COEO NEWS
MAKE PEACE WITH WINTER 2019!
Dynamic Horizons: A Research and Conceptual Summary of Outdoor Education
OTHER OEE & RELATED NEWS
Canadian Student Outdoor Education Conference 2019
This year’s Horwood Conference was a resounding success! The conference was attended by over 60 students from across Canada, representing over 14 different institutions. There were 20 student presenters who delivered workshops, research presentations, and our first ever film screening! The student conference participants were treated to two amazing/inspiring/thought-provoking keynote presentations by Dr. Paul Stonehouse and Dr. Lisa Glithero. The COEO Board of Directors would like to thank the student organizers of this conference and presenters for all their hard work and dedication.
Book of the Month:
The Get-Outside Guide to Winter Activities offers a wealth of ideas, activities, games, and tips for leaders of wintertime outdoors groups. The activities are safe, enjoyable, tried-and-true, age appropriate, easily modifiable for varying skill levels, and designed for a wide range of locales.
For more details click here
Use code B052 to receive 40% off regular price. Be sure to sign up to receive our e-newsletter to stay informed, click here to sign up! Offer expires 2/28/2019
A review of Outdoor Education Programs in English Secondary Schools in Ontario:
Do you teach outdoor education at the secondary school level in an English-speaking public school board in Ontario? Do you work with a private or board run outdoor education centre that serves Ontario secondary students? Are you passionate about advancing outdoor education programs in the province?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, we need your help! COEO has partnered with UBC and M.Ed student Chris Shibley (Limestone District SB) on a study looking at the state of Outdoor Education in Ontario Secondary Schools. The study, titled “A review of Outdoor Education Programs in English Public Secondary Schools in Ontario” is a continuation of COEO’s 1979, 86 and 92 publication “Catalogue of Programs and Personnel Sites and Services in Outdoor Education in Ontario”.
The study will look at different Outdoor Education programs (Integrated Curriculum Programs, stand alone PAD courses, SHSM offerings, Private and Board led OE centres) and opportunities being offered across the province. The goal of this study is to share information about programs operating across the province, and facilitate the sharing of ideas, resources and support between Outdoor Educators.
We are looking for teachers, administrators and instructors from all 34 public, English school boards in the province, as well as anyone involved with privately operated Outdoor Ed centres used by high schools in the province.
Results of this study will be made available publicly, and to our members in Spring 2019.
If you, or someone you know, is interested or fits the criteria mentioned above, please click the link below to fill out the 5 minute questionnaire, or contact a member of the Research Team below.
https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bx9UWYj57s4B7A9
If you have any questions about the study please contact a member of the research team.
Principal Investigator: LeAnne Petherick – leanne.petherick@ubc.ca – 604 818 6970
Co-Investigator: Chris Shibley – chris.shibley@alumni.ubc.ca – 613 583 1328
National Climate Change Survey
Researchers, Dr. Ellen Field and Associate Professor Paul Berger, from Lakehead University, in collaboration with Learning for a Sustainable Future and with support from SSHRC, are undertaking a national survey to gain an understanding of current levels of knowledge and perceptions of climate change and to assess the education system’s role in addressing climate change education.
This survey is targeting the general public, parents of K-12 students, students ages 12 -18, teachers, administrators, teacher educators, and other interested educators across the country.
Responses are sought from diverse perspectives; whether you feel strongly or are indifferent about climate change and the role of education, your opinions are important!
National and Provincial/Territorial results will be shared with Ministries of Education, Teacher Federations, Faculties of Education, and other education stakeholder groups across Canada.
Please contribute here: www.bit.ly/lsfclimatesurvey
Survey details:
- survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes
- survey is available in both English and French
- this research study has been reviewed and approved by the Lakehead University Research Ethics Board
- all survey responses are anonymous
- respondents can enter to win 1 of 5 HP Sprocket smartphone photo printers!
If you have any questions about the survey please contact Dr. Ellen Field, Principal Investigator (efield@lakeheadu.ca) or Pamela Schwartzberg, President and CEO of LSF (pam@LSF-LST.ca)
Citizen Science Research Study!
Nisbet Research Lab, Department of Psychology, Trent University
Tell us what it’s like to be a citizen scientist!
We’re researchers interested in citizen science activities and would like to hear from you. Click here to learn more and help us by completing a brief survey. Participants who complete this study will be entered in a draw for a $100 gift card (Amazon, MEC, or REI; $CDN or $US depending on region). There will be a draw every six months and participants can only win once.
OTIP Teaching Awards:
The Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) are proud sponsors of the OTIP Teaching Awards.
For many years, these awards have recognized the excellence of our teachers in publicly funded education. There are three categories of awards: elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher and beginning teacher in the first five years of teaching. A teacher may be nominated by anyone – professional colleagues, students, parents, or the general public.
Nominations are now open for the 2019 awards. The deadline for receipt of nominations is March 31, 2019. Further information is provided on the attached PDF and is also available at www.teachingawards.ca. If you have any questions, please contact Jason Healey at OTF: Jason.healey@otffeo.on.ca.
otip teaching awards 2019 – english
OEE P.D. OPPORTUNITIES
Adventureworks Training:
LEAP 2019:
Featuring Jennifer Stanchfield, author of Inspired Educator. Inspired Learner.
February 19-20, 2019
Canterbury Hills Ancaster
Challenge Course and Climbing Program Management (CCM)
February 26 – March 1, 2019
Canterbury Hills, Ancaster
Low Ropes Facilitator (Level 1)
March 25-26, 2019
Canterbury Hills, Ancaster
Assistant High Ropes Instructor ( Level 1)
March 25-29, 2019
Canterbury Hills, Ancaster
Ropes Course Instructor (Level 2)
March 25-29, 2019
Canterbury Hills, Ancaster
For more information and to register, go to www.adventureworks.org
Green Teacher Webinars
Using Progressive Skits to Teach Food Chains
with Emily M. Stone
Wed. Feb. 13, 7:30-8:30 pm EST
Teacher-led progressive skits are a quick and engaging way to make food chains come alive for students aged six to adult. They provide a good mix of teacher control and student creativity, and use repetition and humor to facilitate learning. They can be customized to work with any grade level or even mixed groups by purposefully selecting the level of vocabulary and detail you include. In her presentation, Emily will walk you through the basics.
Mindfulness and Creative Nature Play
with Dave Bauer
Wed. Mar 6, 7:30-8:30 pm EST
Mindfulness is inherently connected to children’s creative nature play. This also applies, by extension, to adults who facilitate and/or join children in their imaginative explorations within a natural setting. During this interactive webinar, we invite you to watch and learn or actively join the discussion by sharing your ideas, experiences, and insights about this topic. Dave will kick-start the discussion by outlining the benefits for both children and adults of being mindful and sharing time in nature.
with Liza Barney
Wed. Mar. 27, 7:30-8:30 pm EST
Birds can be found in our backyards, schoolyards, local parks and communities, offering an exciting and accessible connection to nature all year long. Participating in citizen science is a fun way to help students get to know their local birds, and contribute to real-world science. This webinar will introduce entry-level, student-friendly Citizen Science programs for all ages and experiences, including Project FeederWatch, Great Backyard Bird Count, Schoolyard Bird Blitz, Project NestWatch and the Christmas Bird Count for Kids.
Secrets to Snagging Great Science Partners
with Megan Edgar
Wed. Apr. 10, 7:30-8:30 pm EST
In this webinar, Megan will help you understand how to cultivate and grow relationships with community members who can enrich classroom learning experiences. She will help you determine what type of partnership is right for your students, how to grow partnerships into long-term research projects, and how to tie field experiences to required curriculum. This webinar will help you learn how to take your students into the real world of science and conservation where they can practice science process skills in an authentic setting and meet inspiring people from their home community.
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
Forest Ontario Conference
Feb 8, 2019, Alliston, Ontario
Join us for our Annual Conference on February 8th in Alliston, ON! This year’s theme is Natural Connections, where we will be exploring our relationship with Ontario’s forests.
Our forests are deeply rooted in our daily lives, our histories and our cultures. Our well-being—past, present and future—is intrinsically intertwined with this vital resource. However, our forests are increasingly impacted by ever-changing factors; societal, economic and environmental. Understanding our connection to our forests, and how our forests define our relationships with one another, is critical to the continued sustainable management of this incredible resource. Join us as we explore these relationships and ensure healthy forests and communities for our future!
For more information, click here.
Plein air- Apprendre à Ciel Ouvert (Open air learning)
les 8,9 et 10 février 2019, Saint-Jean-de-Matha, Québec
For the first time in Quebec, the Outdoors – Learning in the OpenSymposium will bring together presenters, preschoolers and students from different fields to discuss and discuss the various modalities of intervention in a context of full immersion. air in Quebec. Participants will be able to discover many inspiring initiatives and experience concrete experiences that will enable them to take action in their communities. The theme of the conference, interdisciplinarity, will offer participants opportunities to decompartmentalize subjects, focusing on concrete projects where students are active in their learning. Do not miss this unique training and networking event!
LEAP Conference, Adventureworks
February 19, 2019
This one-day event brings together a wide range of adventure educators – from those using challenge courses at outdoor centres to those facilitating experiential education in the classroom. The day includes networking opportunities, workshops, and a great line-up of presenters.
LEAP 2019 features our guest presenter, and also includes a kick-off playnote with the Adventureworks! team, nine exciting workshops, & a full-day post-conference session. At LEAP 2019 you will meet like-minded people who are passionate about engaging participant learning through experiential and adventure based learning!
To register and for more information: http://adventureworks.org/leap/
EECOM Conference 2019
May 10-12, 2019, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The theme of the EECOM Conference in 2019 is “Action on Climate Change Through Education,” making this the first national environmental education conference with a focus on climate change education. Our aim is to increase action on climate change through education by bringing together educators, students, policy makers, researchers, and community members to discuss and collaborate on this important and timely topic.
Four concurrent session strands will focus on (1) PreK-12 Education, (2) Higher Education, (3) Community Education, (4) and Indigenous Education. Presentations and contributions on a wide range of other environmental education and land-based topics are also welcomed. We are excited to bring a mix of presentation styles and formats, which will support participants of all backgrounds and learning styles. There will be keynote plenaries, panel discussions, hands-on workshops, place-based field trips, pre-conference field trips, leadership seminars, and more.
OSEE Ecolinks Conference 2019
May 16, 2019, High Park Nature Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Ecolinks is not your typical conference. Instead of sitting in a darkened room watching a PowerPoint presentation, the day is packed with hands-on, classroom-ready activities for teaching Ontario curriculum through an environmental lens. Not only is the day a lot of fun, you’ll return to your school with new activities and skills for teaching environmental education.
At Ecolinks 2019, learn how to integrate STEAM education into your teaching practice. Get tips and tricks from the pros through hands-on workshops.
This year we are excited to have five themes for the conference:
1) Inquiry-based learning
2) Makerspaces and loose parts play
3) Exploring food systems through environmental education
4) Indigenous perspectives & environmental education
5) Environmental justice
For more information, visit www.osee.ca.
Please click here to register for Ecolinks 2019!
JOB POSTINGS
Sessional Instructor/Summer Program Director – Outdoor Education, University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus
The Department of Social Sciences at the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus invites applications for the following full-time term position in Outdoor Education.
Duties include:
Teach 20 credits in Physical Education/Outdoor Education/Physical Activity classes as determined in consultation with the Chair of Social Sciences; Planning, developing, implementing and managing summer outdoor education programs; Responsibilities are subject to the authority of the Chair of Social Sciences, to meet the instructional needs of the department.
The successful candidate(s) will be expected to hold a minimum of a Master’s degree in Physical Education or a related field and to have the appropriate certifications and experience to support leading wilderness expeditions, will have strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills and will preferably have recent experience in university teaching at the undergraduate level.
Multiple positions, Camp Kintail
Camp Kintail is hiring a Garden Director, Waterfront team member, Challenge Course Coordinator, Outdoor living skills staff and Outdoor Adventure Director. Check out their website to view all postings and to apply!
Lead Animator, Nature Play program, Evergreen
The Lead Animator will supervise and deliver educational, inspiring, nature based play programs and activities for children and families at Gzowski and Kingsdale Parks in Kitchener, Ontario. The individual will work with a team of Play Animators to develop content for weekly programs for drop-in families, visiting schools, camps, and community groups.
To view the posting and to apply Click Here
Pine River Institute, multiple positions
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. Our campus is situated on 200 acres in the Niagara Escarpment near Shelburne, Ontario
The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership, communication and positive role modeling skills, combined with a work style that embodies creativity and initiative.
Canoe Trip Leader and Paddling instructor, Canadian Canoe Museum
We are looking for two energetic individuals who are certified paddling instructors and experienced tripping guides to lead our popular day camps and backcountry trips.
As a Canoe Museum Paddling Instructor, you are responsible for designing and facilitating a safe, engaging, and camper-focused program plan based on the ORCKA skills and best experiential education practices. Working as a team, you will inspire participants to become more self-confident, resilient, and skilled, providing enthusiastic, informative, hands-on learning opportunities. As part of the Canoe Museum team you are responsible for accomplishing shared responsibilities, organizing program logistics, and regularly inspecting the inventory of all waterfront equipment.
To view the full posting and to apply Click Here
Instructor/Residential Care Worker, Wendigo Lake Expeditions
Instructors/Residential Care Workers for Project DARE & REACH Residential Adventure Therapy Programs provide direct service programming including delivery of the intensive therapeutic and behaviour management program; facilitating adventure activities ranging from games/initiatives, low and high ropes courses and other challenge activities; leading wilderness expeditions; supporting the school program; and facilitating life skills programming including cooking and daily chores routines.
Instructors are paid a variable per diem based on work experience, services provided, and level of responsibility. A typical annual income ranges from $40,000-$50,000 plus benefits including an extended health care plan. Work schedules vary per program, but average 15 days per month. If you are well-qualified, enjoy the challenge of working with youth who have very challenging behaviours, and would like to work as a member of a motivated team of exceptional people within a culture of support and feedback, send a cover letter and resume to: jobs@wendigolake.com
Outdoor Wilderness Therapy Coach, Emergo Recovery
Emergo Recovery is seeking a passionate professional with strong leadership training, outdoor education and recreation background and/or fitness background. A professional who can show a commitment to positively impacting people utilizing your years education and formal professional experiences.
All candidates must be minimum twenty-five (25) years of age (due to insurance regulations). Must posses a valid drivers license, have a clean drivers abstract, agree to mandatory drug testing for all team members, and be tobacco free.
MUST be willing and able to work weekends.
Position is available immediately. This position can be full or part time and is a one (1) year contract (independent contractor) position. Compensation ranges from $18 – $25/hr, depending on skills, experience, and education. Local candidates only need apply, no relocation (residential property is near Alliston, ON).
Please submit both a cover letter and your C.V. by email only. In your cover letter, please highlight what skills you bring that make you an asset – and why do you love the outdoors.
Please view the Emergo website for more info: emergorecovery.com
Teachers, Educators, Counsellors, The Boundless School
Our mission is to go to the ends of the earth to help teens achieve academic and social outcomes beyond their wildest dreams. We are quite relentless in insisting people be good to each other. The result is an exquisite learning environment where kids don’t want to leave. In the Fall and Winter, we deliver an adventure-based boarding school for struggling teens.
For more information or to apply, please click here.
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.
Find us, friend us, like us, tag us or follow us online:
Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/coeo.org
Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/coeo.org
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/COEOoutdoors
Twitter https://twitter.com/COEOoutdoors @COEOoutdoors
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.