Most Popular Tools & Resources
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These weather-resistant closed-cell foam sit pads are comfortable and easy to carry. They fit in a student backpack, making it easy for educators to move students into a comfortable learning space outdoors. They stay pliable in cold weather to keep your students comfortable. Please note: If students pick at these, or if they are rubbed on very rough surfaces, this will decrease the life of the sit pad. For a more durable option, check out our more durable and recycled sit pad. "Easy to carry around and access while outside. Kids can carry outdoor learning seats easily with a clipboard." - Teacher, Southeast Kootenay School District 5 Ethical Elements: Options for repurposing sit pad. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: We knew we had to find a good quality but affordable sit pad if we wanted to open an outdoor learning store. After years of cutting up foam camping pads, we found this one! Way more comfortable than a camping pad, and we've tested this one in all conditions, and have had great feedback. -
Help your students focus in on the incredible world of the small! This 3x magnifier is large, durable and user-friendly for all ages. The magnifiers are sourced from a local supplier (see below). Read more about our ethical policies & practices. Keep track of your magnifiers by adding a lanyard to make this a hands-free carry-and-go item for your students. The Inside Scoop: It kills us to see those cheap plastic magnifiers that schools tend to use that get so scratched up. As a result, after months of looking for a magnifier that was durable, strong, scratch resistant and super user-friendly for all ages, we found one right under our noses! Our friends Jaye & Shelli carry this one at their local office supplies shop. And Jaye knows something about strength... he is a Canadian Paralympian for track cycling! Check him out here... Lanyards are sold separately:- We offer an Every Child Matters lanyard with a breakaway function. These are designed by Strong Nations in collaboration with Algonquin artist Don Bonner. It features the message "Every Child Matters" and a feather design.
- We also offer an Explore Your World lanyard with a ‘breakaway’ function is made from organic cotton, so have been grown without pesticides from plants that have not been genetically modified. They are exceptionally soft and 100 percent biodegradable.
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Lightweight and rubber-coated, 10x32 National Geographic binoculars are a perfect observation tool for young nature explorers.- Lightweight and compact
- 10x magnification
- 32mm lens diameter
- 315ft field of view at 1000 yards
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"Fabulous resource to get your kids outside for more than just “a walk” but a walk with purpose and relevance! Great read for educators wanting to embrace outdoor education." - School District 47 Principal Accompanying (Free) Resource: Walking Forward: Indigenous Perspectives in Learning from Place Accompanying Resource: Playing in the Muck and Other Art Activities: Imaginative Art Activities for The Walking Curriculum The Inside Scoop: Gillian has been such a fantastic & enthusiastic person to work with! She conveys her ideas succinctly with clarity, and we were thrilled to be able to work with her on piloting our first ‘Earthy Chat’s podcast! (see below) -
This lanyard with a 'breakaway' function is made from organic cotton, so have been grown without pesticides from plants that have not been genetically modified. They are exceptionally soft and 100 percent biodegradable. They feature outdoor learning images and sayings such as 'Explore Your World' and can be paired with our handheld field magnifier. -
This lanyard with a 'breakaway' function was designed by Strong Nations in collaboration with Algonquin artist Don Bonner. It features the message "Every Child Matters" and a feather design. This can be paired with our handheld field magnifier. If you order these together we will attach them when they go out to you. -
An Integrated K-8 Guide for Discovering Science, Ecology, and Whole-Systems Thinking
The School Garden Curriculum offers a unique and comprehensive framework, enabling students to grow their knowledge throughout the school year and build on it from kindergarten to eighth grade. From seasonal garden activities to inquiry projects and science-skill building, children will develop organic gardening solutions, a positive land ethic, systems thinking, and instincts for ecological stewardship. The book offers:- A complete K-8 school-wide framework
- Over 200 engaging, weekly lesson plans – ready to share
- Place-based activities, immersive learning, and hands-on activities
- Integration of science, critical thinking, permaculture, and life skills
- Links to Next Generation Science Standards
- Further resources and information sources.
- A model and guide for all educators, The School Garden Curriculum is the complete package for any school wishing to use ecosystem perspectives, science, and permaculture to connect children to positive land ethics, personal responsibility, and wonder, while building vital lifelong skills.
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These lightweight & affordable backpacks allow each student to store & transport their outdoor learning equipment & resources. The size of main pouch is 45cm high x 32.5cm wide x 25cm deep. Straps can be manually adjusted for length. They are suitable for grades 3+ (including teachers!) but can be adjusted to make shorter for younger/smaller students. Care Instructions: Hand wash in cold water with like colors. Hang or lay flat to dry only. Do not machine wash, do not machine / tumble dry. Do not bleach. Ethical Elements: Made from recycled pop bottles, and sourced for a socially ethical supplier. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: After looking at dozens of options, this one rose to the surface as one that was affordable, modelled sustainable practices, fit a variety of ages, and have an adequate volume. And we were very pleased to work with a company that has very high ethical standards to source this! Are your Basic Backpack straps a little long for the little ones? Never fear! The straps are incredibly easy to adjust! Watch how below! -
Standard mesh dip nets are perfect for collecting small fish, tadpoles, and aquatic invertebrates. This net features a rigid vinyl-coated twisted wire handle that can be bent if required. If blue nets aren't available due to high demand, we will send red nets instead unless you indicate otherwise in your order notes. The Inside Scoop: We looked high and low for months for a basic aquatic dip net that was affordable and available in the quantities that we'd require. In the end, our friends at WildBC were able to direct us to a company that's in our area, and is great to work with! -
Our clipboards are durable, weatherproof, and made from recycled plastic! This easy-to-write-on surface provides a simple option for turning the outdoors into your classroom. 🙂 "The plastic clipboards are a game changer for outdoor ed." - Teacher, Southeast Kootenay School District 5 Ethical Elements: Made from recycled plastic, and sourced from a company that has exceptionally high social and environmental standards. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: After looking high and low for a recycled clipboard, we were so glad to find this one with a local company with such high standards. While a bit higher cost than run-of-the-mill clipboards, we know it won't disappoint! -
Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
Robin Wall Kimmerer's beloved bestselling book has been adapted for young adults by Monique Gray Smith. Monique is Cree, Lakota and Scottish, and is well known for her storytelling, spirit of generosity and focus on resilience. This new edition reinforces how wider ecological understanding stems from listening to the earth’s oldest teachers: the plants around us. With informative sidebars, reflection questions, and art from illustrator Nicole Neidhardt (Navajo), Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults will help provide educators to bring Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the lessons of plant life to a new generation. "A book to grow up with and grow into." Every high school English, Social Studies, Biology and History Department should have copies of this book available. Not to mention every Library, Youth Group and Family with teenaged children. Drawing from her experiences as an Indigenous scientist, botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer demonstrates how all living things—from strawberries and witch hazel to water lilies and lichen—provide us with gifts and lessons every day in her best-selling book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. This new version will provide the essence of this book in a way that better engages young adults. 304 pages -
Sit pads are a great tool for transitioning your learning outdoors year-round. This one is extra comfy, easy to carry, and the exterior is made from waterproof 600 Denier Polyester with PVC backing and filled with soft, shredded, recycled foam. Due to the larger size, it is recommended for educators and older students (grades 4+). Ethical Elements: The padding for these sit pads is repurposed foam that would otherwise be discarded. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: More durable than our basic sit pad, and more affordable than our enhanced sit pad, this easy-to-carry outdoor seat is also stuffed full of recycled materials! -
Take your class on a tracks and traces wildlife scavenger hunt! This Animal Tracks & Traces Guide provides a beautiful simplified field reference to the tracks, signs, and scat of over 65 familiar North American species. It also features a ruler and and is laminated to provide weather resistance. Ethical Elements: Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: We have used these guides for decades with students of all ages. And a few years ago we worked with our partners in British Columbia to get these out to test them with 200 classes, and had great reviews! -
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Pre-orders are available again!
With the popularity of the first print-run, we are working on a second print run now. We anticipate to be able to ship these mid-April. If you are ordering other items at the same time, please indicate in the 'order notes' field at check-out if you would like these shipped ahead - otherwise we will wait to ship everything together to save on shipping costs. Working with syilx apprentice knowledge keeper, Krystal Withakay (spaxwawlm), the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) Parks Services produced this guide Central Okanagan: Guide to Common Plants and Animals (suqinaq̓inxʷ tmxʷulaxʷ : tmíxʷ uł yayat əts p̓lal), in English and nsyilxcən (where possible). Nsyilxcən is the language spoken by syilx Okanagan people. This guide covers the territory of the the traditional, ancestral, and unceded tm̓xʷúlaʔxʷ (land) of the syilx / Okanagan people who have resided here since time immemorial. It is laminated to make it weatherproof and is printed on 100% recycled paper. To help with language pronunciation, you can use the guide on this page. $1 from every guide is directed to the Syilx Language House, and any remaining proceeds go back to supporting non-profit outdoor learning initiatives. We also offer a number of other Indigenous Learning Resources that are made available on the recommendation of Indigenous advisors and partners, and through Indigenous organizations, authors and creators. You are welcome to include other items in your order, and we can ship everything out together when these guides arrive to save you $$ on shipping. Or you can put in two separate orders - one for these guides, and a second for other resources, and we will ship separately. Please note that the image shown here is a draft, and the final version may look slightly different. -
This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species of beetles, bugs, spiders, flies, aquatic insects and everything in-between. It also identifies the differences between different types of invertebrates, the eight major groups of insects and tips on identifying species in the field. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information. Ethical Elements: Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: We have used these guides for decades with students of all ages. And a few years ago we worked with our partners in British Columbia to get these out to test them with 200 classes, and had great reviews! -
The familiar Monarch butterfly is one of over 5,000 species of butterflies found in the diverse ecosystems of North America. This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 70 familiar and unique species and includes information on their life cycle and features illustrations of common caterpillars and pupae. This convenient guide is an ideal, portable source of practical information and ideal for field use by educators and learners alike. Ethical Elements: Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: We have used these guides for decades with students of all ages - teacher tested & approved! 🙂 -
These journals feature all-weather & recyclable writing paper that sheds water and enables you to write with a pencil anywhere, in any weather conditions. A versatile option for any conditions that Mother Nature throws at you! Colours: We have access to both yellow and green, but access to colours varies considerably from our supplier and so we will provide you with the colour available at the time of order. Ethical Elements: Recyclable paper. Offered in partnership with Take Me Outside, a Canadian non-profit organization committed to raising awareness and facilitating action on nature connection and outdoor learning in schools across Canada. 50% of the proceeds of this go to Take Me Outside Canada. The Inside Scoop: We know that writing outside can be a limiting factor for outdoor learning, especially in the rainy season! So we were thrilled when our friends at Take Me Outside got in touch with a solution. We know that this will help many to take their learning outside, despite the varied weather our country offers us! -
This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, insects and other invertebrates, trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by naturalists of all ages. Ethical Elements: Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: We have used these guides for decades with students of all ages. And a few years ago we worked with our partners in British Columbia to get these out to test them with 200 classes, and had great reviews! -
This small pocket sized field guide titled '?a-kxam̓is q̓api qapsin' (All Living Things) features 23 common BC plants, including beautiful colour images, their description, habitat, and traditional uses by the Ktunaxa people (British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, Washington). Ethical Elements: This resource is offered in partnership with the Ktunaxa Nation Council which has the vision of having strong, healthy citizens and communities, speaking their languages and celebrating who they are and their history in our ancestral homelands, working together, managing their lands and resources, within a self-sufficient, self-governing Nation. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. Pages 51 -
This fascinating guide reviews the status of the world’s top pollinators, how they are built, behave and reproduce in the wild and in managed colonies. It also highlights some of the most familiar and unique species and what you can do to help conserve and protect these important creatures. This convenient guide is an ideal, portable reference for educators and learners of all ages. Ethical Elements: Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: We have used these guides for decades with students of all ages – teacher tested & approved!
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Teachers - it is very helpful to have a few of these in your backpack for when your students forget their outdoor gear. These rain jackets are very portable, stow-able, reusable, made from PEVA and they come in a handy pouch. They are designed to offer freedom of movement, while providing shelter from the weather. The length of the coat and arms allow size flexibility to accommodate the average size of student in grades 2 to 6. Ethical Elements: Reusable & made from PEVA. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: We were told by so many teachers that we had to have this, if we were opening an outdoor learning store! After testing a variety of models, we found this one, which offered the quality and flexibility we were looking for. And we put it to the ultimate test - one of our team members stood in the shower for 10 minutes under full blast, and when he took it off, he didn't have a drop of water on his clothes! -
This practical resource book offers tips and tricks to help any teacher develop variety in their teaching. One of the keys to a happy and creative classroom is getting out of it, and this book will give you the confidence to do it. It contains a wealth of ideas that allow teachers and parents to encourage outdoor learning and improve student participation. All you need is your coat, a passion for learning– oh, and bring the kids too! "This is an amazing resource for grades K-5 teachers. The book even includes examples of outdoor monthly calendars of easy things you can add to your schedule starting from the first day of school and a handy chart that helps to cross reference ideas to subject areas. After reading the book (and keeping it within reaching distance), any teacher should feel confident in starting the outdoor learning process for both themselves and their students." Juliet Robertson is one of the world's leading education consultants who specializes in outdoor learning and play. She works at a national level delivering training, giving keynote speeches, leading and supporting innovative outdoor projects and writing content for websites, documents and case studies. She is passionate about enabling schools, play organizations and early years settings to provide quality outdoor learning and play opportunities for children and young people. 214 pages The Inside Scoop: Ever since we hosted UK author Juliet Robertson in hosting in-person professional development sessions (photo below) we've been hooked! Juliet is a pro at providing easy to access ideas applicable to a range of ages and types of educators. -
In Messy Maths: A Playful, Outdoor Approach for Early Years, Juliet Robertson offers a rich resource of ideas that will inspire you to tap into the endless supply of patterns, textures, colours and quantities of the outdoors and deepen children's understanding of math through hands-on experience. Juliet believes being outside makes math real. In the classroom environment, math can seem disconnected from everyday reality - but real maths is really messy. Lots of outdoor play and engaging activity along the way is a must, as being outside enables connections to be made between the hands, heart and head, and lays the foundations for more complex work as children grow, develop and learn. Following on from the success of Dirty Teaching, Messy Maths reimagines the outdoor space through a mathematical lens - providing a treasure trove of suggestions that will empower you to blend outdoor learning into your teaching practice. It is not a 'how to' guide, but rather an easy-to-use reference book replete with ready-to-use games and open-ended ideas designed to help children become confident and skilled in thinking about, using and exploring abstract mathematical concepts as they play outside. Many of these ideas and activities are also beautifully displayed in full-colour photographs throughout the book, making it even easier to jump straight into outstanding outdoor learning opportunities. 242 pages The Inside Scoop: Ever since we hosted UK author Juliet Robertson in hosting in-person professional development sessions (photo below) we've been hooked! Juliet is a pro at providing easy to access ideas applicable to a range of ages and types of educators. -
Ktunaxa artist Carol Louie provided the art for the feather and ideas for the design. Robert Louie (Ktunaxa) and Denice Louie (Athabascan) completed the design work in collaboration with their summer youth worker Gabe Kobasiuk (Cree). Robert Louie was a residential school survivor who passed away in 2022. Most of his siblings also went to residential school. “The heart with the broken lines was used to show how the residential school affected our people, our connections, our teachings. Though fractured, the hearts of our people continue and remain strong. And in all of our hearts, at the center of our communities are the little ones, our future – represented by the child’s hand. The eagle feather honours and recognizes all the children who were forced into residential school.” These flags are 36" x 72" (standard size flag) and come with grommets on the top and bottom of the left side. They have been smudged with sweetgrass and sage to honour the missing and the survivors of Residential schools. Each order will be accompanied by a letter from one of our Indigenous Advisors, and a copy of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action. $15 from the purchase of each flag will be directed equally between the Orange Shirt Society, The Legacy Of Hope Foundation and the Residential School Survivors Society. Any remaining proceeds will go towards outdoor and land-based learning charities and non-profits that are endeavoring to do their part to deepen understanding and take action towards reconciliation. We have posted a number of Indigenous Learning Resources that we encourage you to learn from and share."Please join us and begin this journey of healing for all Indigenous people by flying this flag in honour of all the missing children and to the survivors of these schools. Your support is so important and the flag reminds us that we all have work to do to unmask the truth."
- Jenna Jasek, Shuswap Band Member, District VP for Indigenous Learning and Equity for Rocky Mountain School District and Indigenous Advisor to The Outdoor Learning Store
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Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, and as a woman, Robin Wall Kimmerer shows how other living beings—asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass—offer us gifts and lessons, even if we've forgotten how to hear their voices. In reflections that range from the creation of Turtle Island to the forces that threaten its flourishing today, she circles toward a central argument: that the awakening of ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings will we be capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learn to give our own gifts in return.- New York Times Bestseller
- A Washington Post Bestseller
- Named a "Best Essay Collection of the Decade" by Literary Hub
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Beloved by educators and embraced by readers, The Heart of a River is BACK IN PRINT.
This story of the Columbia River is unique. Told from the river's perspective, it is an immersive, empathetic portrait of a once-wild river and of the Sinixt, a First People who lived on the mainstem of this great western river for thousands of years, and continue to do so even though Canada declared them "extinct" in 1956.
The book's re-release comes at a critical time for natural systems and for reconciliation with Indigenous people across North America. The Colville Confederated Tribes, representing over 3,000 Sinixt people, recently won a precedent-setting case in the Supreme Court of Canada affirming that Aboriginal Rights do not stop at the border. The important story of the Sinixt weaves together with the ongoing ecological impact of hydropower development on the Columbia and its tributaries.
This is a book for anyone, of any age, who cares about rivers. Central to the story is the joyous spirit of salmon, once a free swimmer in the Columbia's currents north of the border but now blocked from ancestral spawning grounds by Grand Coulee and other dams. Restoring migratory fish indigenous to the upper Columbia will require transboundary cooperation. With Indigenous Nations on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border now leading the way, many are hopeful that the fish will return.
Lavishly illustrated by Nelson, B.C. designer Nichola Lytle, this portrait of a globally significant river will inspire anyone who reads it to care about the future of the salmon, a fish that unites all of us in its quest for freedom and possibility.
Releasing the second edition of this book has been a joint effort of the authors, Wildsight, and the Sinixt people of the Colville Reservation, with generous support from the Columbia Power Corporation and the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network. Proceeds from book sales support local youth to attend Wildsight's Columbia River Field School.
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Ethical Elements: Printed on post-consumer recycled paper. This resource is offered in partnership with Natural Curiosity, an initiative to develop and disseminate an inquiry approach to environmental learning, reaching public school educators and making a difference in school communities across Turtle Island. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: We first became aware of Natural Curiosity's work at the NAAEE conference in Ottawa in 2014. Since then we've worked closely with their team to offer a variety of workshops and training opportunities for educators. -
This 72 card set highlights 65 plants from the Pacific Northwest (Cascadia). Offering beautiful colour images, these cards provide traditional Indigenous plant uses and feature several Indigenous languages. While these are somewhat weather resistant, we recommend you keeping them in a ziplock bag (or equivalent) for safe keeping. Ethical Elements: These cards are offered in partnership with Strong Nations - an Indigenous owned and operate store and publishing house. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: We have had so many educators rave about these! One of our store's Indigenous advisors brought this to us, and we jumped on the opportunity to partner with Strong Nations to offer this. A fantastic resource! -
The Big Book of Nature Activities is a comprehensive guide for parents and educators to help youth of all ages explore, appreciate and connect with the natural world. This rich, fully illustrated compendium features:- Nature-based skills and activities such as species identification, photography, journaling and the judicious use of digital technology
- Ideas, games and activities grounded in what's happening in nature each season
- Core concepts that promote environmental literacy, such as climate change and the mechanisms and wonder of evolution, explained using a child-friendly, engaging approach
- Lists of key species and happenings to observe throughout the year across most of North America.
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Designed for young learners, and no previous water testing experience. Tiny, lightweight and convenient for quick sampling. Water samples can be taken anywhere quickly and easily. And our partners can provide additional resources and support to help enhance your learning. This tiny kit can be used by 1 to 2 students. Each kit contains…- Thermometer (air temperature)
- 10 test strips (pH, alkalinity, hardness)
- Field sheets to write results
- Tiny Field guide
- 1 sticker
- All contained in a soft zippered pouch
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Through academic research, practical examples, and step-by-step strategies drawn from classrooms, celebrated author David Sobel celebrates teachers who emphasize the connection of school, community, and environment. Place-Based Education uses the local community and environment as the starting place for curriculum learning, strengthening community bonds, appreciation for the natural world, and a commitment to citizen engagement. David Sobel is a Professor Emeritus in the Education Department at Antioch University New England in Keene, NH and he consults and speaks widely on child development and place-based education with schools, environmental organizations and the National Park Service. He has authored eight books and more than 70 articles focused on children and nature for educators, parents, environmentalists and school administrators in the last 30 years. “Literally a landmark book, Sobel’s book belongs in the hands of every teacher in this country as a practical and inspiring guide to combining field and classroom in educating students. He offers a wealth of practical experience as well as documentation of how students and communities profit from place-based education. Parents and educators of all kinds will cherish Sobel’s work.” —Ann Zwinger, teacher & author of The Nearsighted Naturalist and Downcanyon" 147 pages Read about out ethical policies and practices. The Inside Scoop: Ever since we hosted David on a series of in-person workshops, we were hooked! Before adding this resource to our store, we tested it with hundreds of educators with rave reviews. His philosophy, approach and ideas are deserving of his world renowned reputation. -
Sila and the Land is the story of a young Inuk girl who goes on a journey across the North, East, South and West. Along the way Sila meets different animals, plants and elements that teach her about the importance of the land and her responsibilities to protect it for future generations. Three young Indigenous women came together to write a children’s book that could help share perspectives on the land common across First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. This includes a shared respect for the earth and an understanding of our responsibilities to protect it for future generations. In order to convey these perspectives in the story, the authors spoke with youth from a number of Indigenous communities across Canada. They asked about why the environment was important to each of them and what land based teachings and experiences were significant to their identities and cultures. Their responses helped shape the book, offering examples of things Sila could learn from the land during her journey travelling across the North, East, South and West. It is important to note that while there are shared perspectives across Indigenous communities there are also many differences. This book does not claim to represent any specific cultures or teachings, but instead encourages children and youth to seek out knowledge from the territories that they are living on. It also aims to inspire other young Indigenous writers and illustrators to believe in their gifts and the power of their stories. Pages 24 This book is supplemented by a number of curriculum-linked learning activities.Collaboration by / This book helps
Created as part of Climate Action 150 with support from TakingITGlobal and GreenLearning Canada, and financial support from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Catherine Donnelly Foundation.
A portion of the proceeds of the book will go toward the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and their work bringing attention to the impacts of environmental violence on Indigenous health, rights and justice. -
Purchase a gift card for yourself, or someone else (great teacher gifts!). If purchasing for someone else, you can select 'Send Gift Card to someone?' and they will receive notification of this gift. In either case, we will also email a beautiful .pdf gift card with their name, amount and gift card code. This can be printed if you want something to 'give' to the recipient. 🙂 -
This resource created by artist Adelle Caunce is designed to go with A Walking Curriculum (also available on Canada's Outdoor Learning Store). It contains fun, easy-to-implement, art-based activities that correspond directly with 30 of the walking themes (e.g. The Vertical World Walk, The Growth Walk, The Lovely/Unlovely Walk etc.). It is designed to engage imagination, help foster a sense of wonder at the world around us, and give the kids a bit of a giggle while they're learning. Images are black and white to make photocopying a breeze. Pages 44 Ethical Elements: Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: This resource comes highly recommended by Gillian Judson, celebrated author of the companion resource, A Walking Curriculum. Watch the fun promo video here! -
70 Sensory Activities for All Ages!
The Book of Nature Connection is a brand-new resource packed with fun activities for using all our senses to engage with nature in a deep and nourishing way. It is a fantastic resource for educators, camp and youth leaders, caregivers and parents. Author, Jacob Rodenburg (nature sommelier) is an award-winning educator, executive director of Camp Kawartha, a summer camp and outdoor education center, and instructor in environmental education at Trent University. He has taught more than 100,000 students and is co-author of The Big Book of Nature Activities. From "extenda-ears" and acorn whistles to bird calls, camouflage games, and scent scavenger hunts, enjoy over 70 diverse, engaging, sensory activities for all ages that promote mindfulness and nature connection. With activities grouped by the main senses – hearing, sight, smell, touch, and taste – plus sensory walks and group games, The Book of Nature Connection is both a powerful learning tool kit and the cure for sensory anesthesia brought on by screen time and lives lived indoors. Whisper in birds, be dazzled by nature's kaleidoscope of colors, taste the freshness of each season, learn to savor the scented world of evergreens, hug a tree and feel the bark against your cheek. Spending time in nature with all senses tuned and primed helps us feel like we belong to the natural world – and in belonging, we come to feel more connected, nourished, and alive. 128 pagesRegister to join us for a FREE virtual workshop with Jacob!
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To help educators tackle this essential but challenging topic with K-8 students, this new book includes 20 age-appropriate activities that can be undertaken at home, in school classrooms, outdoor spaces and in the community. Within the 80 pages of this large format paperback, you will find many useful pathways to guide young people towards an understanding of this complex topic. Its detailed, practical activities are designed to enhance climate literacy and to increase understanding of renewable energy, sustainable transportation and technologies, and the many ways that individuals and communities can reduce their carbon footprint. The collection includes activities that introduce basic concepts of climate literacy, such as energy forms, urban heat islands, and the difference between weather and climate. Walking school buses, green commuting challenges and public transit investigations are a few of the transport-related activities. Building model solar cars and solar cookers and studying passive solar house design are a few of the energy-oriented activities included in the book. Rather than overwhelm young people with the daunting challenges facing humanity, the book’s focus is to help them to appreciate the many solutions that individuals, organizations and governments are already implementing to mitigate climate change. The overall goal of the book is to introduce basic concepts and to help cultivate a sense of wonder about the natural world. 74 pages Ethical Elements: Printed on 1oo% post-consumer recycled paper, and offered in partnership with Green Teacher - a non-profit organization dedicated to helping educators, both inside and outside of schools, promote environmental awareness among young people aged 6-19. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. The Inside Scoop: We have a long and strong relationship with Green Teacher, dating back to working with Tim Grant when he was editor, and now with Ian Shanahan as the current editor. Providing resources like this one that are ‘by educators for educators’ was a no-brainer – it is wonderful to be able to share stories from the field! -
This practical guide for all educators (K-12) encourages young people to connect with the natural world and create a more sustainable, ecologically secure planet. It is designed for use with any curriculum to give students opportunities to engage their bodies, emotions, and imaginations in the world around them. Cultivating ecological understanding requires reimagining the human world as part of, not apart from, nature. Drawing on an approach to teaching called Imaginative Ecological Education (IEE),Engaging Imagination in Ecological Education includes tried-and-tested activities for students, step-by-step examples for shaping curricula by using tools of the imagination to cultivate ecological understanding, and strategies for implementing Imaginative Ecological Education in any school setting—urban, suburban, or rural. Author Gillian Judson, PhD, is Executive Director of the Centre For Imagination in Research, Culture and Education (www.circesfu.ca) at Simon Fraser University. Her research and teaching are primarily concerned with the role of imagination in all learning, with a particular focus on imaginative, Place-based teaching practices."Every teacher needs to own this book! Dr. Gillian Judson shows how to keep students engaged and connected in Ecological Education by using their imagination. There are activities you can follow and adapt for any K-12 student. After you have read the book you will have all the tools to create your own program and the reasons why it is important to do so. This book is full of insightful information that all twenty-first century teachers need." - Teacher, K-5 Team Lead
148 pages The Inside Scoop: Gillian has been such a fantastic & enthusiastic person to work with! She conveys her ideas succinctly with clarity, and we were thrilled to be able to work with her on piloting our first 'Earthy Chat's podcast! (see below) -
Get up close with nature with our 2-Way Nature Viewer! Place an object into the viewer and see the magnified image top & bottom (bottom view from the side). Learning about nature, including aquatic invertebrates, is fun, easy, and clear. “The two-way nature viewer is the ideal tool for making close observations of living and non-living things both in the classroom and out in nature! My students come alive with wonder and curiosity when they use these magnifiers to observe rocks, sticks, flowers, insects and even aquatic invertebrates using this magnifier (it has a shallow lip that can contain water). It is durable, easy to pack up and bring along on our learning adventures!” – Teacher, Rocky Mountain School District -
This innovative and vibrant resource is filled with full-colour photographs, maps, illustrations and the names of plants listed in three Indigenous languages - Michif, Nêhiyawêwin (Cree) and Anishinaabemowin (Ojibway). Métis author and artist Christi Belcourt fuses her evocative artwork with Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and Western Science. With contributions from Métis Elders Rose Richardson and Olive Whitford, as well as key Michif phrases and terminology, Medicines to Help Us is the most accessible resource relating to Métis healing traditions produced to date. Along with an essay by Elder Rose Richardson on her first-hand experience using medicinal plants, this compelling one-of-a-kind resource melds Métis contemporary art and the floral motif within Métis beadword with Métis traditional knowledge. Page count: 66 + glossary, references + end notes -
Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by educators and learners alike. View all resources specific to Western Canada In addition to these provincial/regional guides (select from options above) we also have a number of other guides that are more broad in nature, including:
Most Recently Added Tools & Resources
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Join Alfred Joseph and Mara Nelson for 12 weeks of Foundational Ktunaxa Language Learning. Learn the sounds, words and some history of the Ktunaxa Language. This course is designed for you to garner skills that will enable you to carry Ktunaxa Language forward to your classrooms, in schools and on the land.- 12 x 90 minute language learning sessions on zoom
- Recorded and shared in case you can’t make all of the sessions
- Dates: Sept 18, 25 / Oct 2, 16, 23, 30 / Nov 6, 13, 20, 27 / Dec 4, 11
- $315 for all 12 sessions (includes GST)
- $252 for CBEEN Members (includes GST) - Use this code at checkout: CBEENKtunaxa2023
- $0 for Ktunaxa Nation Members - Use this code at checkout: Ktunaxa2023
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NEW! Walking Together: Two-Eyed Seeing children’s book is now available!
This innovative picture book introduces readers to the concept of Etuaptmumk—or Two-Eyed Seeing, the gift of multiple perspectives in the Mi’kmaw language—as we follow a group of young children connecting to nature as their teacher.
A poetic, joyful celebration of the Lands and Waters as spring unfolds: we watch for Robin's return, listen for Frog's croaking, and wonder at Maple tree's gift of sap. Grounded in Etuaptmumk, also known as Two-Eyed Seeing—which braids together the strengths of Indigenous and non-Indigenous ways of knowing—and the Mi’kmaq concept of Netukulimk—meaning to protect Mother Earth for the ancestors, present, and future generations—Walking Together nurtures respectful, reciprocal, responsible relationships with the Land and Water, plant-life, animals and other-than-human beings for the benefit of all. ELDER DR. ALBERT D. MARSHALL is from the Moose Clan of the Mi'kmaw Nation, Eskasoni First Nation in Unama'ki-Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. A fluent speaker of Mi'kmaw, he has brought forth the concept of Etuaptmumk / Two-Eyed Seeing which honors the strengths of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing for the benefit of all. LOUISE ZIMANYI, who is of French-Canadian and Hungarian descent, lives as a guest in Tkaronto/Toronto, Treaty 13 territory. As a professor and researcher, she is co-learning from and with the Land and wise teachers, co-transforming early childhood pedagogy and practice. EMILY KEWAGESHIG is an Anishnaabe artist and visual storyteller whose work captures the interconnection of life forms using both traditional and contemporary materials and methods. She creates artwork that highlights Indigenous knowledge and culture. Emily is from Saugeen First Nation in Ontario, Canada. -
In this beautifully illustrated book, a determined young Anishnaabe girl in search of adventure goes on a transformative journey into a forest on her traditional territory. She is joined by a chorus of her ancestors in red dresses, who tell her they remember what it was like to be carefree and wild, too. Soon, though, the girl is challenged by a monster named Hate, who envelops her in a cloud of darkness. She climbs a mountain to evade the monster, and, with the help of her matriarchs and the power of Thunderbird, the monster is held at bay. Together the young girl and her ancestors beat their drums in song and support, giving the girl the confidence she needs to become a changemaker in the future, capable of fending off any monster in her way. Together We Drum, Our Hearts Beat as One is a moving and powerful book about Indigenous resistance and ancestral connection. Author Willie Poll is a proud Metis from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, who who has spent the last ten years working in Indigenous education. She is very passionate about supporting Indigenous youth to reach their dreams and reclaim their power. Together We Drum, Our Hearts Beat as One is her first book. Willie is presenting as part of our Every Child Matters - 4 Seasons of Reconciliation learning initiative. Illustrator Chief Lady Bird is an Anishinaabe artist/illustrator from Rama First Nation. She graduated from OCADU in 2015 with a BFA in Drawing and Painting and a minor in Indigenous Visual Culture. She is the illustrator of Nibi's Water Song by Sunshine Tenesco and has illustrated for Audible, Vice, and Twitter, among others. -
31 hands-on field activities to connect art, science, math, and critical thinking, while encouraging students and mentors alike to recognize and record the wonder and beauty in the natural world.
Expanding on the philosophy and methods of The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling, John Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren have developed the first-ever comprehensive book devoted to helping educators use nature journaling as an inspiring teaching tool to engage young people with wild places. In their workshops Laws and Lygren are often asked the how-tos of teaching nature journaling: how to manage student groups in the outdoors, teach drawing skills (especially from those who profess to have none), connect journaling to educational standards, and incorporate journaling into longer lessons. This book puts together curriculum plans, advice, and in-the-field experience so that educators of all stripes can leap into journaling with their students. The approaches are designed to work in a range of ecosystems and settings, and are suitable for classroom teachers, outdoor educators, camp counselors, and homeschooling parents. Full-color illustrations and sample journal pages from notable naturalists show how to put each lesson into practice. Field-tested by over a hundred educators, this book includes dozens of activities that easily support The Common Core and The Next Generation Science Standards—and, just as important, that will show kids and mentors alike how to recognize the wonder and intrigue in their midst. -
As young readers journey into the natural world, they will discover that numbers, patterns, shapes — and much more! — can be found in everyday plants and animals. In this series, nature comes to life to help children grasp concepts of geometry, symmetry, and spatial sense. Titles include:- Counting on Fall
- Sizing Up Winter
- Sorting through Spring
- Shaping Up Summer
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This is a beautiful collection of 4 resources by authors and educators, Gillian Judson, Heidi Wood and Adelle Caunce. Use these books to enhance your engagement, creativity, connectivity and curiosity in learning outside! -
192 pages. For educators of learners 3-8 years old. Published in 2022. Recommended by our Accessibility and Inclusion Consultant, Karen Lai. PLEASE NOTE: Due to high demand it will take us 2-3 weeks to get this title out to you. Young children with special needs often face physical, emotional, or social barriers to deep engagement with the natural world. These challenges need not prevent them from enjoying the many benefits nature has to offer. Nature is a necessity. Research tells us that we are happier, healthier, more socially engaged, and more creative when it is part of our daily lives. These benefits apply to people of all ages and abilities. In this inspiring book, Dr. Ruth Wilson explores the great potential of connecting young children with special needs to the natural world. Drawing on her knowledge of research and her decades of work with children in nature, she weaves together advice, real-life examples, and testimonies from educators and families on the healing, nurturing power of nature in the lives of young children with diverse abilities. In addition to exploring the role of nature in our lives, chapters include information on:- Nature as a teacher and play partner
- Nature for holistic development
- Nature as a healer
- The importance of risk-taking
- Horticultural therapies
- Animal-assisted therapies
- Nurturing connections between children and animals, plants, and habitats
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A Game of Hope and Action for the Climate
Solutions was designed with educators in mind. Each solution card played requires students to actively engage with the solution, thinking critically and discussing it with their peers. Students will be having so much fun, they won’t realize they’re learning! Solutions is more than just a game: it is a learning experience for your students. After playing, students can pick their favorite solution and turn it into a real-world project. Our sample curriculum will guide you through using the game in your classroom, or provide inspiration for crafting the experience as you see fit. The curriculum includes a lesson plan and sample projects to give your students a starting point.
Each copy of Solutions can be played by more than 8 players if needed. However, we recommend keeping games to 8 to encourage participation by all students. The sweet spot for student engagement is 4-6 players. This is a great number to keep each student maximally engaged in every discussion and reduces the likelihood that shy students feel left out.
How many games do I need for my classroom?
Ages 12+. The discussions that different age groups have while playing Solutions vary in complexity, but the value in sparking discussions and creativity remains the same. We have successfully tested the game with elementary, high school, bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD students. What age students can play the game?
We’ve designed a ‘Short Mode’ specifically for teachers with tight schedules and short classes, which generally takes 30-45 minutes if students have read the rulebook as homework. If you have a longer class, the normal game takes 60-90 minutes, which lets students see more solutions and have more discussions. Please note that these time estimates are based on the average group. Because this is a discussion-based game, playing time can vary depending on how much time your students take for discussion. If students are engrossed in having long discussions, it is up to your discretion whether or not you hurry them along. However, in our experience, allowing these deep discussions can be more valuable than finishing the game. If time is running out, you can instruct students that the game will end on an earlier turn. How long does it take to play?
There are some wonderful educator resources included, developed with ClimateScience. This lesson plan will:
Includes a FREE Lesson Plan!- Guide you on integrating the game into your classroom
- Help you teach students the minimum background knowledge required to play the game
- Inspire you to use the game as a starting point for homework, class projects, and extracurricular activities
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Pre-orders are available again!
With the popularity of the first print-run, we are working on a second print run now. We anticipate to be able to ship these mid-April. If you are ordering other items at the same time, please indicate in the 'order notes' field at check-out if you would like these shipped ahead - otherwise we will wait to ship everything together to save on shipping costs. Working with syilx apprentice knowledge keeper, Krystal Withakay (spaxwawlm), the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) Parks Services produced this guide Central Okanagan: Guide to Common Plants and Animals (suqinaq̓inxʷ tmxʷulaxʷ : tmíxʷ uł yayat əts p̓lal), in English and nsyilxcən (where possible). Nsyilxcən is the language spoken by syilx Okanagan people. This guide covers the territory of the the traditional, ancestral, and unceded tm̓xʷúlaʔxʷ (land) of the syilx / Okanagan people who have resided here since time immemorial. It is laminated to make it weatherproof and is printed on 100% recycled paper. To help with language pronunciation, you can use the guide on this page. $1 from every guide is directed to the Syilx Language House, and any remaining proceeds go back to supporting non-profit outdoor learning initiatives. We also offer a number of other Indigenous Learning Resources that are made available on the recommendation of Indigenous advisors and partners, and through Indigenous organizations, authors and creators. You are welcome to include other items in your order, and we can ship everything out together when these guides arrive to save you $$ on shipping. Or you can put in two separate orders - one for these guides, and a second for other resources, and we will ship separately. Please note that the image shown here is a draft, and the final version may look slightly different. -
A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar & Unusual Species of Spiders! Ethical Elements: Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Read more about our ethical policies & practices. -
Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
Robin Wall Kimmerer's beloved bestselling book has been adapted for young adults by Monique Gray Smith. Monique is Cree, Lakota and Scottish, and is well known for her storytelling, spirit of generosity and focus on resilience. This new edition reinforces how wider ecological understanding stems from listening to the earth’s oldest teachers: the plants around us. With informative sidebars, reflection questions, and art from illustrator Nicole Neidhardt (Navajo), Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults will help provide educators to bring Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the lessons of plant life to a new generation. "A book to grow up with and grow into." Every high school English, Social Studies, Biology and History Department should have copies of this book available. Not to mention every Library, Youth Group and Family with teenaged children. Drawing from her experiences as an Indigenous scientist, botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer demonstrates how all living things—from strawberries and witch hazel to water lilies and lichen—provide us with gifts and lessons every day in her best-selling book Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. This new version will provide the essence of this book in a way that better engages young adults. 304 pages -
This beautiful resource book is back, and this time we are the publishers! This large-format paperback contains over 50 of the best teaching strategies and activities contributed to Green Teacher during the past decade! This provides a wealth of kid-tested ideas contributed by educators from across North America, covering a wide spectrum of environmental topics and presenting a large diversity of practical projects and learning strategies. While the book focuses on helping kids develop a strong connection with the natural world, there are many articles that focus on the social and global aspects of our environment. The book is attractively designed and organized, and, for each article and activity, the editors have identified appropriate grade levels, subject areas, key concepts, skills, and materials. The hands-on projects and learning strategies are sure to inspire all educators who are seeking innovative ideas for incorporating green themes into their programs. 240 pages -
This resource for educators was designed to serve as a complete “green” teaching resource for those working with middle school-aged youth. Readers will find a wealth of kid-tested ideas contributed by educators from across North America and covering a wide spectrum of environmental topics, from biodiversity to resource consumption to green technology. They include practical projects and new learning strategies that will inspire educators seeking innovative ideas for incorporating green themes into their programs. Pages: 240 -
This is an ideal resource for anyone working with young people in Grades 9-12. Richly illustrated, it offers teaching strategies that promote learning about natural systems and foster critical thinking about environmental issues, both local and global. It contains new approaches to learning, strategies for living sustainably, and numerous activities that promote interdisciplinary learning. In addition, the book provides suggestions for greening individual subject areas, developing integrated learning programs, and replicating exemplary programs already created by innovative schools and communities. Pages: 226 -
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The FoodCycler is an indoor compost alternative which transforms food waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer (we call 'foodilizer') for the garden. In 4-6 hours, this compost food recycler will reduce food waste volume and weight by up to 90%, leaving a dry, odourless and sterile by-product which can be safely handled by students and teachers. The FoodCycler provides authentic, hands-on learning opportunities for students of all ages, which can be easily connected to curriculum. It can be used to complement units of study on solid waste (i.e., food waste, waste reduction). It can activate research into the science of decomposition or an inquiry into the benefits of compost. Use the fertilizer from the FoodCycler to amend soil for your indoor plants or school gardens and watch them flourish! By using a FoodCycler, you are keeping food waste out of landfills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 95% vs. sending it to the landfill. You also reduce wildlife attractants, and create a useable material to put into your school garden. The FoodCycler is:- quiet
- compact
- odourless
- easy to use
- energy efficient
- 1 x FoodCycler FC-30
- 1 x Removable Grinding Bucket
- 1 x Deodorizing Bucket Lid
- 1 x Instructional Guide
- Educational Support Materials for Schools
- Designed to eliminate odours during food cycling
- Threaded filter tops for easy twist-open, twist-closed functionality
- Includes enough carbon for 5 refills (at least 1 year of food cycling)
- Replace both filters’ carbon at the same time for maximum filtration
- After use, carbon can be applied directly to your garden!
- FoodCycler Overview
- Congratulations on your new FoodCycler!
- Félicitations pour votre nouveau FoodCycler!
- FoodCycler Learning & Action Kit
- Le kit d'apprentissage et d'action FoodCycler
- Vermicomposting & School-Based Composting: Learn about decomposition and how your FoodCycler turns food scraps into fertilizer!
- Reduce Your Food Waste: Use the FoodCycler to audit and significantly reduce your school’s food waste.
- Pollinator Garden & Grow a Food Garden: Use your FoodCycler by-product to nourish bee-friendly plants or grow vegetables in a food garden!
- Indoor Gardening & Greenhouses: Nourish your indoor plants by incorporating your by-product into their soil – or start new seeds with by-product and fresh soil!
Reduce Your Food Waste resources:EcoSchools Resource: Other Helpful Tools and Resources:For Schools: Teacher FAQ's:- Food Matters Action Kit (Commission for Environmental Cooperation) - English / French
- Taking stock: Reducing food loss and waste in Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada) - English
- The avoidable crisis of food waste - Road Map (Second Harvest) - English
- Food waste resources (Waste Reduction Week in Canada) - English / French
- Love Food Hate Waste (National Zero Waste Council) - English / French
- Ontario: Food Waste resources (Sustain Ontario) - English / French (option at the top right of the English page)
- Ontario: Food Waste Audit Guide (Ontario Food Collaborative) - English
- How long is the warrantee? The FoodCycler comes with a standard 1-year manufacturer warrantee.
- How much power does it use per cycle? The processing time is about 4-8 hours and uses less than >0.8kWh
- Have you verified that this would accommodate the amount of organic waste that a classroom would produce in a day? We recommend running the cycle after snack time and then after lunch to accommodate the food waste.
- In the winter months in cold climates do teachers just collect this into a larger bin, say a garbage bin with a lid, and then do you dig it in garden beds in the spring when the ground has thawed? You can bin the by-product during the winter months and use it for your garden in the spring.
- Has this been found to be a wildlife attractant, or is the smell reduced enough? Can you leave it in a bin outside without risk of wildlife being attracted? Many of our pilot partners are from small rural areas where they do not have a green bin collection service and cannot compost due to the fear of attracting bears and other animals. They have not had an issue with attracting animals with the by-product of the FoodCycler!
- What is the recommended amount that this be added to the soil? We recommend adding 1-part foodilizer (the by-product generated by the FoodCycler) to a minimum of 10 parts soil. You can add more foodilizer over time.
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Get up close with nature with our 2-Way Nature Viewer! Place an object into the viewer and see the magnified image top & bottom (bottom view from the side). Learning about nature, including aquatic invertebrates, is fun, easy, and clear. “The two-way nature viewer is the ideal tool for making close observations of living and non-living things both in the classroom and out in nature! My students come alive with wonder and curiosity when they use these magnifiers to observe rocks, sticks, flowers, insects and even aquatic invertebrates using this magnifier (it has a shallow lip that can contain water). It is durable, easy to pack up and bring along on our learning adventures!” – Teacher, Rocky Mountain School District
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Lightweight and rubber-coated, 10x32 National Geographic binoculars are a perfect observation tool for young nature explorers.
- Lightweight and compact
- 10x magnification
- 32mm lens diameter
- 315ft field of view at 1000 yards
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This kit includes 8 curated books accompanied by resources & equipment to support a K-7 soil inquiry outdoors!
This kit includes book specific lesson sparks, guiding questions, and curricular connections for playful explorations of soil in your school garden or school yard. It supports student learning across the curriculum, with a specific focus on how soil is different from dirt, and the importance of soil in our daily lives. This kit was curated and created by teachers Megan Zeni and Sarah Regan. Megan and Sarah are job share partners teaching entirely outdoors in a K-7 garden classroom. Megan shares their experiences of outdoor play and learning on Instagram and Twitter at @roomtoplay. Reduced Shipping Prices: Shipping prices have been lowered significantly since launching this kit - if you abandoned your order because of the high price, please try again! 🙂 This kit includes:- 8 curated picture books that support playful exploration of soil (see list below)
- 10-page PDF that includes a conceptual overview with lesson sparks and guiding questions for each book on a recycled & waterproof clipboard
- 1 Soil Thermometer
- 1 Waterproof Seed Starting Tray
- 1 Paper Seed Pot Maker
- 3 Magnifying Boxes
- 1 Compost Viewer
- 3 Sets of Hand Tools (3 x Trowel, Cultivator, Transplanter)
- 3 Soil Collection Jars
- 2 Handheld Field Magnifiers with 'Explore Your World' Lanyards
- 3 Recycled Drawstring Backpacks (made from recycled pop bottles!) to hold it all
- What’s Sprouting in my Trash by Ester Porter
- The Street Beneath My Feet by Charlotte Guillain and Yuval Zommer
- Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
- My Mud Kitchen is Rad by Allison Bakkum
- Compost Stew: An A-Z Recipe for Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals
- Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman
- Exploring Soils: A Hidden World Underground by Samantha Grover
- Dirt: The Scoop on Soil by Natalie Rosinsky
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70 Sensory Activities for All Ages!
The Book of Nature Connection is a brand-new resource packed with fun activities for using all our senses to engage with nature in a deep and nourishing way. It is a fantastic resource for educators, camp and youth leaders, caregivers and parents. Author, Jacob Rodenburg (nature sommelier) is an award-winning educator, executive director of Camp Kawartha, a summer camp and outdoor education center, and instructor in environmental education at Trent University. He has taught more than 100,000 students and is co-author of The Big Book of Nature Activities. From "extenda-ears" and acorn whistles to bird calls, camouflage games, and scent scavenger hunts, enjoy over 70 diverse, engaging, sensory activities for all ages that promote mindfulness and nature connection. With activities grouped by the main senses – hearing, sight, smell, touch, and taste – plus sensory walks and group games, The Book of Nature Connection is both a powerful learning tool kit and the cure for sensory anesthesia brought on by screen time and lives lived indoors. Whisper in birds, be dazzled by nature's kaleidoscope of colors, taste the freshness of each season, learn to savor the scented world of evergreens, hug a tree and feel the bark against your cheek. Spending time in nature with all senses tuned and primed helps us feel like we belong to the natural world – and in belonging, we come to feel more connected, nourished, and alive. 128 pagesRegister to join us for a FREE virtual workshop with Jacob!
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This set of 5 teacher resources for K-8 educators comes highly recommended by the Classrooms to Communities Network Society (C2C). C2C is a non-profit network that connects classrooms and communities to grow collaboration, leadership and mentorship capacity for place-based education and environmental literacy. These resources offer educators activities, lesson plans, Indigenous perspectives and the development of an understanding of concepts and practices related to sustainability, stewardship and citizenship. This set includes:- Natural Curiosity: The Importance of Indigenous Perspectives in Children’s Environmental Inquiry
- Place-Based Education: Connecting Classrooms and Communities
- A Walking Curriculum: Evoking Wonder and Developing a Sense of Place
- The Big Book of Nature Activities: A Year-Round Guide to Outdoor Learning
- Teaching Kids About Climate Change
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This early years outdoor learning pack was picked by our resident early years expert, Christina Pickles of Get Outside & Play! This pack includes:- Large & durable magnifier
- 2-way nature viewer
- Outdoor learning sit pad
- Bugs & Slugs laminated fold-out guide
- Butterflies & Pollinators laminated fold-out guide
- Animal Tracks & Traces laminated fold-out guide
- Basic backpack made from recycled pop bottles!
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This bundle was designed, written and curated by Indigenous author, Terri Mack (Da’naxda’xw Awaetlala), and Indigenous author and artist, Bill Helin (Tlingit, Tsimshian).
We are working with our partners at Strong Nations - an Indigenous-owned social enterprise - to offer this bundle. It can be use to teach—through storytelling—the value of personal strengths and community supports. It offers six contemporary, interrelated stories and supporting resources for teachers. In the first story, animals cooperate to clean up a polluted pond. In subsequent stories, they care for each other in the aftermath of the pollution problem, demonstrating strength of character and social responsibility. It also provides many opportunities to extend the learning to other curriculum areas, including science, math, reading, writing, social studies, and art. This bundle includes:INFORMATION ON ITEMS IN BUNDLE:
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This set of six rubber stamps are designed by Indigenous Artist, Bill Helin. They can be used on their own, or can accompany the Animals Care For Mother Earth Indigenous Learning Bundle. This includes:- Bear, Eagle, Salmon Rectangle Stamps (2.75" x 1.75")
- Raven, Frog, Wolf Square Stamps (1.75" x 1.75")
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This Indigenous Plant Memory Matching Card Game is created by Indigenous author, Terri Mack, and can be used as a stand-along teaching tool, or as part of the Animals Care for Mother Earth Indigenous Learning Bundle. This set contains 25 cards, including one instructional card and two each of the following: Bitter-root, Blue Camas, Burdock, Cat-tail, Devil’s Club, Fireweed, Kinnikinnick, Licorice Fern, Oregon Grape, Soapberry, Stinging Nettle & Tiger Lily. These cards are printed on Stone Paper. This eco-friendly paper alternative is made from stone, not trees! Stone Paper is tear-resistant, uses no lamination, and does not use trees, water, or harmful chemicals and dyes in its production. The cards are also biodegradable. While they can be used outside, store cards in the shade or away from direct sunlight. -
This set of six adorable animal finger puppets are designed by Indigenous artist, Bill Helin (Tsimshian (Ts'msysen); Tlingit). They bring to life the story of the Animals Care for Mother Earth Indigenous Learning Book which is part of the Animals Care for Mother Earth Indigenous Learning Bundle. The 6 finger puppets included in this set are:- Brown Bear
- Eagle
- Frog
- Raven
- Salmon
- Wolf
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Animals Care for Mother Earth is part of the Animals Care for Mother Earth Indigenous Learning Bundle. It is written by Indigenous authors Terri Mack and Bill Helin. This set is comprised of six contemporary, interrelated stories and supporting resources for teachers. In the first story, animals cooperate to clean up a polluted pond. In subsequent stories, they care for each other in the aftermath of the pollution problem, demonstrating strength of character and social responsibility. This book can be used in elementary schools to teach—through storytelling—the value of personal strengths and community supports while incorporating Tsimshian language and knowledge into classroom lessons. It also provides many opportunities to extend the learning to other curriculum areas, including science, math, reading, writing, social studies, and art. -
Just roll and press into the wooden Potmaker to create an environmentally friendly pot that will naturally decompose in the ground. No glue is required. This clever device creates sturdy little pots from newspaper that are ideal for starting young plants, seedlings, or cuttings. Very easy-to-use potmakers have even been successfully kid-tested. The press and form are made of solid maple. Great for an endless supply of starter pots. Potmakers will eliminates the need for disposable plastic pots and flats. Forms 2-1/4" diameter pots. -
Also known as 1020 Flats, these black Seedling Germination Trays are used by professional nurseries. These flats are also sized to work with the clear domes, lighting systems, and seedling heat mats. Seedling Germination Trays add stability to the cell inserts, which allows you to move them as needed. -
Tools are durable and easy to hold and handle for all ages. They are 10" in size, and composed of 70% nylon and 30% fiberglass plastic. INCLUDES:- Trowel
- Cultivator
- Transplanter
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Which decays faster? A banana peel or a Styrofoam cup? Find out with the only transparent composting kit designed just for kids! This kit introduces life cycles and composting. The clear transparent compost container has 2 compartments including removable divider, 2 3x magnifiers, 2 write-on/wipe-off boards, and lid with air holes! Also comes with a 22-page activity journal. This also comes as part of the Soil Study and Inquiry Kit. -
This compact dial thermometer is used for testing soil temperature for planting. It has a 4" probe and a dual scale range 20-180° F/0-80° C with temperature zones. -
This resource set includes 5 amazing books for early years educators that combine practical ideas & activities with educational strategies & examples to better support outdoor learning in the early years. Pulled from some of the best-selling outdoor learning in the early years resources from Canada, the United States and the UK, we've offered these as a discounted package to better support early years educators who often face financial barriers. This set includes:- The Sky Above and the Mud Below: Lessons for Nature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens
- Messy Maths: A Playful, Outdoor Approach to the Early Years
- Nature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens: The Handbook for Outdoor Learning
- Dirty Teaching: A Beginner’s Guide to Learning Outdoors
- The Big Book of Nature Activities: A Year-Round Guide to Outdoor Learning
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Laminated for durability, these lightweight, pocket-sized folding guides are an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by educators and learners alike. View all resources specific to the Western US In addition to these state specific guides (select from options above) we also have a number of other guides that are more broad in nature, including: -
Sale!
Laminated for durability, these lightweight, pocket-sized folding guides are an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by educators and learners alike. View all resources specific to the Northeast In addition to these state specific guides (select from options above) we also have a number of other guides that are more broad in nature, including: -
Sale!
Laminated for durability, these lightweight, pocket-sized folding guides are an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by educators and learners alike. View all resources specific to the Midwest In addition to these state specific guides (select from options above) we also have a number of other guides that are more broad in nature, including: -
Laminated for durability, these lightweight, pocket-sized folding nature guides are an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by educators and learners alike. View all resources specific to Atlantic Canada In addition to these provincial/regional guides (select option above) we also have a number of other guides that are more broad in nature, including: -
Sale!
Laminated for durability, these lightweight, pocket-sized folding guides are an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by educators and learners alike. View all resources specific to the the South In addition to these state specific guides (select from options above) we also have a number of other guides that are more broad in nature, including: -
Laminated for durability, these lightweight, pocket-sized folding nature guides are an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by educators and learners alike. View all resources specific to the Eastern Canada In addition to these provincial/regional guides (select from options above) we also have a number of other guides that are more broad in nature, including: -
Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by educators and learners alike. View all resources specific to Western Canada In addition to these provincial/regional guides (select from options above) we also have a number of other guides that are more broad in nature, including:
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Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by educators and learners alike.
