Take Me Outside Day: A Celebration of Outdoor Learning
Take Me Outside Day is on Wednesday, October 23rd 2024, with a full week of fun and learning!
Sign up and get ready to head outside with over 500,000 other educators and learners!
For TMO Day en francais
Take Me Outside Day helps to raise awareness about outdoor learning by encouraging educators to take their learners outside. This FREE virtual event is an entire week full of activities, speakers, and prizes to encourage folks to head beyond the four walls of a classroom! With the help of our 100+ outdoor learning partners, there is something for all ages, grades, and subjects under the three central themes of Indigenous Perspectives & Knowledge, Environmental Education & Climate Change, and Health & Wellbeing.
Keep scrolling to sign up and for more details regarding virtual field trips, speakers, resources, and prizes!
Register for Take Me Outside Day
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Schedule
Register for free access to all of the amazing sessions and chances for prizes! Check out our interactive program for an overview of the week! For more details regarding specific sessions and speakers continue scrolling. To download your own version of the program click here!
Registering for Take Me Outside Day gives you access to all of the following sessions, so sign up today! Needed materials and session links will be shared with those who have registered prior to the week. If you have any questions please reach out to us at info@takemeoutside.ca
Monday, October 21 – theme: Indigenous Knowledge and Ways of Knowing
8:30am PT/ 11:30am ET – YOU ARE THE LAND Workshop with Sarah-Anne Tourond
Hosted in partnership with Strong Nations, join Sarah-Anne as she shares her book “You Are The Land”, and guides us through a short meditation and yoga practice, wrapping up her session with a question period and an art project prompt to do following the session.
Ages: 3-13 years old
How to prepare: Be ready to move your bodies!
StreamYard link: https://streamyard.com/watch/Yw7APtfrEAhb
Can’t join us live? Watch the session on YouTube here.
10am PT/ 1pm ET – Ancestral Technology Canoe STEM Challenge with Dawn Pratt of askenootow STEM
Join Dawn Pratt of askenootow STEM for this interactive and exciting STEM challenge featuring canoes! In this challenge, learners will use what they know about and can investigate buoyancy, forces, and motion to design and build a small-scale engineering buoyant floatation system that will float self-balance, and hold the weight of rocks when they set trail on their waterway path. Just as Indigenous people had to develop solutions for water transportation for migration or trade, students will follow the engineering design process to design and build a buoyant self-balancing system out of cardboard, straws, balloons, and masking tape; floatation designs will be tested to hold weight while self-balancing and buoyant in a water environment.
Ages: 8-14+ years old
How to prepare: Please gather supplies such as string, balloons, duct tape, plastic ties, elastics, straws, popsicle sticks, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, corks, paper plates, markers, cardboard, and scissors for the construction of your designs. You will also require a vessel that holds water to test your designs and various items that can be used as weights such as rocks.
StreamYard link: https://streamyard.com/watch/D82BWaZbR3VW
Can’t join us live? Watch the session on YouTube here.
11am PT/ 2pm ET – A Relational Path: Learning to Live with the Land – Author Read-Aloud with Emma Metallic and Artist Nathalie Laurin
Hosted in partnership with Strong Nations Publishing join author Emma Metallic (Mi’gmaw) and illustrator Natalie Laurin (Métis, settler) as they introduce the Cedar School Decodable Series. Developed in partnership with Dyslexia Canada, the series will be available this fall from Strong Nations Publishing. During this session, Emma will guide us through one of Liv, Tom, Gus, and Bell’s adventures as they discover the importance of Outdoor Education and Mi’gmaw teachings. A question period will allow the audience to ask Emma and Natalie about their creative process.
Ages: 3-7 years old
StreamYard link: https://streamyard.com/watch/shRebPyfj5At
Can’t join us live? Watch the session on YouTube here.
4pm PT/ 7pm ET – Natural Curiosity Throughout the Seasons
Hosted in partnership with Natural Curiosity this session will explore how to integrate the four branches of the Natural Curiosity framework, guiding educators to bring their students outdoors for deepened learning experiences. Participants will gain practical tools and examples for implementing these concepts in their own practice, with a focus on hands-on and hearts-on, experiential approaches that engage students with the environment and build meaningful connections to the world around them. Designed to inspire, the session offers actionable strategies to create transformative outdoor learning experiences that connect students to the natural world throughout the seasons.
This is a PD session intended for educators.
Ages: Adult
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86055001640?pwd=x8OXmdtp1NjrJuwOGajaYOzAq8Xopz.1
Can’t join us live? We’ll email out a link to the recording of this workshop after the session.
Tuesday, October 22 – theme: Environmental Education & Climate Change
8:30am PT/ 11:30am ET – Tales with Whales
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to study whales? Step into the shoes of an Ocean Wise whale researcher as we explore what makes these animals so special, who is who, and what being a whale researcher is all about. Join this live session to begin your virtual whale-watching journey and learn how you can protect whales even from afar!
Ages: All Ages!
StreamYard Link: https://streamyard.com/watch/4FtNiDHQjSbP
Can’t join us live? Watch the session on YouTube here.
10am PT/ 1pm ET – Climate Change from Space with Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Joshua Kutryk
Join Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Joshua Kutryk as he shares his experiences in training to go to space and his love of the outdoors! Joshua will also reflect on the importance of space exploration and Earth observation in protecting and preserving our planet and its many ecosystems! Join us for a virtual field trip that is sure to be OUT OF THIS WORLD!
Ages: All Ages!
StreamYard link: https://streamyard.com/watch/sxr8aCruUGfh
Can’t join us live? Watch the session on YouTube here.
11am PT/ 2pm ET – Virtual Youth Climate Action Panel with moderator Larissa Crawford
Join a dynamic conversation moderated by Larissa Crawford with inspiring youth and changemakers who are taking climate action in their local communities! Featuring Youth Climate Activists Naia Lee, Indigo Kim, and Karishma Porwal.
Ages: 14+ years old
StreamYard link: https://streamyard.com/watch/WNkrbfqvQitX
Can’t join us live? Watch the session on YouTube here.
4pm PT/ 7pm ET – Climate Connections: Climate Change Education in Outdoor Learning
Hosted in partnership with the Outdoor Learning Store learn about integrating Climate Change Ed (CCE) into your teaching practice in this virtual workshop, which offers inspiring ideas for CCE for elementary teachers and their students. It will introduce promising practices from K-8 teachers that connect CCE to socio-emotional learning, Indigenous ways of knowing, climate justice, critical hope, and age-appropriate climate action.
Offered by Hilary Inwood and Maria Vamvalis of the Accelerating CCE in Teacher Ed, which supports and accelerates Climate Change Education (CCE) in Teacher Education. Educators at all levels, from Kindergarten to higher education, are well-positioned to lead the cultural shifts needed for equitable, just, and sustainable forms of living on the Earth. The ACCE-TE team supports professional learning in CCE for faculty and students in preservice teacher education programs and for those already in the teaching profession (in-service teachers).
This PD Session is part of our Fall Workshop Series! Click here to learn about upcoming workshops or to watch past recordings.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xUJjcVeLTUW-UtCWxXwGjw#/registration
Can’t join us live? We’ll email out a link to the recording of this workshop after the session.
Wednesday, October 23 – theme: TAKE ME OUTSIDE DAY
Join us for the 14th annual Take Me Outside Day! Educators and learners are encouraged to spend at least 1 hour outdoors! If you need any suggestions, check out our TMO Day Resource Page for a list of activities and lessons that can be done outside with your learners!
8:30am PT/ 11:30am ET – Heartbeat of the Earth with Rise Up Indigenous Wellness
Join Launa Payne and Sherelle Anderson of Rise Up Indigenous Wellness for an interactive classroom session where Indigenous knowledge is weaved into everyday learning. This session will include mindfulness and movement. We will cover the holistic model of wellness, balancing the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical being.
Ages: All ages!
How to prepare: Please have a classroom set of stones/rocks of similar sizes and shapes, and cup of water for each student.
StreamYard link: https://streamyard.com/watch/NGRXNQx7bUgV
Can’t join us live? Watch the session on YouTube here.
10am PT/ 1pm ET – Singalong with Remy Rodden
Join eco-singer Remy Rodden for a fun and interactive singalong! Remy is committed to helping children learn about nature through song!
Ages: 3-13 years old
StreamYard link: https://streamyard.com/watch/kXXdQvfEy7q5
Can’t join us live? Watch the session on YouTube here.
Thursday, October 24 – theme: Health & Wellbeing
7:30am PT/ 10:30am ET – L’Art en plein air, avec le Musée des beaux-arts de l’Ontario (séance francophone)
L’art favorise la santé, le bien-être et un lien avec la nature! En partenariat avec Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, rejoignez le Musée des beaux-arts de l’Ontario pour explorer des œuvres d’art inspirées de la nature. Bien qu’installé à l’intérieur, dans notre atelier visuel, on fera une exploration des espèces régionales. Apportez trois feuilles de papier et un crayon pour réaliser des expériences de dessin que vous pourrez pratiquer en classe, puis essayez en plein air, dans les coins de nature d’à côté!
Ages: All ages!
How to prepare: Apportez trois feuilles de papier et un crayon.
StreamYard link: https://streamyard.com/watch/cs6G48sPmx2w
Can’t join us live? Watch the session on YouTube here.
8:30 am PT / 11:30am ET – Q&A with Canadian Olympic Triathlon Athlete – Tyler Mislawchuk
Join us in partnership with PHE Canada in welcoming three-time Olympian Tyler Mislawchuk as he joins Take Me Outside Day fresh off his appearance at the 2024 World Triathlon Championship Finals and the 2024 Paris Olympics earlier this summer. Tyler will share his journey to becoming a high-level athlete and the important role the outdoors has played in shaping him and his well-being.
Ages: 8-14+ years old
StreamYard link: https://streamyard.com/watch/rjTHdCMrasQA
Can’t join us live? Watch the session on YouTube here.
10am PT/ 1pm ET – All About Polar Bears
Hosted in partnership with Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants join us in welcoming Polar Bears International LIVE from a Tundra Buggy to watch polar bears on the tundra outside of Churchill, Manitoba while learning all about how they have adapted to their incredible environment, how we study them, and ways in which we can work together to protect our shared future.
Ages: All ages!
StreamYard link: https://streamyard.com/watch/JhViC6Y3Dz4v
Can’t join us live? Watch the session on YouTube here.
11am PT/ 2pm ET – Nature Art with Art Gallery of Ontario (English Session)
Art supports health, well-being, and a connection to the outdoors! Hosted in partnership with Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants join the Art Gallery of Ontario to explore a work of art inspired by nature. Bring three sheets of paper and a pencil for drawing experiments that you can practice in the classroom, then try outdoors!
Ages: All ages!
How to prepare: Bring 3 sheets of paper and a pencil!
StreamYard link: https://streamyard.com/watch/5yGcZMEdzkiW
Can’t join us live? Watch the session on YouTube here.
Friday, October 25 – theme: Day of Reflection
Collaborative Changemaker Challenge!
Following a week of inspiring and engaging virtual field trips and sessions – share your climate action pledge! In partnership with GreenLearning’s eCard gallery, TMO challenges learners and educators to reflect on the week and share how they plan to support the environment and natural world through Outdoor Learning. Together we hope to create a gallery of change and demonstrate the important role youth are playing in taking climate ACTION!
A huge thanks to GreenLearning for supporting this year’s collaborative reflection activity! Check back soon for more details on how you can participate and submit your own eCard.
Resources
Coming soon…
About TMO Day
If you’d like to get an idea of what is involved with Take Me Outside Day, you can check out the full recap of 2022 here, (including all the recordings from our speakers), or our summary video from 2021 below! Our organizational Impact Reports are also available here. And feel free to reach out if you have any further questions: info@takemeoutside.ca.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Outdoor Learning
We are committed to creating a future for outdoor learning where diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental and foundational pieces that illuminate the beauty and strength of our learning communities. We recognize, as individuals and as a collective, that not every school-aged child in Canada has an equal opportunity to engage in outdoor learning at present. We also recognize that not all educators have equal opportunity or experience with taking learning outdoors, due to a wide variety of barriers. We envision a future where every school-aged child and every educator feels welcome learning outdoors.
Part of our commitment to this work in the realm of outdoor learning is to further support and educate our community on strategies to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into outdoor learning, and further into all educational practices.
We are developing a section of our website here where you will find tools and resources to assist you in making sure your outdoor learning can address issues of race, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientation, accessibility needs, and other marginalized identities.
