Strategic Plan

Over the past 8 months, Take Me Outside has developed a new Strategic Plan for 2025-2027. We feel excited about the work we’re tackling and what lies ahead, but more importantly, we know that supporting educators in taking their learners outside is paramount. Changing this approach of where learning happens to consistently include the outdoors can be so impactful.

Three long term and impact focused outcomes for Take Me Outside in the next 3 years include:

1. Educator and Learner Health and Wellbeing: Decreased symptoms of anxiety or depression and improved physical and mental wellbeing, as a result of learning happening outside. This includes addressing an educator population that is experiencing higher rates of burnout.

2. Environmental Literacy: Increased connection to the environment leading to a deeper understanding of environmental issues like climate change, as a result of learning happening outside.

3. Commitment to Reconciliation: By uplifting and amplifying Indigenous Knowledge, perspectives and Ways of Knowing, learners can connect more deeply to the land to help facilitate action on Truth and Reconciliation.

To address these outcomes in the next three years, with funding secured, Take Me Outside will:

• Engage directly with new educators and those who are OL curious to promote, advocate and support outdoor learning opportunities
• Build a community of educators already practicing OL to help break down barriers (real and perceived) and provide supports to embed OL into teaching practices more broadly
• Collaborate with school system administrators to help understand the benefits of OL and how to remove barriers
• Work with underrepresented educators and communities to develop supports for OL