42 results for group: early-childhood-educators


Traditional Games in the Classroom

This hands on interactive workshop will showcase several traditional games and how they align with current curricula and how they can be a valuable resource. Children of all ages love the games and the learning and teachings are broad and dynamic.

Kapabamayak Achaak Healing Forest- Live, Learn, Heal

The presenters will gather in a circle on the land. Our Elder will share circle teachings and smudging protocols. Participants will be invited to participate in a smudge. The presenters will provide a brief history of the project and provide examples of land-based practices shared with many visitors to the site such as Indigenous ways-of-knowing and methodologies, environmental sustainability and wellness on the land. Our Elder will share a traditional teaching of how the board works together and the presenters will discuss the collaboration between a diverse group of people who are First Nations, Metis, White, religious and secular, all with a ...

To love and protect: How land based learning leads to environmental stewardship

I run a nature-based preschool located on the homelands of the Lekwungen nation. This national award-winning program founded on the partnership between children and their environments focuses on explorative play, land-based learning, stewardship and interactive education. My hands-on workshop invites early years educators to develop knowledge and skills to engage our youngest learners in environmental exploration and stewardship. Through ethics of respect, children learn to see nature as an amazing classroom with boundless learning opportunities. We will practice simple yet effective and accessible techniques to foster young children’s nature-based ...

Outdoor Play-Based Learning

This hands-on workshop will explore outdoor play-based learning, including the role of the educator, fostering children's self-agency in play, the outdoor play-based learning continuum and the conceptualization of a play-based experiential learning model. Participants will be guided through hands-on experiences, small break out groups, and larger discussion to explore the content and potential of play as an emerging pedagogical current in the outdoor learning field.

Forest and Nature School for All

Dynamics of power and privilege created by colonialism and white supremacy culture have seen the Forest and Nature School (FNS) movement thrive to serve mostly white, settler families across Turtle Island. Together, we will unpack questions of for whom and by whom when creating forest and nature school programs, while deepening awareness around how to dismantle white supremacy culture and decolonize outdoor programming. Through storytelling, play, and considering the ways power and trust play a role in outdoor learning, this workshop aims to collaboratively build knowledge towards creating safer and braver outdoor spaces for BIPOC children and ...

One year in: Our journey launching the Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play

Outdoor play and learning in the early years are essential for physical, mental and environmental health and development. However, efforts and best practices surrounding outdoor early childhood education (ECE) learning and play are rarely shared across sectors to effect sustained change. In 2023 we launched the Canadian Centre for Outdoor Play, a centre of excellence in outdoor practice, research, and policy to mainstream outdoor play and learning. One year into this project, we aim to use this workshop to share our progress and seek input from all those in attendance, including on the launch of our national outdoor ECE framework.

Red River Métis Environment and Climate Change Education

The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), the National Government of the Red River Métis, will engage delegates in a hybrid workshop to, first, gain a deeper understanding of the Red River Métis and their unique history in Canada. Then, showcase hands-on, cultural activities as part of the MMF’s Métis Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow (MELT), Métis Community-Based Climate Monitoring (MCBCM), and Stewards of the Homeland (SOHP) Programs in an outdoor setting; MELT has a focus on environment and climate change education for Youth in grade school (K-12), MCBCM has a focus on environment and climate change education and monitoring for Citizens, and SOHP ...

Braiding Indigenous and Forest School Epistemologies on the Land

Join us, Dorothy Thunder and Tiffany Smith, on the land as we share with you how we braid Indigenous and Forest School epistemologies into relationship building with ourselves, each other and the land at our land-based education program, Blossoming Flower. Workshop participants will gain hands-on experience as they participate in activities the same way our program participants would. The presenter team will reflect on building relationships between Indigenous Knowledge Holders and non-Indigenous educators. Workshop attendees will also have the opportunity to reflect on their practice and experience, and ask questions.

Listen, Heart, Imagine, Reciprocate, Repeat!

In working towards rebuilding a connection with Land, let’s pay attention to some of the colonial-isms perpetuated while learning outdoors, and recalibrate through sound advice from more-than-humans, place, and Indigenous perspectives. This, of course, is in no way comprehensive! However, the session proposes hands-on activities, stories, and learnings, relating to the lost connection with Land, and the ability to do on the spot reflexivity. Participants will leave with ready-to-use lessons/activities featuring senses, imagination, and reciprocity, as well as a better understanding of little things we must ponder while outdoors.

Environmental Games: Bring the fun of outdoor learning into your classroom

Learn a variety of hands-on environmental games and activities that you can do outdoors with your class or group. Environmental Educators Michelle and Istafa will teach you several activities that you can use anywhere to engage students of all ages in outdoor learning in a fun and interactive way. The activities you will participate in can be applied to science, math, art, and physical education curriculum topics at a variety of grade levels. They also help foster practical skills such as teamwork, problem solving, and communication, and promote curiosity and comfort outdoors in your students.