We are a non-profit, volunteer-based organization that advocates for and promotes high-quality outdoor education experiences for people of all ages. As a subject association, COEO supports the professional development, collaboration, and success of outdoor and environmental learning across Ontario and beyond.

Uniting Educators to Inspire Learning Outdoors, Beyond the Classroom

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Who We Are

Over 50 years ago, COEO was founded to support the emerging development of outdoor education as an approach to teaching and learning.

Since then, COEO’s impact has been felt across the world through our conferences, publications, and advocacy work.

Entirely volunteer-run, COEO organizes three annual conferences, publishes Pathways (a globally recognized practitioner journal), and engages in ongoing advocacy for the methods and benefits of outdoor learning pedagogies.

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Become a Member Today

Bringing together people, research and practice in the field of outdoor, environmental and experiential education.

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Our Publications

The Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario offers bimonthly, quarterly and research publications to inform, support, and inspire outdoor and environmental education across Ontario!

Read Our Newsletter

Under the Canopy

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COEO’s Pathways Journal

Pathways is COEO’s quarterly journal, dedicated to publishing current research, practical strategies, varied approaches and inspirational practice that supports outdoor and environmental educators. Members of COEO receive a subscription to Pathways.

Read a sample article from a recent member-only-access Pathways

Our Conferences

Bringing together passionate educators, practitioners & researchers with a shared vision.

We organize three conferences annually:

  • Fall Conference & AGM

  • Make Peace with Winter (MPWW)

  • Ontario Wilderness Leadership Symposium (OWLS), a “floating” canoe trip conference

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Our Advocacy

Amplifying the Case for Outdoor Learning Across Ontario and Beyond

In order to ensure the value of outdoor education is recognized beyond COEO, we take an active role in promoting the multiple benefits of this approach to teaching and learning.

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  • "My favourite part of COEO is the social aspect of meeting new people and building connections."

    - A COEO Member

  • "At COEO, we think about our community not just as a community of people but as the living world around us. That’s our community too - the trees, the water the air, the insects…"

    - Jacob Rodenburg, Camp Kawartha

  • "When I came to my first COEO conference, I felt as though I had ‘come home’ as a teacher. I found my peers, people who care deeply about fostering connection between kids and natural world."

    - A First COEO Conference Attendee

  • "At COEO conferences, you get together with people from other places. They have ideas. They have energy and you get to soak that energy in."

    - A COEO Member

  • "I’m trying to be part of the Truth and Reconciliation journey, so I really want to be part of all that’s happening at COEO in the area of Indigenous education and teaching practices."

    - A COEO Conference Attendee

  • "It’s moments like this as an adult - experiencing connection and stories - that really inspires us to keep going as outdoor educators."

    - An Outdoor Educator and COEO Member

  • "At COEO, you feel comfortable and accepted and wanted."

    - A COEO Conference Attendee

  • "This conference breathes life back into you. It has been fantastic."

    - A COEO Member