About Us

COEO supports a growing community of educators, practitioners, and researchers in the field of outdoor and environmental education through professional development, community building, and advocacy.

Our Values

We believe that high quality outdoor learning experiences are essential to build awareness of the vital connection between human beings and the natural world. Outdoor educational experiences

promote meaningful relationships of kinship and connection with nature
develop an ethic of care and responsibility for all beings
support an active and environmentally focussed community of practice

An inclusive, diverse, and welcoming community, COEO is committed to building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and understandings through our work.

Outdoor Environmental Learning promotes…

Outdoor education directly exposes participants to our natural environment in ways that engender personal connections, knowledge, skills and a lifelong environmental ethic. Outdoor education powers the realization that this ethic is applicable to the very life support systems of this planet, be they found in urban, rural or remote settings.
The experiential nature of outdoor education relates curricula to real life situations and the complexities of our natural surroundings. In so doing, it provides a unique means of developing critical thinking skills and stimulating desirable attributes such as innovation and imagination. Outdoor education also broadens and deepens the knowledge base of all subject areas, and it can do so in integrated ways.
The contexts, experiences and interactions of outdoor education provide opportunities for both personal and interpersonal growth. This includes the development of individual traits such as confidence, empathy, and a sense of responsibility, as well as the development of group skills such as effective communication and working together towards a common goal.
Outdoor education promotes the lifelong physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of participants. It provides safe skill development in outdoor activities that are personally fulfilling and environmentally sustainable. This includes pursuits such as hiking, camping, orienteering, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, birding, art, photography, nature interpretation, tai-chi, and solo experiences

Our Goals

establish and maintain professional practices in the field of outdoor education
promote qualified leadership in outdoor education
provide opportunities for professional growth
promote the multiple values of outdoor education, both within and beyond our profession
promote an active environmental ethic as a core value of education.