Outdoor Learning Leadership Conference 2026

I work outside inspiring students to learn more about the world around them. I love what I do and hope that comes thru in my classes. I hope to learn a lot about nature journaling to help students put words numbers and diagrams together to explain the nature they see around them and to build connections to make the world a better place.

Michèle has been leading strategic, school-wide climate and Nature action focused on a thriving, regenerative future since 2018. In 2020 she co-founded DoorNumberOne.org and launched the Climate Action Accelerator Program (CAAP), now in its 5th year. She has been studying and practicing regenerative leadership through professional learning and accreditation with Living Future, the Regenesis Institute and Thoughtbox Education, three innovative global organizations working in K12 and other sectors to build new pathways to a thriving future for all. Prior to DoorNumberOne.org, Michèle spent 18 years... Read more

Andrea is passionate about teaching and learning outdoors. She has been the Education Specialist with Alberta Forestry and Parks for over 20 years where she has been developing, delivering and evaluating outdoor learning experiences for students and professional development workshops for teachers. She is inspired and influenced by progressive teaching pedagogy, infusing learning on and from the land with the natural learning cycle in her programs and workshops. Andrea is also a classroom teacher and currently works part-time in an outdoor school in Canmore as their Nature Immersion Specialty T... Read more

David has worked in classrooms, in a blended home-school/community framework, as Curriculum Coordinator and volunteered as president of the BC Science Teachers’ Association. He co-authored the BC K-7 Science curriculum, contributed to assessment documents, created resources for BC Hydro, the Engineers and Geoscientists of BC, the Fraser River Discovery Center and Nelson Education. David co-developed the BC Children's Hospital Healthy Buddies program in BC, NWT, Alberta and Manitoba. He previously worked with the Okanagan School of Education (UBCO) and with the SFU Advanced Professional Studies... Read more

I’m from St. John’s, NL but have been calling Iqaluit, NU home for ten years now. I have been an ECE for over half of my life with 8 of those in an Executive Director role. You can find me outside on the Tundra with my dogs in my spare time. I love pop culture, traveling, good books and spending time with my friends and family.

We have developed accredited land based programming for Indigenous youth in Atlantic Canada, as well as a suite of curriculum connected teacher training about climate change.

Michael R. Denny is Mi’kmaw from the Eskasoni Mi’kmaw Nation, in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. A father, husband and renown traditional singer, Michael R has traveled and shared his music all over Atlantic Canada and beyond. Living by our traditional teachings, Michael R has been involved with ceremonies, on the land education and powwows for many years.

Michael R has been integrating traditional knowledge within Mental Health when he started working with Indian Residential School Survivors in 2010. In 2014, he graduated from NSCC in Addictions counselling and in 2020 graduated from Cape...

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Stephanie Doyle, PhD, is a bilingual educator with over 20 years of experience. As Director of Education at Earth Rangers, a charity focused on transforming children’s and youth’s concerns about the environment into positive action, she oversees Earth Rangers Homeroom, a suite of resources for K-6 educators. She is also a board member EECOM and a member of the Nature Education Collective. Stephanie strongly believes in the importance of environmental education for youth, and society at whole, to thrive and is committed to supporting students in developing the knowledge, skills and confidence... Read more

Hi,
I am a big supporter of Place-based Learning and am working to promote more Place-based Learning opportunities for Yukon educators and learners.

Sylvie has been an  energetic K-9 educator for 34 years. She is the principal of a new school  where gardening, outdoor/environmental education, and Indigenous perspectives  drive learning. She spends a lot of time outdoors with more-than-humans, whether deep in a forest or while strolling down a city block. She completed her PhD doing ecoportraiture.

She continues to learn how Land, more-than-humans, and Indigenous perspectives can inform practice, especially  for non-Indigenous educators (like herself) who are striving to connect with place meaningfully. She loves macro-photography, and is prone to sudden stops and clicks!... Read more

Jennifer Gruno, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education at the University of Victoria. Her research focuses on nature-based physical activity, outdoor learning, Physical and Health Education pedagogy, and schools–university partnerships, with particular interest in fostering connections to Land, community, and the natural world. Through collaborative and action-oriented research, she works alongside educators and community partners to co-design, implement, and evaluate contextually relevant approaches to Physical and Health Education. Her... Read more

Shelagh Hagemann is the Assistant Principal at Ponoka Elementary School. Her teaching career was spent primarily in the middle school and secondary area teaching English Language Arts. She also held the position of Assistant Principal at an Outreach school and was the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Success Coordinator in Wolf Creek Public Schools. Shelagh received her education degree from the University of Alberta and Master’s degree from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, and has over twenty five years of experience in the area of Leadership. She is a wife and a mother who loves spending...

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I am a Principal with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and a dedicated bilingual educational leader. I served 11 years in secondary and now 8 years in elementary. Beyond my school-based leadership, I serve on the Ontario College of Teachers’ Investigation Committee and the Adjudicated Body of Chairs, bringing a systemic perspective to my work. With an academic background in Computer Engineering and Geomatics, I leverage data-driven innovation and technology to foster inclusive, high-performance learning environments. A staunch advocate for equity and student well-being, I actively champion... Read more

Taansi, Boozhoo! I'm Lindy :) The land that knows me is in Treaty 3 Territory where I live with my beautiful family. I've enjoyed over twenty years in public education as a classroom teacher, forest school educator, and Indigenous Language Lead. More recently, my journey has brought me to my role as Principal of a K-12 land-based school and Interim Education Advisor with our tribal council. My research and practice centres on leading through land-based learning, and I also enjoy working with pre-service and in-service educators through Indigenous Studies and the Faculty of Education at the University... Read more

Haley Higdon is a guest on Turtle Island and is the Director for Natural Curiosity. She has her BEd and MA in Child Study and Education from the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study at UofT. She has spent the last three years working as the managing editor for the development and creation of Natural Curiosity 2nd Edition: The Importance of Indigenous Perspectives in Children’s Environmental Inquiry. Haley supports educators with incorporating environmental inquiry into their practice. She is also attempting to live a zero waste lifestyle and has her own Instagram Blog @50ShadesofGreenToronto... Read more

I'm a Principal with the Halton District School Board, and I'm from Burlington, Ontario! 💚My school is in Oakville, Ontario and we are starting our second year as a new school community in September 2026. Our school opened as a Sustainable Future School, prioritizing the integration of SDGs into our curriculum and learning outside every day! This is my second year at the Take me Outside Leadership Conference, and I'm so excited to take away more learning to apply to our school vision and professional development. 🌱I am in my 15th year of school leadership and 30th year as an educator! I am...

Teacher Resources (not curriculum related)

Jessy has 5 years of experience as a high school science teacher and 2.5 years of experience in environmental education in the non-profit sector. At Ducks Unlimited Canada, she coordinates and delivers wetland education programming in partnership with the Nature Education Collective. She is passionate about nature and believes that the conservation of natural areas, such as wetlands, starts with education. She is eager to support teachers in integrating nature-based education into their practice so students can experience meaningful learning outside.

Nazia Hiscock is the Principal of Christina Gordon Public School. Originally from Toronto, ON, she has lived and worked in Fort McMurray since 2010 as a Junior High Humanities teacher and coach at École McTavish and Westview School, both part of the Fort McMurray Public School Division. In 2019, she began her extensive administrative background serving as the Vice Principal of Thickwood Heights School, Dr. K. A. Clark School and then, Walter & Gladys Hill Public School before taking on a principalship of Timberlea Public School .She completed her Bachelors of Environmental Studies & Bachelor of... Read more

Maxine Koskie, B.Ed., is the National Education Coordinator for Project WET Canada, bringing over 40 years of K–12 teaching experience. A passionate advocate of Project WET since 1996, she has used its activities throughout her career at many grade levels and subjects to help meet curriculum requirements. She served as Sr. Assistant Education Coordinator (2019–2022) and has been National Education Coordinator since 2023. Since 1997, she has led Project WET Certification Workshops for teachers, school staff, parents, park staff, Guides and Scouts leaders, education students, and outdoor center... Read more

Meredith Lemon graduated with her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Victoria. Her dissertation focused on identifying taken-for-granted, unsustainable, Western cultural teachings embedded in both the BC curriculum-as-plan as well as educators’ practice (herself included). She is a sessional instructor at Royal Roads University and in teacher education at the University of Victoria. Meredith also works with the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nation education team and has over the last five years. Her research areas, including current postdoctoral studies, focus on curriculum studies... Read more

Alison Leslie began her teaching career at a small rural school in Surrey, B.C., where she discovered her passion for integrating the natural world into her students' daily curriculum. This initial experience ignited her interest in ecological education, leading her to pursue further studies. In 2019, Alison completed her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Ecological Education through the lens of Indigenous Perspectives. Alison has had the opportunity to be the Vice-Principal for an outdoor learning program in Surrey, B.C. before making the move and taking a Principal role in... Read more

Grant Linney is an actively retired outdoor and environmental educator. In a career spanning six decades, he has connected children and adults of all ages to nature through hands-on experiential education in all four seasons. He has won numerous teaching and environmental awards at the municipal, provincial and national levels. In 2025, he received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his advocacy for outdoor experiential education and against anthropogenic climate change. He is the newly-published author of "Outdoor Magic: The Power of Nature Connection" wherein he recounts... Read more

Dr. Cameron McCuaig is a Canadian educator, French Immersion school principal, and creator of the Web of Rights, a framework that helps schools move from compliance-focused practices toward learning communities grounded in dignity, student voice, safety, and shared responsibility. With more than two decades of experience in education, Cam has worked across classrooms, school leadership, professional learning, and research. He holds a Doctor of Education from Northeastern University, where his research explored student voice and democratic schooling in Ontario public elementary schools.

His work focuses on helping educators create structures where students can participate meaningfully, navigate conflict, and learn to balance their own rights with the rights of others. A lifelong lover of nature and outdoor learning, Cam believes some of our richest opportunities for building community, responsibility, and belonging happen beyond the classroom walls... Read more

My expertise is in climate change education and climate change communication research. Talk to me about the best ways to teach and talk about climate change!

Richard Monette is a social innovator with more than 35 years of experience across education, sport psychology, and organizational development. His work focuses on helping people and organizations do meaningful, purposeful work in real-world conditions and constraints. As part of the leadership team at B2ten, Richard created and leads Active for Life (AfL), a national not-for-profit initiative that provides practical, evidence-informed resources to support parents and educators to raise children who love to move outdoors and indoors. AfL initiatives include Learn Through Active Play (LTAP), a professional... Read more

I am a lifelong high school Chemistry/Science teacher who was gifted the role of administration of alternative education and distributed learning programs in recent years. I started my career in Kashechewan Ontario, then worked 12 years in Fort Saint James BC and then 6 years in Merritt BC. Most recently I have joined a team in Duncan BC at CVOL (CVOLC and The Grove). Living the dream!
I am an advocate for personalized education within alternative learning environments. I believe all students can learn and will learn once we identify their gifts/ sparks, and stretches and then create a program specific to those needs. Kids will flourish if they can... Read more

April is a passionate nature-based educator and principal dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between learners, communities, and the natural world. A recent graduate of the Transformative Educational Leadership Program (TELP) at the University of British Columbia, she brings fresh insights and innovative strategies to the evolving landscape of education. With a strong focus on nurturing systems change, April champions a collaborative inquiry model, empowering educators and learners to co-create meaningful land-based learning experiences. Her leadership inspires a shared commitment to... Read more

Hello/Aanii, I'm Lyric Pitawanakwat-Peltier from Wikwemikong Unceded Territory. I'm passionate about health, wellness, education, and creating opportunities for people to learn through experience and connection. Much of my work involves leading wellness and recreation programs, and I'm especially interested in how outdoor learning can support physical health, mental well-being, community engagement, and cultural connection. As an Anishinaabe person, I'm interested in the role that land-based learning, relationships, and Indigenous perspectives play in education and leadership. I enjoy bringing... Read more

Rob Ridley has taught outdoor and environmental education since 1988 and for the last 13 years has been the Field Centres Coordinator for the Peel District School Board in Ontario. He coordinates environmental, outdoor and historical interpretation programming for 30,000 students each year from K-Gr 12 at five field centre locations and via in-school community based programs.
He is a founder and moderator of #EnviroEd chat on Twitter and has spoken on the use of technology as a tool for outdoor education for other Ontario School Boards.

The Howl Experience is a land-based education organization offering transformative outdoor programs for high school-aged youth throughout Canada. Founded by a collective of educators, community leaders, and youth, Howl emerged from a shared belief that education should be experiential, inclusive, and grounded in relationship—with land, culture, and community.
Howl supports young people to discover their voices, build meaningful careers, and contribute to their communities through experiential learning that respects individuality and culture. Programs are designed in close collaboration with l... Read more

Alicia Roberge is currently the Instructional Leader for Environmental Education and EcoSchools in the TDSB's Sustainability Office. Before this role, she held the role of Hybrid Teacher-Coach for Geography and digital literacy. Her work as a lead teacher, curriculum writer and instructor for York University and the TDSB has been grounded in facilitating community engagement and delivering workshops and professional development on place-based and experiential learning. She has also delivered professional development to educators and leaders in education, supporting curriculum development and delivery... Read more

Crystal Roberts is a bilingual educator in New Brunswick who is passionate about experiential learning and taking the curriculum outdoors. During her work supporting K-12 experiential learning opportunities over the last 6 years, she has been pursuing her Master of Education degree in Outdoor Learning- Admin and Policy at St Francis Xavier University. Crystal is a seasoned facilitator, having presented at conferences in tourism, business development, education, and more. She is a Project WILD and Project WET certified facilitator and has won the National Educator award from Canadian Wildlife Federation... Read more

Jacob Rodenburg is an award-winning educator, author, and leader in outdoor and environmental education with over 35 years of experience. A certified teacher with a Master’s in Education, he is passionate about connecting children with nature and inspiring lifelong stewardship. For nearly three decades, Jacob has served as Executive Director of Camp Kawartha, transforming it into a national model for sustainability and hands-on environmental learning. He also teaches Environmental Education at Trent University and is a frequent speaker and writer on nature connection. Jacob is the author or co-author... Read more

For almost 20 years, Court Rustemeyer has been inspiring youth and educators to connect with nature through daily exploration and adventure. A passionate advocate for outdoor learning, he creates opportunities for leadership, resilience, and stewardship through immersive experiences. Court was the recipient of the 2020 EECOM Award of Excellence - Outstanding Educator and his Outdoor Leadership program was named a 2021 Alberta Emerald Award Finalist.
Whether teaching in the wilderness or supporting educators in bringing learning outside, Court believes in the power of nature to ignite curiosity and personal growth. Earlier this year, he was selected as a National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow and will be heading to Antarctica later this year to further deepen his work at the intersection of education, exploration, and environmental connection... Read more

As the Experiential Education Manager at the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Kailey oversees the design and delivery of the organization’s informal education programs, including Gardening for Wildlife, Nature Sketch, BioBlitz and Hinterland Who’s Who. With over 15 years of experience working in the environmental nonprofit sector, she is passionate about connecting people of all ages with the natural world through stewardship, community science and experiential learning.

Laura Sims teaches in the faculty of education at the Université de Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg. Sims' research specializes in education-for-sustainability and learning in formal (i.e. faculties of education) and non-formal learning contexts (i.e. small scale farmers in Latin America). Previously, she taught high school and managed a Central American CIDA project.

Shannon has a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University and has spent the last two decades learning alongside students of all ages from infancy through adulthood. During her time at Royal Botanical Gardens, Shannon has delivered programs to students and public audiences on many nature-based topics.

Dr. Rachel Tidd is passionate about using outdoor and place-based learning to enrich literacy and math instruction. She is the author of the book Wild Learning: Practical Ideas for Bringing Teaching Outdoors and the creator of the Wild Math® and Wild Reading® curricular resources. She is a former elementary and special education teacher and currently an assistant professor of early childhood (B-grade 2) and special education at SUNY Empire State University. She holds a doctorate in sustainability education with a focus on literacy from the University of Wisconsin. Her research examines how critical... Read more

Aleks Waliszewska (she/her) is an educator, parent and graduate student at the University of Victoria in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction. Her MA thesis focused on more-than-human literacies in an elementary outdoor program exploring how children make meaning with the land. Her PhD research will focus on founding stories of nature-based and inquiry-based schools. She has learned with Gwich’in, Nuxalk, independent school, and public school communities. Aleks completed a collaborative project with Meredith funded by the inaugural Climate Education Fellowship Program in 2024, has served... Read more

Fiona has over 30 years of experience in the education field, as a PE specialist, primary classroom teacher, and administrator. She has worked in both public and private schools in both BC and Alberta throughout her career. Fiona currently is an Assistant Principal at Alpenglow School with Canadian Rockies Public Schools, and also teaches as a Sessional Instructor, working with pre-service teachers at the University of Calgary. Fiona is passionate about students being active and curious when learning and found that students at all levels benefit from learning outside in an experiential way. Her... Read more

VP - Wolf Creek Public Schools