co-creating strategies towards the vision of healthy and sustainable environments for all children.
Dr. Jennifer Gruno is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Victoria. Her teaching and research aim is to support in-service and pre-service teachers in the fostering of young people’s human-nature connectedness and nature-literacy. Jenn believes developing a deep connection with nature is a way to grow our capacity as people, and as educators, to face the climate emergency.
Jina Taylor is the Physical Literacy Lead Teacher for School District 71. She is passionate about collaborating with teachers and students to share knowledge, build confidence, and foster competence in physical literacy in a variety of environments through engaging resources and meaningful learning experiences.
Heidi Fingas is a seasoned educator and mental health advocate based in Stonewall, Manitoba. As Coordinator of Mental Health & Well-Being for the Lord Selkirk School Division, she leads initiatives that promote the success and well-being for all; learners, educators, staff, and community members. Heidi holds a double Master’s degree in Education, with specializations in Special Education and School Counselling. With over 20 years of experience in rural, urban, and international schools, she has served in roles ranging from classroom teacher to administrator, student support specialist, and system-level leader.
Kailey Setter, is the Experiential Education Manager at the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Kailey oversees the design and delivery of the organization’s suite of formal education programs, including educator professional development and student learning. With over 15 years of experience working in the environmental nonprofit sector, she has experience designing and delivering community engagement, outreach and education programs for a diverse range of audiences. Her past work experience includes positions with some of Canada’s leading conservation organizations, including the Calgary Zoo, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
Ellen Long focuses on growing future forest and conservation leaders through Project Learning Tree Canada’s environmental education and forest literacy programming. She leads the implementation of national programs to grow PLT’s reach and impact across Canada. Ellen believes that the best way to expand PLT’s national presence is by engaging directly with educators and school counselors and by nurturing relationships with school districts and other strategic partners. Ellen has over 10 years of experience designing, implementing, and leading education programs with leading non-profits in Canada. She holds a Master and Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa. Outside work, you will find Ellen in her garden, chasing her kids around a local park, or riding her bike.
Richard Pierre, Sdemokeltel, is from Katzie First Nation on his fathers side, and Tsawout First Nation on his mothers side. Richard is an Elder and Cultural Advisor at Len Pierre Consulting. He enjoys sharing traditional Coast Salish family values, culture, beliefs, history, language, and contemporary issues. Richard has over 20 years of experience working in the education sector including public K-12, university, and professional training programs. He is passionate about making reconciliation a reality in this country and looks forward to helping the next generation transition into "walking together" like we should have been doing all along.
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 elementary special education teacher with an M.S. in Elementary and Special Education from Bank Street College of Education. She is a doctoral candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, specializing in Educational Sustainability with a focus on literacy. Her research examines how English language arts can be integrated with sustainability literacy, including a recent study conducted in fourth-grade classrooms in Canada. You can find her at discoverwildlearning.com.
Mike has spent time as an outdoor teacher in the public school system who worked in partnership with Outward Bound Canada. During this time the focus was on leading grade 7 through 12 students to gain leadership and independence in the mountain regions Of Alberta. As a school Administrator Mike has worked in three different British Columbia high schools which all had outdoor learning that focused on exploring the ideas of service learning, pushing boundaries, and distributed leadership. Presently, Mike is a Director of Instruction for School District 5 and is located in Fernie BC. Mike is advancing outdoor and environmental learning through the lens of the Kootenay-Boundary Environmental Education Initiative (KBEE) a committee of the Kootenay-Boundary Chapter of the British Columbia School Superintendent Association (BCSSA).
The Kootenay-Boundary Environmental Education Initiative (KBEE) is coordinated by a committee of the Kootenay-Boundary Chapter of the British Columbia School Superintendents Association (BCSSA). This includes School Districts 5, 6, 8, 10, 20 and 51. The goal of the KBEE to better support students’ understanding of their local environment and empowering thoughtful action, through learning that is outdoor, experiential, place-based and place-conscious.
Aleks Waliszewska (she/her) is an educator, parent and graduate student at the University of Victoria in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction. Her thesis focused on more-than-human literacies in an elementary outdoor program. She has learned with Gwich’in, Nuxalk, independent school, and public school communities. Aleks completed a collaborative project funded by the inaugural Climate Education Fellowship Program in 2024 and has been serving on the EPIC Board of Directors, a nature-based program, since 2023. Aleks feels a responsibility to explore learning models based on cooperation, decolonization, social justice, ecological accountability, and entanglement. Aleks can be reached at awalisze@uvic.ca
Meredith Lemon received her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Victoria. Her dissertation focused on identifying taken-for-granted, unsustainable, Western cultural teachings embedded in both the BC curriculum-as-plan as well as educators’ practice (herself included). She is a sessional instructor at Royal Roads University and the University of Victoria. Meredith also works with the Xwsepsəm (Esquimalt) Nation education team and has over the last five years. Her research areas, including current postdoctoral studies, focus on curriculum studies, STEM, and ecological education with the aim of strengthening and rebuilding relationships with the more-than-human world. Meredith can be reached at mjlemon@uvic.ca
Laura Nickerson is the Board and District Program Manager at EcoSchools Canada, where she works with students, educators, administrators, and district staff to advance environmental learning and climate action. She holds an MA in Environmental Education and Communication and has over 15 years of experience working with students of all ages to explore nature and environmental sustainability. She is committed to empowering young people transform their ideas and interests into meaningful action for the planet.
Sierra Frank, Co-Executive Director: Sierra has been with EcoSchools Canada for 10 years. In her role, Sierra supports strategic and operational planning, partnership development, and oversight of Canada’s largest national environmental certification program for k-12 schools. With over 15 years of professional experience in the education, environmental, and non-profit sectors, Sierra has extensive practice in team and organizational leadership, program development, and teaching people of all ages, from preschoolers to adults. In both her professional and personal pursuits, Sierra has a deep and long-standing commitment to creating healthy, sustainable, and just communities.
Patrick is a teacher educator, scholar and educational consultant working with diverse partners across BC and Canada. He leads Syncollab Strategies, a consulting collaborative in B.C. working with a range of local, provincial and national partners, and co-leads the Education for Sustainability teacher education cohort in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia. Patrick also serves as the Network Coordinator of the Classrooms to Communities (C2C) Education Network in BC, and is a director or advisor for various other provincial and national organizations focused on sustainability, place and land-based learning, climate change, teacher education and educational transformation. He is currently engaged in PhD studies at UBC with SSHRC-funded research focused on climate change education in K-12 and teacher education in collaboration with universities, school districts, BC Ministries, and community partners.
Jacob Rodenburg is an award-winning educator, author, and Executive Director of Camp
Kawartha, dedicated to inspiring environmental stewardship for more than 35 years. He is the
author of The Big Book of Nature Activities and The Book of Nature Connection, both recognized
with multiple awards, and his newest book, The Wild Path Home, offers a roadmap for raising
the next generation of Earth stewards. Jacob is also the co-creator of the Pathway to
Stewardship and Kinship, a community-wide framework cited in the UN’s 2019 Report on
Biodiversity. He teaches environmental education at Trent University.
Sheri Tarrington, Interpretation and Experience Manager, CPAWS Southern Alberta
On the Land in Treaty 7, Sheri is learning and limitless - a mentee, a mentor and a very grateful earthling. For the past two decades, environmental education and conservation communications positions with CPAWS Southern Alberta and Parks Canada have amplified her belief that all humans are better humans when they wander, wonder and play outdoors. Possessing an honours degree in Canadian Studies from the University of Guelph, Sheri is an accredited Professional Interpreter, Hiking Guide and Environmental Education Specialist renowned for her irrepressible, wide-eyed love of nature as a place of beauty, benevolence and belonging.
Identity-remembering who you are and where you come from has always been a guiding principle for Aimee Dixon-Cutknife. A proud member of the Bearspaw First Nation, with deep roots in the Tsuut’ina and Kainai(Blood)First Nations, Aimee was raised in Mînî Thnî, Alberta, by her mother Debbie and the late Tom Dixon, alongside her five siblings. Navigating predominantly white educational spaces, Aimee often found herself caught between two worlds. Today, she proudly walks in both grounded in culture and guided by education. She currently serves as Principal of Nakoda Elementary School where her leadership is rooted in relationships, culture, and community. She has led the development of innovative school-wide initiatives, such as land-based education, Elder and Knowledge Keeper programming and play-based learning. Her work centers on creating safe, empowering spaces for students to thrive mentally, emotionally, academically, and culturally.
Nathan Court serves as the Vice Principal of Nakoda Elementary School, bringing over a decade of educational leadership and classroom experience. Known for his supportive and student-centered approach, Nathan is dedicated to creating opportunities for all learners to succeed both academically and personally. He is passionate about fostering strong school-community relationships and promoting land-based learning that connects students with culture and the environment. Nathan’s leadership style emphasizes collaboration, kindness, and a commitment to continuous growth for both students and staff.
Outside of school, Nathan is a proud father of three children. He enjoys coaching youth sports and spending time in the outdoors, where he continues to nurture his love for nature and active living.
CRPS' Deputy Superintendent Debbie McKibbin brings 30+ years of educational experience with CRPS to her role. In her tenure, she has worked as a teacher, coordinator, assistant principal, and principal in a variety of schools. She also served as the Director of Learning and Innovation before moving into her current role.
Debbie has been actively involved in the visionary work of Inspiring Hearts and Minds since its inception in 2007 and has been instrumental in crafting CRPS’ vision and framework for instructional excellence and nurturing excellence in instruction and leadership.
Debbie has a Masters of Education, a Bachelor of Science degree, and a Bachelor of Education degree. She also holds a graduate certificate in labour relations and human resources from Queen’s University IRC. Modelling the attributes of a life-long learner, Debbie is currently a doctoral student at the University of Calgary.
Peter Prescesky brings over 20 years of experience in outdoor education, driven by a passion for adventure and experiential learning. Originally from the Maritimes, Peter moved to Alberta to focus on outdoor program development and safety planning. Over 21 years in public education—16 of those in outdoor learning—he has helped build two successful programs, including the Canadian Rockies Outdoor Learning Centre (OLC), which grew from serving 35 students to over 3,000 annually under his leadership.
Peter holds certifications in wilderness first aid, avalanche safety, risk management, and paddling instruction, ensuring a safe, high-quality experience for all learners. He believes in the transformative power of nature and enjoys canoeing and world travel with his family.
Karine Rioux is principal of École Tuxedo Park, Winnipeg, a K-4 French Immersion milieu setting. She is proud to lead hope in partnership with staff, students, parents, and other valuable team players, including the UNESCO Associated Schools Network. As she embraces her Métis heritage, Rioux believes in the power of collectively building a promising future in the spirit of reconciling with the land and each other through environmental and social justice within various and enriching educational opportunities in which all students can be successful. Rioux values supporting the implementation of environmental and sustainable education, particularly with outdoor, land and community-based approaches.
Laura Sims teaches in the faculty of education at the Université de Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg. Sims' research specializes in education-for-sustainability and learning in formal (i.e. faculties of education) and non-formal learning contexts (i.e. small scale farmers in Latin America). Previously, she taught high school and managed a Central American CIDA project.
There are a limited number of rooms available at the Banff Centre. Please book soon to ensure a spot. Once rooms at the Banff Centre are fully booked, we will provide attendees with alternative options for accommodation in downtown Banff (Banff Centre is approximately a 15-minute walk from downtown)
You can book online (please only click once and wait for the Banff Centre page to load, it can be slow) or by calling the Banff Centre:
Phone: 403.762.6308
Toll-Free: 1.800.884.7574
There is limited space for people to stay the Saturday night in the Banff Centre too. Please ask when you book. If you are checking out Saturday there will be a designated, secure space for luggage and storage to be kept until your departure.
The closest airport to the Banff Conference Centre is Calgary – approximately 1hr 40 minute drive between the two.
Receive a 15% discount on the Banff Airporter’s daily shuttle service between the Calgary Airport and Banff. Click Banff Airporter and then Book Now. Proceed through the reservation and type – TakeMeOutside2025 – in the “Promo Code?” section on the final payment page to receive the discount. The discount code works up to 2 weeks before the event starts. To guarantee availability, make a reservation at least a month prior to travel.
Please note that these buses are not wheelchair accessible. There are 4-5 steps to go up to get on the buses. They will happily transport a wheelchair or other walking aid in cargo if you are able to negotiate the steps. They recommend traveling with a support person if you need help with steps or will need to be carried onto the bus as drivers may not be able to do so. Please reach out to leadershipconference@takemeoutside.ca if you need support with travel arrangements and we will do all we can to assist you.
Answer: The Outdoor Learning Leadership Conference is designed for and led by school system administrators and leaders. The conference is best suited for: Principals, Vice-Principals, Curriculum Coordinators, District Leaders, Superintendents/Assi
Answer: Early Bird Registration is offered at $575, with the Regular Registration Rate offered at $615. Those who are able to pay the regular rate are encouraged to do so in order to support us in providing subsidies to those facing financial barriers. If you are in need of a subsidy, please contact leadershipconference@takemeoutside.ca to inquire.
Answer: Registration for the 2025 Conference will open at 7am PT on April 15th 2025. For updates and 2025 conference information, sign up to for our mailing list. No account is needed for registration, and you simply need to visit our registration page after April 15th to fill out the simple form and pay upon completion.
Answer: The conference is at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff National Park, Alberta.
The closest airport to the Banff Conference Centre is Calgary – approximately 1hr 40 minute drive between the two.
Conference delegates receive a 15% discount with the code OLConf25 on the Banff Airporter’s daily shuttle service between the Calgary Airport and the Banff Centre (Discount off of regular price $82.90 (one way) or $165.80 (return) for adults).
Please visit our Accommodation & Travel web page for more information.
Answer: The best value and accessibility is to stay on site at the Banff Centre. You can reserve your room here with a discounted rate offered to conference delegates. Rooms available:
Please visit our Accommodation & Travel web page for more information.
Answer: Meals included with conference ticket:
Answer: No, Banff has a great public transport bus system and you can walk between the Banff Centre and downtown Banff in 15-25 minutes.
Answer: Workshops will be listed in summer 2025, and you will be invited by email to register for the workshop choices you prefer at that point, as long as you are registered for the conference.
Answer: You can check out our Program page for a high-level overview of what to expect each day of the 2025 Outdoor Learning Leadership Conference. We are currently working on a more detailed schedule.
Answer: We aren’t officially facilitating any child care services during the 2025 conference; however, we fully endorse the Banff-based operator Child Care Connection, who you may coordinate with directly if needed.
Answer: If you have any questions, please email us at leadershipconference@takemeoutside.ca – we’ll be able to help you!
