COEO NEWS
Membership
Have you renewed your membership this year? A reminder that our membership year runs from September 1st to August 31st, so now is the time to renew your membership if you have not done so already!
Being a COEO member means that you are part of a strong and active community dedicated to promoting and celebrating the value of outdoor and experiential education. By being a member of COEO, you add your much-needed support and voice to all the work being done by COEO.
You can renew your membership online or mail your completed membership form.
Fall Conference Thank You
A huge thank you to everyone involved in our virtual fall conference events! While we missed having a chance to meet in person it was lovely to see many of you over Zoom, learn together, enjoy your music & stories, and discuss important issues related to the future of COEO & outdoor education.
Thank you to educators Anaya Lambert and Olivier Adrien for facilitating the learning on Anti-Racism & Outdoor Education, Shanshan Tian for MCing, and Karen O’Krafka for organizing this important workshop.
Thank you to Ben Blakey for organizing our COEO’s Got Talent open mic social, as well as to all those who shared their talents.
Thank you to Liz Kirk for coordinating this year’s Annual Meeting and to Brian Lisson for chairing the meeting.
And finally, thank you to COEO’s very own Zoom tech wizard Liz Jankowski for taking on the tech duties for all three of the virtual events.
2020/2021 Board of Directors
The Board of Directors for 2020/2021 were elected at COEO’s Annual Meeting on Sunday, September 27th.
President: Natalie Kemp
Past President: Liz Kirk
Vice President: Karen O’Krafka
Treasurer: Bill Schoenhardt
Secretary: Hil Coburn
Volunteer Coordinator: Aaron Parcher
Directors at Large: Liz Jankowski, Barbara Sheridan, Ben Blakey, and Danielle Barrett
Membership Secretary: Minka Chambers
Find out more about the members of the Board here.
Diversity & Allyship in Outdoor Education
Wondering how to support diversity in the outdoors and be a better ally to BIPOC folx within our industry?
Check out this great webinar Black Outdoors: The Connections Between Race and Outdoor Space put on by the Toronto Public Library, featuring Jacqueline L. Scott in conversation with Demiesha Dennis.
Read The Melanin Base Camp Guide to Outdoor Allyship.
Support Miesha Dennis & the Brown Girl Outdoor World Gear and Equipment Library (based in Toronto), either through a monetary donation or equipment donation. Read more about her work and this project here.
Support Colour the Trails and the incredible work being done by Juju Milay to inspire, engage, and uplift people of colour. Donate to this work to help more people access the outdoors.
Support Project Love Run, which is all about womxn’s mental health, community and running. Find out more about them here.
Check out the stories and work shared on social media during #BlackBirdersWeek, #BlackHikersWeek, and #BlackBotanistsWeek.
Read about the movement Bird Names for Birds and sign the petition.
COEO Awards – Call for Nominations
COEO Awards provide an important opportunity to recognize individual and group efforts, as well as to celebrate the varied expression of outdoor education within our organization and throughout the province of Ontario. Click HERE for more information about the 5 separate categories of COEO Awards and consider nominating a deserving colleague or organization. Due to COVID-19 and the cancellation of our in-person Annual Fall Conference for 2020, award nomination forms will be received on an ongoing basis in advance of our next in-person awards ceremony in September 2021 at Camp Couchiching. Simply fill out a COEO Awards Nomination Form, then email the completed form to: owls@coeo.org (Liz Kirk, COEO Past President). Thank you for your nomination of an outstanding outdoor educator or organization in Ontario!
COEO’s Outdoor Learning Tips for Teachers
Looking for a document aimed to help teachers get started in preparing to take their students outside this fall? Check out the Outdoor Learning Tips and Resources found here!
Call for Volunteers
Last call! Are you interested in practicing the skills involved with video filming or video editing? We are currently looking for volunteers to assist in a video project collaboration between COEO and OSEE (Ontario Society for Environmental Education) in 2021. The goal of the project is to create a series of short, informative videos that will illustrate some basic techniques, tips and activities related to outdoor learning. This video collection is intended to inform educators, as well as provide examples of processes and materials that will help to encourage more “green time” for students.
If interested, please contact Liz for more details at: owls@coeo.org
OTHER OEE & RELATED NEWS
Book of the Month:
The Get-Outside Guide to Winter Activities unlocks the door to a wealth of fun and adventure in the snow. Activities have been compiled by keepers of the trail, experienced winter trekker leaders who know how to lead people in outdoor winter activities that are safe and fun and help people experience the joy of being active outdoors during the cold months of the year.
This guide offers activities and games that have the following features:
- Appropriate for multiple age groups
- Easily modifiable to adapt to varying skillsets
- Designed for a variety of locales, such as schoolyards, community trails, urban and remote parks, and wilderness settings
To see more click here
Use code B182 to receive 50% off regular price. Offer expires 11/30/2020
Call for resources from Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC)
As teaching outside is gaining in popularity across the country, we want to be there to share best practices and support teachers in going outdoors. Want to give us a hand? We are building a database of professional development workshops enabling teachers to bring students outside. If you know of any, please contact us. If you have relevant news or scientific articles, don’t hesitate sending them our way also.
Contact: franz.plangger@outdoorcouncil.ca
Ontario Camps Association (OCA) is lobbying government for funding to sustain summer camps #savecanadiancamps
The Ontario Camps Association (OCA) is lobbying the federal government for a $200 million sustainability fund, and the Ontario government for an additional $30 million, to help camps survive the COVID-19 pandemic. For overnight camps in remote areas, it isn’t viable to operate day programs, meaning some businesses have lost 100 per cent of their revenue. The camp industry annually generates $2 billion for the national economy, with about two million kids attending camps each year, and 70,000 jobs, usually first time jobs for youth. Many camps are charitable organizations or not-for-profits. Read more HERE.
The OCA needs your help to #SaveCanadianCamps. Camps, campers, parents, camp staff, and alumni, your voice matters! Write a letter to your MP and MPP and let them know why camp is important and what camp means for you. Thank you for your support!
Discover an huge repository of resources from the OCA in response to COVID-19 HERE, see a copy of the letter sent to lobby the Federal government HERE and listen HERE to an interview with Mark Diamond.
Get Kids Paddling – Survey Request and Why Paddle? Visual
Want to help get more kids paddling? Click HERE to complete a short survey and help GKP complete the goal of finding out where paddling programs are available across Canada. That’s where you come in! The eventual goal of this project, initiated by Get Kids Paddling, is to connect people, places and stories from different parts of Canada, in order to highlight the value of these types of experiences and promote the future of paddling in Ontario.
Together with Erica Bota from ThinkLink Graphics, Get Kids Paddling has produced a stunning visual to capture an 2 hour discussion where 7 people spoke openly about their paddling experiences, primarily on canoe trips. Opening the link will show you the illustration displaying how Erica captured the conversation. GKP-Why-Paddle-Visual.pdf
LSF Call to Action for Outdoor Education
COVID-19 presents an opportunity for Canadian schools to embed learning outdoors as part of our culture of education, both for the short-term benefits of better infection control and the long-term benefits of outdoor learning for our children’s physical and mental health and academic success.
Please review the Call to Action for Outdoor Learning that Pamela Schwartzberg, President and CEO of Learning for a Sustainable Future, recently sent to Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Education, teachers’ federations and school boards across Canada.
You are invited to take this letter, modify it to include your specific organization’s offerings, and send it to Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Education, teachers’ federations and school boards in your networks. Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF) would appreciate their leadership on the call to be acknowledged in the letter, in some way. From experience, we know that it is more impactful if decision-makers get 25 emails with the same message, rather than one email with multiple signatories. Please share this call to action widely!
Articles and Blog Posts by Bob Henderson
Wondering what’s on Bob’s mind these days? Check out his latest articles, published on his blog website HERE. Two of his most recent pieces include A Case for School Canoe Trips: Rethinking Risk and Thoughts and Admittedly a Bit of a Rant on the Wilderness Superhero “Look at Me” Adventure Narrative. Enjoy!
Research on Whole-school Environmental Education
Shelley Wu, a teacher candidate in the Master of Teaching program at OISE (University of Toronto), is looking for teachers to help her with her research. A component of this program involves learning to conduct educational research through conducting semi-structured interviews with educators on a topic that interests us. The findings from these studies are intended to inform our practice as beginning teachers.
More specifically, she is interested in learning: in what ways and to what extent does a select group of Ontario schools recognized for their efforts in implementing whole-school level environmental education utilize school culture to encourage pro-environmental behaviors from the students?
1) Participants should be teachers in elementary or secondary schools in Ontario.
2) Participants should be from a school that has been recognized for their efforts in implementing whole-school level environmental education, such as platinum-level EcoSchools, place-based community schools and schools with environmental responsibility as their core value.
3) Participants should be from a school that has been recognized for their efforts in creating an environmentally responsible school culture.
4) Participants should be current leaders with an active role in environmental education programs with at least two years of experience in the programs in their current schools.
To view the whole criteria, and for contact information CLICK HERE
Thrive Outside Launch Kit, Child and Nature Alliance
Are you interested in connecting children with nature through outdoor learning and play?
Explore Thrive Outside — a free resource portal on outdoor learning and play available now!
Designed by educators, for educators, Thrive Outside helps you to re-imagine what back to school can look like beyond the classroom. Visit www.thriveoutside.ca to get started today!
There are many more resources to come — including a French portal. Follow The Child and Nature Alliance of Canada on social media for updates!
Inspiring Future Young Leaders Through Canadian Youth-Led Water Storytelling Contest
TURTLE ISLAND / CANADA (October 21st, 2020) –– Dynamic emerging Canadian storytellers and creatives have joined forces with Waterlution in training & mentoring 44 Youth Advisory Board (YAB) volunteers to lead –– Young Water Speaks – a water-centric storytelling contest with workshops for youth 7-18 years of age.
Waterlution’s volunteer team has joined forces with Mi’kmaq storyteller and singer Ivy, rapper & youth empowerment public speaker Kalvonix (Calvin Tiu), writer, water poet and storyteller Marilyne Busque-Dubois, climate activist/Climate Strike organizer Allie Rougeot, poet Rosemary 昕禾 Hu and Ojibwe Grandmother Kim Wheatley, who will be connecting knowledge holders to Young Water Speaks to share traditional stories.
About Young Water Speaks
Young Water Speaks – Youth Storytelling Contest is Waterlution’s 2020-2022 youth program. It is a national storytelling educational project and contest with video resources and special webinars hosted by professional storytellers and free workshops hosted by Waterlution’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) volunteers. This program is being funded by the Government of Canada and is being delivered in both official languages.
YAB volunteers will provide teachers with pre-workshop activities and guiding videos to get them started before hosting the storytelling training workshop. In the YAB-led workshops, participating youth will learn to generate ideas inspired by water, develop characters, storyboard, and choose a creative storytelling avenue that suits their interests, art, video, creative writing.
The contest is divided into 3 different age categories (7 to 19, 11 to 13, 14 to 18) within 4 separate regions in Canada. A total of 12 prizes will be awarded including gift cards from United by Blue Sustainable Outdoor Apparel and Accessories. Winning stories will also be featured in a travelling water-stories exhibit alongside the work of emerging storytellers and creatives in Autumn 2021.
Waterlution is a Canadian NGO, founded in 2003, that works nationally and internationally to offer professional development opportunities, leadership training, and innovation coaching to a diverse group of young professionals who are passionate about water.
For more information CLICK HERE
OEE P.D. OPPORTUNITIES
MHO Adventures – NEW! 42-day Guide Development and Leadership Course
Outdoor Learning Webinars, hosted by LSF:
- A series of webinars designed specifically for and by secondary teachers
- Tips for getting outside even in cold winter months!
- Connecting primary and middle school math curriculum to the outdoors
Check out the recorded webinar sessions for each grade group:
- Kindergarten/Early Years: Webinar recording | Webinar slides
- Grades K-6: Webinar recording | Webinar slides
- Grades 4-10: Webinar recording | Webinar slides
Webinar Recordings from Natural Curiosity:
Recordings for Webinars 1 and 2 of a 4-part series are now available through a “pay-what-you-can” model on the University of Toronto Press website!
Part 1: Educator Strategies for Getting and Staying Outside
Part 2: A COVID-look at the Indigenous Lens on Natural Curiosity
Part 3: Grounding Virtual Learning in the Land and Relationship.
Part 4: Using School Grounds Effectively to Enrich Learning.
Adventureworks! Associates Inc. ropes certification courses
LEAP Series: Adventure Program Supervisors Forum: Virtual Edition
A 4 session workshop 3:00-4:30pm on Nov 12, 19, 26, Dec 3, 2020, on Zoom
Building Community Through Virtual Adventure
A 3 session workshop 3:00-4:30pm on Nov 25, Dec 2, 9, 2020, on Zoom
Sneak Peek at 2021 Ontario Challenge Course Certification Dates
Ropes Course Instructor – Level 2 – April 5-9, 2021
Refresh & Recert – Level 2 – April 8-9, 2021
Assistant Ropes Course Instructor – Level 1 – May 12-16, 2021
Ropes Course Instructor – Level 2 – May 26-30, 2021
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
Canadian Outdoor Summit
Postponed to September 29 – October 2, 2021, Gatineau, Quebec
The in person Canadian Outdoor Summit has been postponed to 2021. This inaugural event is about bringing people together to celebrate contributions and tackle some key structural challenges affecting all outdoor programs from coast to coast to coast. This national gathering is aimed at celebrating our contribution to Canadian society and solving key challenges faced by outdoor programs. This project is a collective effort of the outdoor sector, therefore your perspective and contribution offers tremendous value. More information can be found on the event website: http://canadianoutdoorsummit.com/ and social media channels. Please follow and share: Instagram, Facebook, Canadian Outdoor Summit Promotional Video
NAAEE Annual Conference and Research Symposium
October 14-17, Tucson, Arizona
Inspiring Change – The focus of the 2020 NAAEE Conference and Research Symposium is positive change. We will explore the ways in which environmental education informs and inspires, and how it builds human capacity, influences attitudes, and galvanizes actions to create healthier communities and a healthier environment for all.
More information can be found on the event website: https://naaee.org/conference
EECOM National Conference
Postponed to April 28 – May 1st, 2021, Toronto, Ontario
EECOM’s National Conference in Environmental Education is coming to Toronto – save the date! EECOM’s conferences are Canada’s largest, regular gatherings of environmental learning stakeholders, and provide unparalleled professional development and networking opportunities. This conference is being hosted in Toronto by EcoSchools Canada, the Environmental & Sustainability Education Initiative at OISE, University of Toronto, and the Toronto District School Board’s Sustainability Office.
We are currently inviting proposals for presentations, sessions, workshops and other facilitated learning opportunities at the EECOM 2021 Conference.
For applying for General Sessions: https://ecoschools.ca/eecom/call-for-proposals/
For applying to present at the Research Symposium: https://ecoschools.ca/eecom/research-symposium/
Youth Climate Action Summit
NEW DATE – May 3rd and 4th, 2021, The Aquatarium at Tall Ships Landing, Brockville, Ontario
Are you a high school educator in Eastern Ontario? Consider registering a team of 4 or 5 students to participate in the first ever Youth Climate Action Summit held in Canada. Spaces are limited – maximum of 20 teams. There is no cost for registration. Teams have to pay their own cost of transportation and accommodation (if needed). Visit the website to find out more details here.
JOB POSTINGS
Road Less Travelled Academy (RLTA) – Full Time Outdoor Educator (2 positions)
The Road Less Travelled Academy (RLTA) is a not for profit, charitable educational organization that has been in operation since 2017. A nature-based elementary school is seeking two outdoor educators for full-time positions to join our small but growing team to work with children ages 4-8. We do currently have two indoor classrooms, which are Yomes (yurt/eco-domes) heated with wood stoves for the colder months. The school campus is located on a working farm setting and there is ample opportunity for adventuring through farm, forest, and fields with the students. Nature is our classroom. Our integrated curriculum and activities focus on real-world themes (for example, food/animal systems, health & wellness, social justice & servant leadership).
Click to see the full job posting HERE
Middle School Co-Teacher, Grade 7/8, Kawartha Montessori School
We are seeking a grade 7/8 Teacher (Adolescent Guide) for a limited term appointment (parental leave coverage) in our Middle School program, with the possibility of renewal into the 2021-2022 academic year. Though the current term is limited, opportunities for longer-term employment at KMS may be possible for the right candidate.
The Middle School program is a unique and academically rigorous Montessori experience with strong commitments to outdoor and community-based learning. Its integrated curriculum is grounded in
experiential, inquiry-based, and student-directed learning. Students work collaboratively, with accountability and critical thinking. As in other KMS classes, our Middle School program aims to foster respectful interpersonal relationships, self and group leadership, caring, and empathy.
To view the full posting click here
Project Director, Northern Youth, NWT
We’re hiring a new Project Director!
This is an exciting career opportunity based in #Yellowknife directing a small non-profit that offers free on-the-land leadership programs for youth from across the NWT and Canadian Arctic. Northern Youth Leadership is a project on the @makeway_together shared platform (formerly Tides Canada). If you’re looking for a career that combines your organizational management experience with your passion for working with youth & being on the land, this position may be for you.
We’re looking for a candidate with extensive experience in grant writing, program management, youth work and land-based/wilderness programming. The Project Director is responsible for all aspects of planning, implementing and evaluating NYL’s remote wilderness programming. Experience working in Northern and remote settings is a significant asset. This position will be of particular interest to those with backgrounds in social work, outdoor education, child and youth work or non-profit management.
The Project Director answers to a dedicated group of volunteer Steering Committee members and works closely with MakeWay Charitable Society to maintain operating, financial and administrative systems that support operations.
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Please see full job description at www.northernyouth.ca/join-our-team. Contact hr@northernyouth.ca with any questions and with your CV and cover letter to apply
OLE Instructor and OLE Support, Pine River Institute
Pine River Institute is an innovative co-ed residential treatment program for teens struggling with addictive behaviours. We are a family-centered program comprised of 4 phases: Wilderness (Outdoor Leadership Experience), Residential, Transition, and Aftercare. Every student, upon entering the program, spends 8 or more weeks in Huntsville before moving to the residence. Day-to-day activities in wilderness include canoeing, hiking, snowshoeing, group initiatives, group and individual therapy, and journaling. Youths live and work in nature in groups of up to eight, with three staff.
Our campus is situated on 200 acres of spectacular Niagara Escarpment land near Shelburne, Ontario. The program here includes outdoor education, individual, group, and family therapy, expressive arts, athletics, and life skills, as well as the more traditional academic offerings.
We are currently seeking experienced Wilderness Field Instructors to help us deliver this unique program, primarily in Huntsville or Algonquin Park and also at the Shelburne campus.
Qualifications
We are looking for individuals with the qualifications and related experience in Wilderness field work. This individual will demonstrate patience, integrity, commitment, and an ability to maintain clear boundaries, and a sense of humour.
To view the postings, click the links below.
OLE Support posting new 200131JR
ONTARIO CAMPS ASSOCIATION – JOB BOARD
The OCA Job Board is always an excellent place to find job postings in the field of outdoor education. Check out their website, as many full-time positions at outdoor centres and camps are now being advertised. Are you a natural team leader and a creative problem-solver? Do you enjoy giving back to the community and inspiring others to do good? Katimavik is looking for open-minded, resourceful individuals to lead youth development projects. This challenging and rewarding position provides leadership for up to 11 youth at a time, guiding them through a six-month experience of volunteerism, learning, discovery, growth, and accountability. The Project Leader will reside in-house with the group.
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ABOUT THIS ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
For consistency, the COEO electronic newsletter is now published on the first of each month. Anyone having an item of interest to outdoor & experiential educators and desiring publication in this newsletter needs to submit it to newsletter@coeo.org at least two days before the publication date.
The newsletter is generally organized according to the following headings: COEO News, Other OEE & Related News, P.D. Opportunities, Opportunities for Students, Resources, Job Postings. If your organization wishes to post information (e.g., notice of upcoming events, etc), it needs to be an organizational member of COEO.
If you would like to be removed from COEO’s eNewsletter mailing list, please send an email to newsletter@coeo.org and ask to be unsubscribed.