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 […]
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.
Immersive workshop delving into Kakyosin, the Blackfoot ways of knowing. In this workshop, we’ll focus on three key aspects: 1. Issksiniip Coulee Walk: We will explore the traditional plants found in the area, explaining their uses, and sharing some of the traditional creation stories of the Siksikaitsitapi, the Blackfoot Confederacy. 2. Blackfoot Winter Count: Discover […]
A personal journey of land-based education through the lens of Indigenous ways and knowing. Discussing, sharing and reliving our personal journeys and how it led to the importance of land based education, Indigenous perspectives, and being decolonized educators. The importance of story, song, language and how they all relate back to the land. As Indigenous […]
Over the last four years, École Saint-Augustin has been on an exciting journey alongside the Conseil acadien de Rustico, engaging in a one-of-a-kind and transformative partnership. In alignment with the principles of truth and reconciliation, they together embarked on a unique collaboration with the Mi’kmaq First Nations community of Prince Edward Island. This exceptional initiative […]
This workshop is designed to help encourage and support individuals explore a variety of indigenous authors and then brainstorm/create a variety of outdoor/experiential activities. This workshop is inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer and her book, Braiding Sweetgrass. More specifically the “Maple Sugar Moon” section which I have used to begin the Maple Syrup unit in […]