2026 COEO Fall Conference
The Strength of Play: Living, Learning, and Leading with Nature
Dear COEO Members,
The COEO Conference Committee is seeking donations for the Live Auction at the 2026 COEO Fall Conference: The Strength of Play: Living, Learning, and Leading with Nature.
The Live Auction is one of COEO’s most important fundraising initiatives, with proceeds directly supporting the COEO Bursary Fund and other member initiatives, including:
- Subsidies for members to attend annual conferences
- Support for events such as the Fall Conference, Make Peace with Winter Conference, and the Ontario Wilderness Leadership Symposium (OWLS)
- Travel support for Northern Ontario COEO members
- Professional learning opportunities and other member-focused initiatives throughout the year
What Can You Donate?
We welcome a wide variety of auction items from both individuals and organizations. Popular donations include:
Educational Bundles
- Books, maps, field guides, and teaching resources
- Curriculum materials focused on a specific theme or age group
Outdoor Adventure Packages
- Camping kits and outdoor gear bundles
- Canoes, kayaks, snowshoes, backpacks, tents, or other recreation equipment
Art and Handmade Creations
- Original artwork
- Photography
- Woodworking, crafts, textiles, and other unique handmade items
Professional Development Opportunities
- Workshop registrations
- Training sessions or certifications
- Coaching, consulting, or mentoring packages
Technology and Equipment
- Educational technology
- Outdoor learning tools
- Gift certificates or software subscriptions
Experiences
- Guided outdoor adventures
- Nature tours
- Retreats, accommodations, or unique local experiences
Why Donate?
Your contribution helps make outdoor and environmental education more accessible to educators across Ontario while supporting the growth of our community. Donated items also provide an excellent opportunity to showcase your organization, products, programs, or services to conference attendees who are passionate about outdoor and environmental learning.
How to Donate
If you or your organization would like to donate an item or experience for the Live Auction, please contact us at:
conference@coeo.org
When reaching out, please include:
- A description of the item or experience
- The estimated value of the donation
- A photo (if available)
- Donor name and organization
Donation Deadline
Please submit your donation information by September 20th to ensure inclusion in conference and auction materials.
Auction Donation Guidelines
All items donated to the auction are considered in-kind donations to the Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario (COEO).
COEO reserves the right to determine which donated items will be included in the Live Auction. If an item is not selected for the Live Auction, it may still be featured in the Silent Auction, where it can continue to support our fundraising efforts.
As part of COEO’s commitment to accessibility and community engagement, our auctions are designed to be accessible to a broad range of conference participants. As a result, bidding may begin at or remain at price points below an item’s estimated retail or market value. Donors should be aware that auction items may ultimately sell for less than their estimated value.
Donors may be recognized in conference materials and during the auction, unless anonymity is requested.
We greatly appreciate your generosity and understanding. Every donation helps strengthen COEO’s ability to support outdoor and environmental education opportunities across Ontario.
Thank you for helping COEO continue to support educators, learners, and leaders across Ontario. Together, we can strengthen access to meaningful outdoor and environmental education opportunities for all.
We look forward to showcasing your generosity at the 2026 COEO Fall Conference!
The COEO Conference Committee
