Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and experiential outdoor engagement opportunities, participants will engage in a forum‑style exchange of ideas, bringing system leaders together to examine challenges, share innovations, and collaboratively explore how outdoor learning can drive meaningful systems‑level transformation in K–12 education.
Through a systems approach, we will address how school districts can seamlessly and intentionally leverage Outdoor Learning to embed the following key focus areas into their strategic planning and visioning:
➢ Leadership and System Implementation
➢ Policy, Operations and Risk Management
➢ Student and Staff Health and Wellbeing
➢ Indigenous Knowledge
➢ Environmental and Climate Education
➢ Literacy and Numeracy
The Outdoor Learning Leadership Conference invites system leaders, academics, researchers, and partner organizations to submit workshop proposals that advance systems‑level change in outdoor learning across the K-12 education system. We welcome workshops that highlight evidence‑informed practices, innovative programs, facilitation approaches, leadership strategies, research, and models that support meaningful and sustainable systems‑level change.
The overarching theme for the 2026 Conference is “Leading Systems Change through Place and Pedagogy,” with a strong emphasis on advancing systems change throughout all discussions and learning experiences. Workshop proposals should align with one or more of our key focus areas: Leadership and System Implementation, Policy, Operations and Risk Management, Student and Staff Health and Wellbeing, Indigenous Knowledge, Environmental and Climate Education, Literacy and Numeracy.
Call for Proposals is now open, and submissions will be accepted until April 16, 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact leadershipconference@takemeoutside.ca
The Outdoor Learning Leadership Conference is designed as a leadership forum focused on systems change. This gathering brings together school system leaders, researchers, and partners to explore how outdoor learning can be meaningfully embedded across education systems.
We are seeking workshop proposals that share practical strategies, leadership experiences, and system-level insights that can help advance outdoor learning within school systems.
All sessions should connect to the conference theme of Systems Change in Outdoor Learning. We are particularly interested in proposals that explore how outdoor learning can support leadership and systems change. The following are examples of the types of topics and discussions we are planning for the conference and are intended only as guidance for applicants wishing to submit proposals.
Leadership and System Implementation
Policy, Operations and Risk Management
Student and Staff Health and Wellbeing
Indigenous Knowledge
Environmental and Climate Education
Literacy and Numeracy
As you prepare your proposal, consider the following questions:
✔ Impact on K–12 education: How will your presentation positively influence the K–12 education system?
✔ Inspiration to action: How will your session inspire participants to take meaningful action or translate ideas into practice?
✔ Practical application: What concrete examples, strategies, or actions will you offer to support implementation?
✔ Collaboration: How have you partnered with other system leaders, Indigenous leaders, or community partners in this work?
✔ Equity and inclusion: How will your presentation support all learners?
✔ Strategic planning: How does your session address system‑level planning or long‑term change?
✔ Removing barriers: How will your workshop help participants identify and remove barriers to outdoor learning?
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 have introduced a Team Registration option to encourage districts, organizations, and partners to attend the conference as a cohesive group rather than as individual participants. Because this gathering is focused on systems-level change, we want to support teams of leaders who can learn together, reflect together, and bring shared insights back to their school systems.
Teams of 3–5 participants receive a 15% registration discount (saving up to $450 per team).
We encourage school systems and partner organizations to attend as Leadership Teams whenever possible. Partner organizations are also welcome to attend with senior school system leaders they collaborate with (such as superintendents, senior administrators, or system-level staff). Bringing a small team helps ensure that the ideas and conversations at the conference translate into real momentum and implementation within school systems.
For more information or to register a team, please contact leadershipconference@takemeoutside.ca.
We recognize that many educators will be relying on financial support or funding to enable them to participate. With that in mind:
We will offer full refunds until September 10, 2026 (i.e if you apply for funding to support your registration but do not receive it) – rest assured your spot will go to someone on the wait list
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.
Please note, the program below is subject to change. A detailed schedule will be made available summer 2026.
Prices listed above are not inclusive of taxes + fees.
Please note: 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)
Once registration is open, a link to book discounted accommodations will be found here.
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 – TakeMeOutside2026 – 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:
Answer: Early Bird Registration is offered at $595, with the Regular Registration Rate offered at $635. 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 will open April 28, 2026 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET.
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 TakeMeOutside2026 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.
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 2026, 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 find a high-level overview of what to expect each day on our Program page. A more detailed schedule will be released in the summer.
Answer: We aren’t officially facilitating any child care services during the 2026 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!