78 results for group: k-12-educators
Participatory research with children and educators to support the scaling of outdoor learning practice
In this workshop, we describe research that was designed to capture the experiences of educators and students who were learning outdoors during the pandemic to identify opportunities to implement successful practices more broadly. The study involved three stages: 1) interviews with educators and students, 2) collection of geographical data of school contexts and 3) an environmental scan focused on policy solutions. We will describe the overall study with a focus on the participatory approach and findings related to student and educator wellbeing. Interactive discussion will focus on findings from student experiences of outdoor learning and identific...
Building capacity for outdoor play and learning: Introducing Teacher.Outsideplay.org as a professional development framework
This workshop will support teacher leaders who are interested in facilitating professional learning around outdoor play and learning using the Teacher.Outsideplay.org tool. The framework for this tool was developed by experienced teachers across the province of British Columbia and exemplars of what outdoor play and learning looks like in elementary schools were submitted by teachers from across Canada. Participants will be introduced to 4 thematic components and 16 individual modules of the tool that will support facilitation of outdoor learning in elementary schools across Canada using a train the trainer model. The Teacher.Outsideplay.org tool for ...
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.
Designing activities that address Climate Change and Strategizing Sustainability
Join us in this conference session as we facilitate hands-on, outdoor teaching methods to approach various climate change topics for a broad range of ages. We will first explore “Discovery Stations,” designed to engage the audience informally in climate change conversations through a short, thought provoking, guided activity, using something the audience is already familiar with as a jumping off point. We will then follow up with a few expansion activities that we use in our school field trips that encourage critical thinking, utilizing various forms of activities (listening, tactile, observational, physical, games) catering to different kinds of ...
Developing a Conservation Ethic: Service Work Meets Fun Adventures
When youth have opportunities to have fun in the outdoors through diverse forms of recreation, positive memories of nature can be made. But we can also build upon that by giving youth opportunities to take action in their own communities. Conservation service work opportunities can give youth the tools to then have a deeper appreciation for the natural world and open their eyes to ways we can help to protect and engage with it. Let's chat about how these 2 sides of the coin can be best integrated together.
