Cultivating our inner peace as educators and human beings is our greatest human technology. In alignment with Otto Scharmer’s Theory U for systems change; deep listening, deep terrain, and healing the gaps which disconnect us from our nature are our most promising means of re-connection. May our disruption become transformation as we move forward together […]
“We step into the forest or out onto the land and many of us feel like we belong. But do our gender-creative, transgender and nonbinary children and staff experience that feeling of belonging too? In this workshop, participants will gain knowledge of the complex intersecting identities transgender, gender-creative and nonbinary children and staff hold, and […]
Blending Forest School and Forest Therapy pedagogies, delegates will take part in easily adaptable exercises prompting us to connect to the Land and each other. Focusing on animism and the senses, participants are invited to their own unique experience. Practical exercises that can be easily adapted to meet the needs of participants in the space […]
Walks are a great way to get moving, self-regulate, and spend time with others. However, walks can be so much more. Learn how walks can be a tool for social-emotional learning, peer-to-peer relationship building, academic learning, empathy building, and more. Rain or shine, the simple act of walking can provide many opportunities to learn and […]
This workshop will explore the concept that “the outdoors” is a construct that has been designed, much like city spaces, by those who hold power. As a result Outdoor Experiential Education programs unwittingly continue to propagate systemic access barriers for equity-seeking groups. How can educators, organizations and program designers intentionally create spaces that are welcoming? […]
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 […]
Alternative Environment Activities (AEAs) are physical activities included in physical education (PE) programs that take place outside of traditional gymnasium, playing field, indoor fitness training settings, and track settings. This session will provide an overview regarding the value of AEAs in PE and research that has identified the major barriers PE teachers face when trying […]
Books can be an important vehicle for supporting a sense of belonging and well-being within a learning community. They can offer important invitations to discover, learn about, and discuss diverse perspectives. Have you thought critically about the books that you are bringing into your work with children? Who is represented within the books available in […]
Discover the sound of peace and place in this outdoor, ‘ears’-on, immersive experience. Participants will engage in various contemplative listening activities grounded in audio-ecology. Culminating in a group rhythm-making circle using found materials, we will embark on an embodied journey through our sense of hearing to connect with nature, each other, and ourselves. A major […]
Reconnecting with the natural world is just as important for adults as it is for children. This workshop is dedicated to promoting the power of play within us, the adults, who will lead by example to inspire future generations to cherish and enjoy the wonders of nature and the outdoors. Through reconnecting with our personal […]