The Outdoor Learning Virtual Workshop Seasonal Series
We are excited to offer this series in partnership with Take Me Outside and our Outdoor Learning Partners!
- Registration is FREE and there will be plenty of draw prizes for attendees!
- All registrants will receive a discount code to access outdoor learning resources when they register
- Workshops are 60 minutes and will take place at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern.
- For those who can’t attend live these will each be recorded and posted on our Recordings Page
- Following the workshop, participants will receive a link through which they can access a certificate of attendance.
- Subscribe to our seasonal updates to stay in the loop on these and future workshops
Outdoor Learning through Patterns in Nature
October, 3rd 2023 - 4:00 PM Pacific / 7:00 PM Eastern (60)
With Educators Janice Novakowski & Megan Zeni
Join Janice and Megan to learn about some fantastic resources for educating, engaging, and empowering students around patterns in nature – connecting to math, numeracy and other curricula.
Janice Novakowski is a district teacher consultant in the Richmond School District (BC) where she learns alongside preK-12 educators and students in the areas of mathematics and numeracy. She is also an Adjunct Professor at UBC where she teaches elementary mathematics education courses. Some of Janice’s fondest childhood experiences center on the outdoors, carefully turning over rocks on beaches to find little crabs, log jumping and hiking through moss and fern-filled forests.
Megan Zeni is a mom of 3, an experienced elementary school teacher, and a master gardener. Megan successfully re-imagined the prep position in her public school and turned it into her dream job of spending her days with children in the garden classroom.
Megan is an advocate for taking children outdoors at school in all kinds of weather to learn, play, and grow. Megan is also a PhD candidate at UBC in curriculum & pedagogy.
All registrants will be entered to win some great draw prizes! After registration you will receive a discount code to access the resources shared. Following the workshop you will receive the recording, and a link to access your Certificate of Attendance.
You can access these empowering resources here:
- Messy Maths
- Patterns in Nature Kit: Coming Soon!!!
Connecting Children to Nature through Indigenous Teachings
October, 17th 2023 - 4:00 PM Pacific / 7:00 PM Eastern (60)
With Educator and Author Launa Purcell
Join Author Launa as she shares about Heartbeat of the Earth – a Handbook on Connecting Children to Nature through Indigenous Teachings.
Launa Purcell is a member of the Xa’xtsa First Nation and a mother of two. Launa works as an Indigenous Educator and teaches Indigenous outdoor camps.
The activities inside instill traditional teachings of respect, honor, resourcefulness, and humility in children. This handbook is intended to inspire parents, caregivers, and educators to provide children with meaningful outdoor experiences interwoven with traditional Indigenous knowledge.
This handbook isn’t a replacement for ensuring that local Indigenous knowledge and perspectives are central to your teaching. Rather, this is a starting point, and an encouragement to learn more, and use these activities as an inspiration to adapt them and adopt new ones in a culturally appropriate and responsive way.
All registrants will be entered to win some great draw prizes! After registration you will receive a discount code to access the resources shared. Following the workshop you will receive the recording, and a link to access your Certificate of Attendance.
You can access Launa’s beautiful resource here:
L’éducation en plein air: Apprendre et enseigner dehors en tous lieux et en toutes saisons
November, 7th 2023 - 4:00 PM Pacific / 7:00 PM Eastern (60)
Avec Professeur et Auteur Jean-Philippe Ayotte-Beaudet
Joignez-vous pour notre premier atelier francophone avec Jean-Philippe alors qu’il partage comment apprendre et enseigner dehors en tous lieux et en toutes saisons.
Juliet Robertson s’adresse aux personnes enseignantes qui souhaitent faire vivre à leurs élèves de 4 à 12 ans des situations d’apprentissage riches et authentiques en plein air. En se basant sur sa grande expérience et sur la recherche, elle accompagne les personnes enseignantes qui souhaitent intégrer l’éducation en plein air à leurs pratiques et celles qui le font déjà et qui voudraient aller encore plus loin.
Les bénéfices de cette approche sont nombreux : des effets positifs sur le bien-être des enfants, des apprentissages plus signifiants et durables, l’amélioration des habiletés sociales, le développement d’une citoyenneté responsable et peut-être même de l’amour envers la nature.
Building Capacity for Outdoor Learning: Introducing a Digital Tool for Success
November, 14th 2023 - 4:00 PM Pacific / 7:00 PM Eastern (60)
With Outdoor Learning Experts Mariana Brussoni & Megan Zeni
Join Mariana and Megan as they share the ‘BE OUT’ digital tool. BE OUT is a new tool for elementary (K-7) school teachers and includes exemplars of outdoor learning from a diversity of teachers organized in a digital format.
The tool is designed with very short (90 second) modules and targets teachers new to teaching outdoors with support in four key areas: understanding risky play in the school context; getting started teaching outdoors; teaching with an emergent curriculum; and assessment of learning.
Dr. Mariana Brussoni is Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership and Professor at the University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute. Her research investigates child injury prevention and children’s outdoor risky play with the aim of creating environments where all children can play outside every day.
Megan Zeni is a mom of 3, an experienced elementary school teacher, and a master gardener. Megan successfully re-imagined the prep position in her public school and turned it into her dream job of spending her days with children in the garden classroom. Megan is an advocate for taking children outdoors at school in all kinds of weather to learn, play, and grow. Megan is also a PhD candidate at UBC in curriculum & pedagogy.
All registrants will be entered to win some great draw prizes! After registering you will receive a discount code to access the resources shared, and following the workshop you can access the recording, and a link to access your Certificate of Attendance.
Grow your outdoor educator skills with:
- Dirty Teaching
- Learn more about Outdoor Learning and Play
Some feedback we've received:
- “Thank you so much for all of the professional learning sessions — they affirmed that getting kids outside and connecting kids with place and planet is worth it!”
- “Everyone with a thirst for knowledge should jump in here! Beginners, experts, there’s something for everyone. AND information you can take back to your students use tomorrow!”
- “This series of workshops was a breath of fresh air! I enjoyed logging on and listening every week, it was what kept me excited to go back into the classroom the next day and try new things. I am so thankful for this series.”
