Friday Program of Workshops
Friday, October 25
Following our morning Plenary Gathering, Day 1 of the conference features 3 sets of concurrent workshop sessions held at John Oliver Secondary and environs, Vancouver, B.C. Morning sessions are 75 minutes in duration. In the afternoon, choose two 60-minute sessions OR one 120-minute session for a more immersive workshop experience.
Workshop Sessions I 11:00 am – 12:15 pm (75 mins)
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Presenter/Facilitator: Sylvie de Grandpré
Organization: SD #93 (CSF)
Venue: Outdoor
Session Description: The session seeks to address ways to enhance the work of educators by creatively encouraging participants to deeply reflect on the ways colonialism continues to manifest while learning outdoors. Attending to those colonial”isms,” which are so engrained, challenges one’s imagination especially in considering social justice for the more-than-human world. Infusing learning with Indigenous perspectives is a vital endeavour, however non-Indigenous educators must become more reflexive about the activities and actions that inadvertently perpetuate colonial”isms” while being and learning outdoors. Let’s become more aware of the relationships modelled in front of students and tweak those old habits! (Note: this session will be presented in French).
Facilitator Bio(s):
Sylvie is an educator/principal at a tiny school where gardening, outdoor/environmental education, and Indigenous perspectives drive learning. She continues to learn how Land, more-than-humans, and Indigenous perspectives inform practice, for non-Indigenous educators (like herself) who are striving to connect with place meaningfully.
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Presenters/Facilitators: Theresa Ramirez & Clara Luke
Organization: EcoSchools Canada
Venue: Outdoor
Session Description: Take part in a hands-on nature-based learning and action through two popular EcoSchools actions: Sit Spot & Nearby Nature. Access practical guides and resources on how to take environmental learning outside - plus get recognition for your achievements!
Facilitator Bio(s):
Clara has been working and studying in the environmental field for 15 years. Her experiences span school-based urban agriculture programs, food co-ops, and sustainable food service.
Theresa’s background in systems and impact, paired with a long-term passion for the environment, is the perfect foundation for her work at EcoSchools Canada.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Marie-Pascale Brown
Organization: SD #93 (CSF)
Venue: Outdoor
Session Description: Join this immersive workshop tailored for French-speaking elementary educators. Discover 'Monday-ready' strategies blending phonemic awareness, reading, vocabulary, writing, and more with the great outdoors, utilizing place-based pedagogy. Engage in hands-on activities, discussions, and take-home resources. Let's bridge literacy with nature's wisdom, nurturing young minds in the process! (Note: this session will be presented in French).
Facilitator Bio(s):
I'm a passionate French-Canadian educator with 8 years' experience, currently teaching in Kimberley, BC. I specialize in multi-grade classes, and I'm dedicated to outdoor education. Currently pursuing a certificate in Sustainability and Experiential Education at Queens University, I'm also initiating a local EEPSA chapter and presenting workshops on outdoor education within my school district.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Jade Berrill
Organization: The Outdoor Learning Store and School
Venue: Outdoor
Session Description: Decolonizing educational practices, embedding relationship and reconciliation into everyday teaching can be a daunting challenge. Wondering, is this appropriate? How do I share about this in a good way? Where do I start or build reconciliation into my classroom education? This hands-on workshop will share lessons learned from one non-Indigenous educator on this complex and beautiful pathway on how Outdoor Learning can help facilitate and hold space for this work while meeting core competencies.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Jade is a Physical Geographer (BSc), Environmental Educator, Outdoor Learning Curriculum Writer, Outdoor Instructor & Guide based in Revelstoke, BC, born in England. She is a member of the Circle of Guidance for the Revelstoke Indigenous Friendship Society. After arriving to Canada in 2015 and beginning to educate outdoors here, it became clear that she was missing a huge piece of the knowledge and Land connection puzzle. Jade has dedicated the last 9 years to learning the truth of Indigenous peoples and their history here, deepening her understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing as an equal to other systems of knowledge (including learning basic Ktunaxa, Secwpemectsin & Nsyilxcən) and working with Indigenous mentors on how best to uplift and celebrate Indigenous voices in typically white education spaces.
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Presenters/Facilitators: Nick Townley, Laura Jackman, Alisa Paul & Elsa Medina
Organization: EEPSA, MVERS
Venue: Outdoor
Session Description: How can collaboration lead to possibilities for future local and regional change? How do we get what we need from our districts? What are the issues that are happening in your region? How can our collaboration lead to richer and more diverse opportunities for our learners? Let's connect and support systemic change by sharing stories and experiences.
With support from the BCTF, EEPSA’s Local Chapters are doing great things across the province. They are a true testament to the power of local teacher driven leadership and learning by: collaborating with other teachers in their region on an environmental education initiative, getting funding and support for a local initiative, finding a group of like-minded teachers who want some support to meet and collaborate, sharing great environmental education happening with their students, and hosting environmental education Pro-D in various regions across BC. "This session is a space for either current local chapter executives/members to collaborate with each other or those aspiring to begin or rejuvenate a local chapter in their region. We will look at effective examples from across the province and discuss new ideas or projects.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Elsa Medina is an experienced elementary educator with the VSB. Her work spans across many disciplines including SEL, anti-oppressive work, and she is also co-president for her local EEPSA chapter, UNITE.
Alisa Paul is an experienced teacher educator who has worked at both SFU and UBC in Sustainability. She is co-president of her local EEPSA chapter, B. Outside. She is also a doctoral student at SFU.
Nick teaches with the Vancouver School Board's TREK Outdoor Education Program. He is the vice president of EEPSA, director of C2C, board member of Take Me Outside, and past director for BC with OCC. He has a Master of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication, from Royal Roads University.
Laura was born and raised in the Kootenays and currently lives in Rossland BC. She is a K-7 teacher in the Kootenay Columbia School District with over 12 years of experience.
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Presenter/Facilitator: David Barnum
Organization: SD #44 (North Vancouver)
Venue: Indoor/Outdoor
Session Description: If we expect students to become environmentally engaged citizens, we must begin with providing them opportunities to connect to the natural world! How might we capture students' responses to place and nature-based learning; in built and natural environments? How can we "see into" their relationships with place and the more-than-human-world? What do we hold up as “evidence” of the impact of environmental learning experiences? Join David as he introduces reflective thinking through journaling and provides a selection of resources to foster student engagement as well as teacher support. Expect dialogue, student work samples, some laughs and networking. Bring a cell phone to capture resources. There will be a Goggle Folder of curated resources shared as well.
Facilitator Bio(s):
David has worked in elementary classrooms, in a blended home-school/community framework as SD 46 district Curriculum Coordinator and in SFU's Nature-based GDE. He has authored resources for BC Hydro, the Society Automotive engineers and Nelson Education. Translating research into practice, David co-developed and implemented the Healthy Buddies program (BC Children's Hospital). Situating learning in local communities is David’s on-going passion (2108 TEDx presentation): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98F2AxZwGAE&feature=youtu.be
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Presenters/Facilitators: Ashley Bangsund & Adrienne Stewardson
Organization: SD #39 (Vancouver)
Venue: Indoor/Outdoor
Session Description: Based on the VSB's pilot pro-d program to introduce K teachers to the Walking Curriculum for the Early Years resource published by the Outdoor Learning Store. We will share our learnings and recommendations for introducing an outdoor learning practice in Kindergarten, and how that sets students on the pathway of environmental engagement throughout their school careers.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Ashley Bangsund is the Sustainability Coordinator for the Vancouver School District, supporting over 100 schools in their sustainability pursuits. She is passionate about age- and stage-appropriate environmental engagement for kids.
Adrienne Stewardson is the District Principal for Early Learning and Childcare for the Vancouver School District, supporting the District's youngest learners.
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Presenters/Facilitators: Megan Zeni & Sarah Regan
Organization: SD #38 (Richmond)
Venue: Indoor/Outdoor
Session Description: When children are provided with time, space and freedom during outdoor play, risky play almost always emerges. Learn more about the role of the teacher in risky play in schools. Leave with an enhanced understanding of how risky play supports relationships & where risky play is supported in BC curriculum documents.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Megan Zeni is the Early Learning and Curriculum Implementation teacher consultant in SD #38.
Sarah Regan is a Garden & Outdoor Classroom teacher in SD #38. Sarah and Megan have extensive experience facilitating outdoor risky play in the school context.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Tom Morton
Organization: Teach Climate History
Venue: Indoor/Outdoor
Session Description: Stories are both wondrous and dangerous, Thomas King famously said. This workshop will model inquiries into both “little stories” of the John Oliver neighbourhood and Salish territory together with “big history”, stories of the interaction between humans and their environments over time – wonders and dangers aplenty along the way. This workshop will offer ways to support the teaching alternative narratives that nurture connection to the earth, resilience, co-operation and creative responses to climate and ecological change. Stories underpinned by a respect for the diverse experiences of humans and the more-than-human world.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Tom Morton taught for eight years at JO. Now retired, he works with Teach Climate History, University College London. He has authored textbooks and teaching guides – notably The Big Six with Peter Seixas– and received the Social Studies Teacher of the Year award and Governor-General’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Kathleen Sotelo & Erika Padley
Organization: Sierra Club BC
Venue: Indoor/Outdoor
Session Description: Join Sierra Club BC's engaging workshop at Classrooms to Communities! Explore how to reconnect students with nature amidst the climate crisis through innovative land-based learning techniques. Experience a combination of indoor and outdoor hands-on activities and leave inspired to create change in your community.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Kathleen is a second-generation Filipino-Irish American, who came to Canada several years ago to study Natural Resource Conservation in Forestry. My love of the outdoors sprung from the moss that peaked out of the sidewalks of Oakland California concrete. I have now been working with Sierra Club BC to deliver experiential education workshops all over the Lower Mainland.
Erika is an Indigenous Facilitator of Learning with Sierra Club BC. They are from the plains, growing up in Calgary and holding ancestral ties to Dakota Plains First Nation and Piikani Nation. As an ethnically Indigenous person adopted into a Japanese/Irish family, Erika humbly draws on Two-Eyed Seeing to move through life and work towards a sustainable future for the generations that will follow us.
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Presenters/Facilitators: Brent Mansfield & Will Valley
Organization: SD #39 (Vancouver), UBC
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: Growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing food provides an opportunity to engage students in experiential learning. In this session presenters will share their perspectives and experiences with sustainable food systems education, followed by a discussion of promising practices and opportunities in schools and communities across BC.
Facilitator Bio(s):
As an educator Brent Mansfield teaches Edible Education in a prep role. He is a co-founder of LunchLAB, an education lunch program run in partnership with Growing Chefs that provides Grade 6 and 7 student leaders with hands-on, cross-curricular learning around food literacy. As an advocate he works with the BC Chapter of the Coalition for Healthy School Food.
Will Valley teaches in sustainable food systems and critical food systems pedagogy in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, ranging from first-year to graduate level, and has supervised several graduate and undergraduate students in their research projects and directed studies. His educational leadership focuses on three areas: sustainable food systems education, equity and decolonization, and K-12 food literacy education.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Sue Chang
Organization: BCTF
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: While teachers express interest in incorporating more Aboriginal content in their classrooms, they are sometimes unsure of where to start and how to find authentic materials. This workshop is designed to create awareness around integrating Aboriginal perspectives and quality Aboriginal resources in the classroom through hands on activities.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Su Chang is a Metis teacher working in the Mission school district. She is a member of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee at the BCTF.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Lorelei Lyons
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: This workshop will offer participants an immersive experience, exploring the origins, symbolism, and contemporary relevance of the Métis sash, while also providing hands-on instruction in finger weaving techniques. This workshop will offer participants an immersive experience, exploring the origins, symbolism, and contemporary relevance of the Métis sash, while also providing hands-on instruction in finger weaving techniques.
Facilitator Bio(s):
My family names are LaPlante, Langevin, and Page from the small Metis Community of San Clara/Boggy Creek. My family scrip is in St. François-Xavier. I serve as a Knowledge Carrier for the North Fraser Metis Association providing spiritual guidance and cultural educational opportunities for the community. I also hold the position of Knowledge Carrier / Indigenous Education Coordinator for the AWARE society. In this roll she develops and facilitates cultural competencies for the college courses. In my roll of 30 years in Indigenous Youth Engagement with the Burnaby School district I offer social and emotional support with an Indigenous lens. I am also the owner of 2 Metis women consulting agency.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Karen Lai
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: There tends to be a wide gap between mainstream outdoor programs and programs for persons with disabilities. We will look at the beauty of including people with disabilities in programs provided that the necessary supports are present. We will explore this complex issue of inclusion in outdoor spaces. Ableism is real!! Ableism is the idea that what we think of as “normal” is better than not being normal. It’s a kind of discrimination against disability. In this workshop, we will look at how the outdoors can be the vehicle to combat ableism.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Karen Lai works as an independent consultant in accessibility and inclusion. She works with businesses and organizations to increase the accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities. She holds a Master of Arts in Human Kinetics where she examined the social theories behind social inclusion of people with disabilities. She has more than 20 years of working alongside with individuals with disabilities in the field of recreation, employment, government, and other community involvements.
Workshop Sessions II 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm (60 mins)
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Presenter/Facilitator: Karen Andrews
Organization: SD #82 (Coast Mtns), BCTF
Venue: Outdoor
Session Description: Join this participatory workshop where participants will be actively lead through the Language Experience Approach (LEA). This technique is used to foster literacy skills for young learners or beginner additional language learners by sharing the same experience- in this case, a walk in the outdoors. This workshop models land-based, experiential learning practice in the outdoors. Educators will be able to network and learn from each other as they participate in this place-based workshop.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Karen Andrews has been teaching for over 25 years in the Coast Mountains School District in Terrace where she loves to explore the mountains and ocean. Karen has a post-degree diploma in Adventure Education and is a certified Outdoor Council of Canada field leader in hiking. She’s passionate about teaching in the outdoors and supporting teacher mentorship and collaboration. Karen facilitates teacher workshops on a variety of topics and is a member of the EEPSA Executive.
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Presenters/Facilitators: Laura Jackman & Frances McCoubrey
Organization: EEPSA
Venue: Outdoor
Session Description: Don’t let our long-winded title scare you - this is a simple and straightforward approach to teaching in the outdoors. It is easier than you think and really requires little to no prep. Just let the land and our more than human friends do the teaching. We will give you some excellent tools to approach learning this way. Our activities are rooted in core routines and fun and engaging learning experiences that will ensure you AND your students can connect to your local place.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Laura was born and raised in the Kootenays and currently lives in Rossland BC. She is a K-7 teacher in the Kootenay Columbia School District with over 12 years of experience. Laura has been working to transform a small restored wetland and community garden space into an outdoor classroom and since 2020, has been providing the prep relief for her school in this magical space. She is the membership chair of EEPSA and has recently begun instructing for the West Kootenay Teacher Education Program.
Frances is a Grade 7 teacher in Williams Lake. She has worked in outdoor education for the past 24 years with various agencies and enjoys being outside as much as possible. She has been an EEPSA member for the past 6 years.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Jim Lovell
Organization: SD #60 (Peace River North)
Venue: Outdoor
Session Description: Time to get off your bums, because motion is lotion for the body. Come learn a series of First Nations games from around Canada that can be used in the classroom on a rainy day or preferably outside.
Using the experimential model that the wilderness speaks for itself. The games will show the connection that First Nations have to the land and its animals. Plus the games are a lot of fun and using simple debriefing skills you can sneak in a element of environmental learning for your group. No fitness requirements, good for all ages, even old teachers. Bonus: 3 cool outdoor knots for the knot impaired.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Sorry, I have no PhD or double Master degree to fool you, just over 45 years of working with students in real life situations using the magic of the wilderness as a guide, as therapy, a physical challenge and a time for kids to have fun and reconnect to themselves and the land.
Work life in a nutshell:
33 years- Outdoor Education, Alternative and First Nations teacher, Peace River North.
4 years- Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School. Northern Ontario , FNS and 21 day “Hoods in the Woods” Delinquent programs.
4 years -Child Care Counsellor 2, Youth Assessment Centre, Fort McMurray, 90 day remand for court assessment. Organized canoe, camping , backpack trips.
3 years- Outdoor Guide at Strathcona Park Lodge, Vancouver Island , West Coast kayaking, Mt. hiking trips, adult and youth groups.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Alexis McGillivray
Organization: Fraser River Discovery Centre
Venue: Indoor/Outdoor
Session Description: In this workshop, teachers will explore concepts and techniques related to place-based learning along the Lower Fraser River. Teaching place-based learning in an urban area means grappling with the complex systems in a metropolis, so the workshop begins with an overview of the principles of urban environmental education. Teachers will then learn a versatile place-based learning tool that can be applied to all grades and a diversity of curricular units. The workshop ends with a discussion of curricular links and evaluation strategies.
Facilitator Bio(s):
A Métis undergraduate from BC who uses her connections with the land to influence the way she teaches and shares knowledge. Well versed in child development and adolescence, she approaches education with an accessibility lens, trying to include children of all abilities and disabilities in learning initiatives. She believes one of the best educators is the environment around us, teaching reciprocal relationships between humans and the land. Children and educators all have access to the land around them, meaning they have access to unlimited learning opportunities and lessons.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Marie-Pascale Brown
Organization: SD #93 (CSF)
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: Dive into the world of classroom gardening! Join us for a hands-on workshop in French filled with 'Monday-ready' ideas tailored for Francophone and French immersion educators. Discover the joy of gardening in French, perfect for beginners eager to start but unsure where to begin. Let's cultivate curiosity together! (Note: this session will be presented in French).
Facilitator Bio(s):
I'm a passionate French-Canadian educator with 8 years' experience, currently teaching in Kimberley, BC. I specialize in multi-grade classes, and I'm dedicated to outdoor education. Currently pursuing a certificate in Sustainability and Experiential Education at Queens University, I'm also initiating a local EEPSA chapter and presenting workshops on outdoor education within my school district.
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Presenters/Facilitators: David Zandvliet. Jonathan Dyck, Selina Metcalfe & Patrick Robertson
Organization: SFU, IEL, EEPSA, UBC, C2C
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: In this interactive session, we will share some of the research outcomes from our PICS-funded project, Infusing Climate Education into the BC Curriculum, including revisions to the 2007 Environmental Learning & Experience Curriculum Guide. We’ll then engage in experiential activities that model inquiry and stimulate discussion about two-eyed seeing, experiential learning and guided inquiry. Join the provincial conversation to:
explore barriers to climate education among teachers
discuss best practices for place and land-based approaches to climate education
increase awareness of Indigenous knowledges and worldviews related to environmental learning practices
A draft of the new BC Framework will be provided. (Note: Some of this session will be outdoors).
Workshop Sessions III 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm (60 mins)
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Presenters/Facilitators: Emily Payne & Wren Nicolardi
Organization: Rivers to Ridges
Venue: Outdoor
Session Description: Join Rivers to Ridges for an enriching session designed to support you in reflecting on your own methods and offer connective tools to deepen your outdoor play practices. This workshop will explore the balance between risk management and the benefits of risky play, emphasizing how thoughtful engagement with risk can open developmental pathways for young people in outdoor settings.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Emily Payne is a seasoned educator with over 15 years of expertise in developing education systems that prioritize collaborative curriculum design, team leadership, and effective program management. Having grown up on the traditional land of the Hul’qumi’num'-speaking people at the mouth of the Fraser River, Emily now resides in the Yukon. As a co-founder of Rivers to Ridges, she is dedicated to fostering empathy and awareness by connecting young people with the land, decolonizing education, and advancing land-based learning. Rivers to Ridges embodies these values through its innovative educational programs and consulting services.
Wren Nicolardi, an education systems design leader with over 15 years of experience, excels in collaborative local curriculum creation, project management and program delivery. Raised on traditional Haudenosaunee and Anishinabewaki territories, Wren co-founded Rivers to Ridges to foster land-based learning, decolonize education, and connect young people with the land around them.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Laura Jackman
Organization: KCLC
Venue: Outdoor
Session Description: This session examines social justice through the lens of environmental education and demonstrates the intersection between the two. The goal is to provide teachers with a holistic framework to explore Outdoor Learning while challenging Social constructs. Sometimes when we engage in learning outside we approach it from a position of power and dominance, how can we de-centre ourselves and learn from and with the Land? What other dominant narratives can we explore? Sexuality and gender? Animism? This workshop will support teachers to build capacity and confidence to challenge these social constructs. This workshop is suitable for K-7 teachers.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Laura Jackman was born and raised by the ponderosa pine and the Bull River of the Kootenays on the traditional territories of Ktunaxa in the Kootenays. She currently finds herself raising two awesome humans in Rossland BC where she can usually be found hiking, biking, canoeing or snowboarding in the mountains.
Laura is the membership chair of EEPSA and her local chapter, The Kootenay Columbia Environmental Educators. She is the Outdoor Classroom teacher at Rossland Summit School and is passionate about ecological justice education. Laura also spends some of her time instructing for the West Kootenay Teacher Education Program in Nelson, BC.
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Presenters/Facilitators: Kate LeSouef & Kiki Kirkpatrick
Organization: BC Parks Foundation
Venue: Indoor/Outdoor
Session Description: This session will facilitate active discussion of nature-based solutions on school grounds. The session will focus on physical space transformation as an entry point to connecting with nature, improving health, increasing climate resilience and building nature literacy in BC.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Kate Le Souef is a committed conservation professional who loves connecting people to nature. She brings over 10 years of experience in the environmental non-profit sector and has engaged hundreds of thousands of Canadians as the leader of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup and as the VP of Programs at BC Parks Foundation.
Kiki Kirkpatrick is an experienced informal educator with a background in Science Communication. She is currently the Senior Coordinator of Nature Education at BC Parks Foundation where she is working on scaling nature spaces on schoolgrounds across BC.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Brian Coleman
Organization: BCTF
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: The Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada tiled map offers a unique perspective on our country’s geography that is vital to understanding the history and diverse cultures of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada. The giant floor map does not contain provincial boundaries, names of provinces, or many of the current names of cities and towns. It shows unsettled land claims, treaties and settlement lands, reserves and locations of former residential schools in Canada. The map is intended to be walked on and is accompanied by a binder of educational resources and activities designed for elementary and secondary students. This fun and interactive experience allows students to explore multiple aspects connected to history and present-day Indigenous Peoples living in Canada. The map is large enough to cover the gymnasium floor and has numerous layers of information that highlight the complexity of Indigenous histories and the diversity of cultures among Métis, Inuit and First Nations peoples living in Canada.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Brian is an Indigenous teacher from the Langley School district where he works as an Aboriginal Program District Coordinator. He has been an Indigenous Facilitator for the BCTF for around 12 years. Brian is Gitxsan on his mothers side.
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Presenters/Facilitators: Nancy Palson & Evelyne Diederichs
Organization: South Sahali Elementary School
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: In this session, educators will explore diverse French outdoor activities suitable for year-round learning across all seasons. Geared towards French immersion, FSL, and Core French instructors, this session emphasizes integrating outdoor education principles into the curriculum for an immersive and engaging learning experience. Throughout the session, we will provide resources and hands-on activities, fostering creativity and active participation. To facilitate educators in implementing outdoor education, we will offer a comprehensive guide, equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to embark on their outdoor education journey confidently. Our aim is to empower educators to create enriching and immersive learning experiences that foster language acquisition, cultural appreciation, and environmental stewardship.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Nancy moved to British Columbia from Québec in 1991 and fell in love with the province. She has been teaching ever since and for the last eight years, she's taught outdoors, emphasizing environmental care. She enjoys taking students on outdoor adventures, exploring the community, and promoting lifelong wellness practices.
Originally from Québec, Evelyne has been exploring the diverse landscapes of British Columbia since 2003. With 13 years of French immersion teaching experience, Evelyne's recent revelation? Outdoor education. Despite being a reluctant hiker, she champions its importance, especially when it comes to infusing art, language, and a sense of place into learning.
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Presenters/Facilitators: Cher Hill, Ching-Chiu Lin, Neva Whintors & Rachel Upton
Organization: SD #36 (Surrey) & SFU
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: Join us as we build connection to place through curating a mini place-based gallery, exploring the superpowers and teachings of more-than-human beings. This interactive session mirrors our work supporting elementary students to build relationships with the world around us, which will be shared through digital storytelling during the session. We will present aspects of our place-based project through digital story telling - a powerful medium for catalyzing flourishing and transformation within communities,, while supporting participants to engage in similar learning through the workshop. Participants will receive a handout of the pedagogies we created and connections to the BC Curriculum.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Cher Hill is an Assistant Professor and teacher educator in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. She is deeply invested in researching educative experiences that contribute to more connected, thriving, and just communities. Cher is a passionate supporter of relational, participatory, outdoor, and community-based educative initiatives.
Dr Ching-Chiu Lin is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. Her research spans a range of interdisciplinary subjects, including the pedagogy of digital storytelling, community arts education, and the development and implementations of visual research methodologies. She is a strong advocate of practice- led research and artful community engagement.
Neva Whintors is a doctoral student at Simon Fraser University, and an elementary school teacher with over 20 years of experience, having taught kindergarten through Grade 7. Her areas of expertise include outdoor pedagogies, social emotional learning, and action research.
Rachel Upton is a teacher candidate at Simon Fraser University, and holds a bachelor’s degree in general studies in Education with minors in Social Justice and Curriculum and Instruction. Her educational interests include outdoor and place-based education frameworks, inclusive teaching practices, and cross-curricular approaches.
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Presenters/Facilitators: Johan Stroman, Simon Hocking, Peter Metcalfe & Kassandra Parker
Organization: SD #46 (Sunshine Coast)
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: Join our team of Sunshine Coast teachers and gain perspectives on codesigned cross curricular units centred on climate change: encouraging students' authentic voice, centred on place-based learning, climate solutions, community partners, indigenous teachings and grounded in active hope. Through a combination of story telling, direct outdoor learning experiences, sharing data and examples and dialogue and discussion with participants - we will weave a rich session that speaks to the power of coteaching.
Facilitator Bio(s):
We are all seasoned educators, 2 of us work in the Nature Experience (NEST) program on the Sunshine Coast and have years of outdoor education experience. We bring a love of the outdoors and music to rich and meaningful educational experiences.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Jamie Stevens
Organization: Be The Change Earth Alliance
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: Dive into field-tested resources for engaging and empowering students with inquiry-based, action-oriented learning. Expand your teacher toolbox with reflective dialogue and critical thinking strategies to address the wicked problems of our times. Gain access to resources from Student Leadership for Change including 40 student action packs to transform communities.
Facilitator Bio(s):
As the Educational Professional Development Coordinator at Be the Change Earth Alliance and co-founder of Ponderosa Education Community, I champion student leadership and relationship-based learning. I am committed to connecting youth with the land and their communities, driven by the conviction that by healing the land, we will heal ourselves.
Workshop Sessions IV 1:15 pm– 3:30 pm (120 mins with break)
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Presenters/Facilitators: Victor Elderton & Megan Tucker
Organization: PacFUNS & SFU
Venue: Outdoor
Session Description: In this session using the touchstones of Wild Pedagogies (WP) as points of inquiry, we'll collaboratively explore how the more-than-human, intentionally invited might participate as co-teacher. The design on this interaction will introduce folks to the WP Touchstones and provide ways for educators to bring them into daily practice. This experiential session will invite participants to make their own discoveries and share stories of place as co-teacher, where experience provides opportunity for non-traditional ways to gain understandings that are potentially transformational.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Victor Elderton has a 40+ year career with notable positions such as; principal Co-administer at North Vancouver Outdoor School (Cheakamus Centre), founding director of Pacific Foundation for Understanding Nature Society, PICS fellow re-writing the BC Education Environmental Learning & Experience document, member of the Wild Pedagogies research consortium, sessional instructor, and PhD student.
Megan Tucker is a PhD student of philosophy of education in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. She is a certified primary/junior educator who completed her Masters degree with a focus on environmental education. Megan’s doctoral scholarship and research take up questions of interspecies interactions, and intuition as influencing ecological education. She is a forest school educator, and member of the Wild Pedagogies collective.
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Presenters/Facilitators: Anna Crandall & Ella Walmsley
Organization: Elements Society
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: What is waste? How do we prevent it? This info-packed and interactive session with interdisciplinary curriculum connections explores waste in the context of our food system. Diving into where waste comes from and how to prevent it, participants turn knowledge into action and cook a tasty - not waste-y - meal.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Ella is an educator with expertise in water systems and waste. She models play-based learning in all aspects of her teaching.
Anna’s world-wide experiences include outdoor education, leadership program facilitation and organic farming.
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Presenter/Facilitator: Ildiko Kovacs
Organization: Society for Children and Youth of BC
Venue: Indoor/Outdoor
Session Description: In this session, educators will become familiar with the Urban Explorers program and curriculum. Urban Explorers offers citizenship and sustainability education through a place and project-based curriculum, where young people partake in student-led inquiry and real-world problem-solving for their community. We will explore this place-based, experiential and inquiry-based learning approach with a participatory planning pedagogy and curriculum, and consider how it an be applied in yor practice.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Ildi has a background in Psychology, Environmental Studies (University of Victoria) and Community Planning (York University) and is currently finishing her PhD in Curriculum & Pedagogy (UBC). She is the lead for Child and Youth Friendly Community planning at the Society for Children and Youth of BC, a provincial children's rights non-profit and has a passion for human rights, sustainability education and social justice.
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Presenters/Facilitators: Ceren Caner, Geoff Styles & Emily Styles
Organization: SD #83 (N Okanagan-Shuswap), Shuswap Chapter of EEPSA, Shuswap Outdoor Learning Foundation
Venue: Indoor/Outdoor
Session Description: Join us for the inaugural gathering of BC's outdoor learning programs for elementary schools. For this field experience, we'll start indoors to share our programs. We will then continue to the adjacent outdoor classroom for more info sharing, idea development, and work towards creating a lasting professional network.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Geoff (Gr.7/8), Emily (Gr.1/2) and Ceren (Gr.4/5) worked together to develop the outdoor-focused school in Salmon Arm, South Canoe Elementary. We enjoy facilitating outdoor learning (OL) workshops and have covered themes including nature journaling, storytelling, getting started with OL, phenology and how to explore literacy and numeracy outdoors. We are keen to develop a network of like-minded people!
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Presenter/Facilitator: Joshua Ralph
Organization: Invasive Art Initiative
Venue: Indoor
Session Description: This workshop will explore storytelling to deepen our connections to both John Oliver Secondary's occupied spaces and broader local ecosystems. The workshop will inspire participants to experiment with organic and mixed materials, transforming found objects into expressive tools for processing climate emotions. The session will call strongly to place-based inquiry in its discussions on placemaking and ongoing land contexts, and will provide an open space for sharing, exploring feelings and inspiring means of climate-action through art and emotions-centred means as universal anthropogenic languages.
Facilitator Bio(s):
Joshua (he/they) is an uninvited settler-occupier on the stolen lands of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Recognized in publications like The National Observer, they are a community-engaged media and eco-artist, interested in changing ecologies, advocating for collaborations on the intersections between art-making and varied understandings of the “natural” world.