OSEE

All in a Drop of Water: Introduction to Plankton Biology

There’s an amazing and complex world out there for us to explore, all in a single drop of water! Start outdoors by collecting plankton using a variety of sampling methods and then investigate your catch through the use of projection and digital microscopes. Take away suggestions for classroom activities, including ways to engage students in discussions of water quality.

Intermediate/Senior

Nicole Hamley is an outdoor and environmental education teacher with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, working at Lake St. George Field Centre in Richmond Hill. Nicole studied Environmental Biology at Queen’s University and went on to earn her B.Ed. from OISE/UT. Nicole has been a member of OSEE for several years and helps to proof each issue of Interactions.

Speaker Notes are here: Hamley_Nicole_Intro to plankton biology_2010.pps

Introduction to Geology – Part 1

This workshop will be divided into 2 sessions.
This session is intended for those who have minimal or no background in the study of geology. Suggestions will be given on how to introduce the Grade 4 Geology unit and engage student participation in classroom situations. Through instruction and demonstrations, participants will learn about tools used by geologists in the field, main mineral properties, acid test, fluorescence, and types of rocks and fossils by observing hand held samples.
The session has been used successfully in classrooms in various elementary schools for the past 3 years. It can be modified for secondary levels.
A list of teacher resources will be provided to enable the teacher to become comfortable in the study of rocks and minerals.

Grade 4 (and possibly Secondary)

Don Lee is a retired Geography/Geology high school teacher whose passion is collecting rocks, minerals and fossils. He has designed this workshop (modified with input from elementary teachers) specifically for the elementary curriculum Grade 4 Geology.
As well as his hobby in lapidary work (making jewelry from rocks/minerals), Don travels to gain personal experience in geological formations within Europe, Iceland and Canada as well as the global Arctic.
He shares his information with elementary students and teachers by visiting schools as a guest geologist.

Karin Kell is a K - 6 teacher with the Simcoe County DSB. Her students in Grade 4 have participated in the Rocks & Minerals exercise. She will share her experience and expertise as an elementary teacher.

Geology Lab – Part 2

(Maximum of 28 people)

Note that Part 1 is a prerequisite for Part 2 which is a practical application of the previous session. This session is intended for those who have minimal or no background in the study of geology.
The participant will move through 7 stations that require hands on study of the properties discussed in Part 1. For example: colour/streak, lustre/transparency, hardness/tenacity, density, fractures/cleavage, crystal structure, and special properties. This lab is intended for Grade 4 Curriculum but may be modified for secondary levels.
Participant will be able to use basic geological tools, observe mineral properties, create cross-curricular opportunities and make modifications to the lab to adapt to classroom situations.

Grade 4 (and possibly Secondary)

Speaker Notes are here: Don Lee's Web Site

First Nations Art

Through activities, handling objects, directed observation and discussion of work in the First Nations collection, participants will be able to:
Sharpen powers of observation
Analyze and describe works of art
Understand and appreciate First Nation art
Identify elements of design and describe how they are used by artists. (ie. colour, shape, line and texture).
Become familiar with the McMichael First Nation collection.
The session will highlight: North West Coast First Nations, the Four Realms, Importance of Totems/Masks, the four common symbols, Potlatch, handling objects, explaining the sketch activity.

Both Panels

Fred Empacher has been with the McMichael Canadian Art Collection for over 14 years. As an educator, he participates in the development of tours and workshops for school children pertaining to the art of the Group of Seven, Inuit and First Nations People. He has presented workshops at the District School Board level. Fred believes that the 100% Canadian content of the McMichael provides school children with important insights about their unique Canadian history and culture.

Fred Empacher – First Nations Art Workshop

Studio hands on activity
Stencil outline
Create your totem design using the four shapes
Colour your design using the traditional Kwakwakawakw pattern
Watercolour the landscape of your totem figure – time permitting.

Speaker notes are here: Empacher_Fred_Art_Workshop_ 2010.doc

Grades 4-8 (25 people)

36 Bites... Small Steps to Swallowing Environmental Education as Practice

The New Environmental Education Policy Framework is exciting to us all. However for those that have not had experience in teaching about the environment or for those of us who work in areas or with students in which we feel such a concept may be difficult to work will wonder where to start. Such educators will benefit from this session with 36 simple yet impactful ideas and resources for you as a classroom teacher to introduce environmental education into the mainstream. Each of these 36 examples are not ideas, but have been done in the class with success. By the end of the workshop create a recipe for introducing your own savoury connections to the environment!

Elementary and Secondary

Rob Ridley is Coordinator for the Peel District School Board's 5 field centres who now focusses on Citizen Science to bring stewardship and a sense of purpose to students. Bird studies, frogs, forest succession, limnology and other avenues present themselves as wonderful "classrooms" for teachers and students alike.
Recently, Rob has introduced Classrooms Without Walls to teach classroom teachers how to bring the environment into every strand of the curriculum. A trip to the field centres can create those moments of epiphany about how wonderful the outdoors can be, however it is only through continuous immersion that true understanding can be achieved by students and thus the teacher's role is vital. CWW is about enhancing the trip to the field centre by creating community activities as lead up and follow up activities.

Literacy and Environmental Education Through Outdoor Play

Come and discover ways to engage your young learners in quality literacy activities which also provide rich opportunities for your class to get outside, become active learners and explore the schoolyard. This workshop is geared to K-3 teachers interested in a new approach to literacy, boy-friendly teaching and outdoor experiential learning.

Grade K-3 (Gr. 4-8 teachers can adapt the concepts)

Anne has her Masters of Education degree in environmental and sustainability education and early childhood education from York University. She is an experienced Kindergarten teacher with a background in camping and experiential education. She likes canoeing, travelling, and movies.

Mother Nature’s Curriculum

Environmental education exists throughout the elementary science curriculum. Whether you have a passion for bugs, birds, botany or books pursue nature’s secrets through stories, both oral and written, and invite Mother Nature into your classrooms! Join Judy Halpern - teacher, storyteller, and environmental enthusiast to explore the power of stories in teaching environmental education to elementary students.

Elementary

Judy Halpern, a qualified teacher of more than 20 years experience, created The Magic Suitcase; A Literature-Based Environmental Education Program. Her experiences include teaching children and adults both indoors and outdoors, presenting workshops at a host of conferences and writing and publishing teaching materials for young children. A walk in the woods sharing wonderful books fuels her passion for the importance of environmental education. Judy has a packed suitcase always ready to go. www.magicsuitcase.ca

Garbage That Flies...

Through this hands-on activity, students become involved in the rethinking of paradigms concerning garbage, consumerism and creativity.
This exercise involves the reuse of two items that cannot be recycled, including old CD’s! The resulting toy is a small flying disc, like a Frisbee, that flies extremely well, and can then be used to play catch or for a bocce/golf-like game. The lesson is conceptually palatable for a wide range of grades, the fun factor is high, and the cognitive pay-off is excellent. This lesson provides positive student motivation, facilitates class focus and fulfills curricular outcomes.

Grades 5, 6, 11

John Etches is an environmental educator with 25 years experience managing environmental education programs, planning school visits, and developing/delivering environmental programs for client groups of all ages.  He currently instructs at the Kawartha Outdoor Education Centre and sits on the Board of Directors. He also delivered the Interpretive Techniques course with the Ecotourism/Adventure Tourism program at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Haliburton. John recently completed two contracts with the United Nations Development Program to develop the educational products for a new World Heritage Site in Egypt.
With over 20 years of experience as geologist and educator, most notably at the former Leslie Frost Centre at Dorset, John brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to his programs.

Breeding Birds: Best Practices Model for Immersing Environmental Education Throughout the Curriculum

Citizen Science is an excellent way to inspiring students in environmental ways. This project, intimated four years ago, has had students at local middle schools studying birds throughout the entire school year. Not only does the project focus on Science strands such as Grade Six Flight and Diversity, but it blends extremely well with Visual Arts (through sketching), Math, (through population studies and graphing), Language Arts, (through journaling), mapping and more. This project has be proven successful across the curriculum and can allow educators to blend the breeding bird theme into their year. Initially developed for grade six teachers, it has been used by others.
Through the use of field guides, Powerpoint presentations and Citizen Science opportunities such as the Christmas Bird Count and Project Feederwatch, students get experience year round in preparation for a breeding bird study that follows the protocols for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas from the Canadian Wildlife Service.

Elementary

Rob Ridley is Coordinator for the Peel District School Board's 5 field centres who now focusses on Citizen Science to bring stewardship and a sense of purpose to students. Bird studies, frogs, forest succession, limnology and other avenues present themselves as wonderful "classrooms" for teachers and students alike.
 Recently, Rob has introduced Classrooms Without Walls to teach classroom teachers how to bring the environment into every strand of the curriculum. A trip to the field centres can create those moments of epiphany about how wonderful the outdoors can be, however it is only through continuous immersion that true understanding can be achieved by students and thus the teacher's role is vital. CWW is about enhancing the trip to the field centre by creating community activities as lead up and follow up activities.

Conflict And The Environment: Using Drama And Deliberation Techniques To Explore Environmental Issues In The Classroom

This interactive workshop shares ideas and strategies for exploring conflicts using environmental contexts. Participants will explore environmental issues using deliberation, negotiation, and drama strategies with a goal toward eliciting and exploring local and global perspectives and fostering student action. The workshop takes an integrative approach toward environmental education, allowing for various curriculum expectations to be met in Social Studies (gr. 4-6), Geography (gr. 7 & 8), Science and Technology (gr. 4-8), Fine Arts (Drama), and Language.

Junior/Intermediate

Antonino Giambrone usually teaches at City View Alternative School in Toronto, a school that focuses on social and environmental justice. Currently, he is teaching a course on Managing Conflict in Schools at OISE/UT while pursuing doctoral studies in drama pedagogy and environmental education. He has worked with the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, the Canadian Teachers Federation, and UNICEF on various global and environmental education projects, and is a member of Sustainability Frontiers, an organization focused on sustainability education.

Identifying the Ecological Self

How would you define your relationship with the environment? What is your ecological identity and how does it influence your navigation through environmental education curriculum? Discovery of the ecological self is paramount in being able to teach environmental education. Using personal history, reflection, and asset/deficit mapping, teachers can begin to develop their own baseline data that provides a foundation on which to build environmental education in the classroom for others. This session focuses on how to begin identifying the ecological self, and also how to facilitate the development of student identities.

General

Carmen Schlamb is a professor of environmental studies and environmental science with Seneca College. She teaches in the Environmental Management Technologies professional program, and the Liberal Arts elective streams. Carmen has her Masters Degree in Education with a focus in environmental education. Her research interests include citizen science, nature deficit disorder, and the concept of the ecological identity.

Invasive Species Awareness

The session will familiarize educators with two units developed by the Invading Species Awareness Program, a partnership initiative with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the Ministry of Natural Resources. The grade 4 curriculum kit, Making Waves! Protecting Ontario’s Aquatic Habitats and Grade 6 curriculum kit, Invasive Species: A Biodiversity Challenge! are both available free of charge, and contain curriculum linked lessons and warm-up activities designed to highlight expectations and terminology. The Grade 4 curriculum kit introduces children to the concept of healthy habitats and communities and our role in protecting them from aquatic invasive species. The Grade 6 curriculum kit focuses on biodiversity in healthy aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and the role we play in preserving biodiversity. Both units are cross-curricular and utilize a variety of teaching strategies.

Grades 4 & 6

Allyson Brown is a Trent University graduate, and has recently completed her Bachelor of Education Degree at Queens University. She has been with the ‘Invading Species Awareness Program’ for four years as a summer student, first on the Ministry of Natural Resources side of the Program, then with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters for three summers. Currently, she is developing and implementing educational resources designed for the classroom to teach students about invasive species. She is also assisting with the set-up and programming for the O.F.A.H. Mario Cortellucci Hunting and Fishing Heritage Centre opening in Spring 2010 beside the O.F.A.H. headquarters in Peterborough, Ontario.

Global Ecology and Climate Change in Your Own Schoolyard

Come and learn about the Association for Canadian Educational Resources (ACER) hands-on program that will help your students understand global climate change and ecosystems. They can map, plant, measure, report, analyze geographical and tree data in your own schoolyard, from strings to GPS/GIS, footprint and carbon sequestration.

Elementary

Alice Casselman has been a science department head for most of her years of teaching, weekend educator at the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, founding member, later the chair of, the Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario (COEO), a founding director and assistant instructor of the Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School (COBWS) and a founding teacher of Etobicoke School of tho Arts (ESA).
In 1987, she founded (ACER), to develop and to encourage the development of Canadian materials for Canadian learners. ACER received funding from Environment Canada Action 21 to establish sites and develop resources to undertake community-based, long-term monitoring of biodiversity in our forest ecosystems in a standardized, scientifically sound manner using national protocols to track changes in biodiversity. ACER has established many community-based, one hectare forest monitoring sites across Ontario.

Biodiversity Basics

The new Schad Gallery of Biodiversity allows students to explore the diversity of life on Earth and learn more about human impacts and species and their habitats. An important strand in the new curriculum focuses on the value of traditional knowledge in relation to the present-day environmental crisis. Part of this session will provide examples on how traditional knowledge is being used to address environmental issues.

Elementary and Secondary

Barbara Filion has been teaching at the Royal Ontario Museum for the last eight years. Her Innu-Montagnais heritage has led her to pursue studies of traditional knowledge and science in many directions, from curriculum development to working with Aboriginal youth. She obtained a Bachelors degree in Archaeology and Anthropology at McGill University, with a special focus on First Peoples cultures of North America. Her Masters degree in Environmental Studies at York University concentrated on Aboriginal traditional knowledge and environment. At the moment, Barbara is also co-authoring a textbook for grade 11 on First Peoples.
Beverley Galandzy has been teaching at the ROM for over 12 years. She has also worked abroad in several countries as an ESL teacher. Over the years, Beverley has centered her teaching to cover a broad range of science topics focusing on environmental studies. She recently took part in a ‘Students on Ice’ conference which helps teens to nurture a deeper understanding and respect for the planet.

Eco-Games Workshop

Outdoor Science Games for Life and Earth Systems: Actively participate in games that connect to the Life and Earth Systems strands in the new Science Curriculum! All 15 games have an environmental focus. A free manual is available at the end of the workshop for interested participants. The games were designed with the average school yard in mind, with the hopes of encouraging teachers and students to spend time actively learning about the environment in an outdoor setting.

Elementary

Jennifer Baron has taught outdoor education for the York Region District School Board for 8 years, in the P/J/I divisions. She is presently on Secondment from YRDSB and working in the Faculty of Education program at York University as Course Director of the P/J Consecutive Program.

Hands-On With Aquatic Investigations

Join James and Myke for a hands-on, feet-wet program based around the new science curriculum. Nets will be provided including examples of homemade nets too to show a low cost alternative. Bring boots and/or running shoes, plan to get your feet wet and catch some aquatic organisms.

Junior/Intermediate

James Borland is a Phd Candidate in Educational Studies at the University of Windsor. With experience working at several outdoor centres across southern and central Ontario, James can usually be found conducting research on low cost, outdoor education activities that classroom teachers can implement to engage students in exploring the natural components of urban ecosystems that we as humans depend upon such as clean water.

Myke Zinn has recently completed his Masters of Education from Queen's University. Myke teachers in the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board. For the last few seasons, Myke has worked as a co-researcher with James, testing out new activities that classroom teachers can use to engage their students in exploring the natural ecosystems on and within walking distance of school grounds.

‘Growing Green’ at the Brickworks - Creative Approaches to Environmental Education

‘Green Arts’ plays a big role in Evergreen’s new environmental education centre, the Brickworks, in the Don Valley in 2010. After a brief overview of the features of this exciting new facility and its cross curricular school programs, participants will get creative by experimenting with clay-based Green Art projects of their own. These projects are classroom-ready so participants can green their own environmental education programs creatively in the future!

Elementary

Hilary Inwood teaches art education in the B.Ed program at the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on integrating art education with environmental education to develop ecological literacy in teachers and students in schools.
Shannon Crossman is an Artist in Residence at Evergreen Brickworks and an Arts Animator at Bloorview Kids Rehab in the Centre for the Arts. Her work with children and youth focuses on food security and an art practice grounded in the philosophy and methodology of sustainability and permaculture.

Trading Places: Using Art to Enhance Place-Based Learning

This workshop aims to demonstrate how art projects can enhance learning about local communities. By sharing examples of place-based artworks made by Toronto District School Board students and their teachers and guiding you through an art-making experience of your own, it will inspire you to integrate the visual arts into your environmental education program in the future!

Elementary

Hilary Inwood teaches art education in the B.Ed program at the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on integrating art education with environmental education to develop ecological literacy in teachers and students in schools. Her work as an educator and artist extends beyond the classroom to include school gardens, parks and galleries.

What Conservation Authorities Can Offer Teachers

Many teachers are familiar with the outdoor and environmental education programs Conservation Authorities can offer in classrooms and at their outdoor education centres. But CA’s have more to offer than just those resources! As leaders of environmental and watershed health they can also provide technical data, site access, real science applications, connections to local issues and professional expertise from their entire operation to enhance and expand upon the classroom lessons provided by teachers. Learn about ALL that CA’s can provide to create students that will become environmentally knowledgeable and responsible citizens!

General

Shane Kramer was part of the Conservation Ontario Environmental Education Working Group that spoke to the Ministry of Education on behalf of all Conservation Authorities. Shane is a staff member of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority working at Scanlon Creek, near Bradford, and is also a former president of the Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario (COEO)  s.kramer(at)lsrca.on.ca

Multicultural Wetland Materials & Delivering a Wetland Field Trip

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has created multicultural resources called Wetlands and the World. We’ll briefly present about the background research that resulted in exciting resources for children and their families in several languages, along with classroom materials for teaching English literacy. Learn more about the challenges and exciting opportunities posed and take these free resources back to your classroom.
In addition to the multicultural project, we’ll also explore beyond the basics of critter dipping, and will connect wetland values and wetland importance to fun activities and games to help you when planning your wetland field trip. Resources will be provided to help you identify a suitable wetland. We will also explore potential action projects to get students engaged and invested in wetlands.

Elementary

Merebeth Switzer, National Education Coordinator, Duck Unlimited Canada, has been involved in environmental education and communications for over 30 years. Her diverse career includes work with national and provincial parks, conservation authorities, the Toronto Zoo, OWL/TV, the International Development Research Centre, Canada’s model forests, the Parliament of Canada, museums and other organizations, as well as sustainability-related education projects in Belize, Costa Rica and northern England. She has been actively involved in EASO, the Education Alliance for a Sustainable Ontario, and the Canadian Environment and Diversity Collaborative. In the spring of 2009 she was one of six North American representatives attending the UNESCO Water Education Workshop in The Netherlands. Merebeth is author/co-author of 21 natural history books for children and, most recently, led the in the creation of DUC’s award-winning Wetlands and the World project.

K-3 Science at the ROM

Instill in your students the power of environmental stewardship with a visit to the ROM. Learn how our lessons teach directly to grade level topics with an "Introductory; Culminating or We're Smack in the Middle of It" trip to compliment your in-class curriculum. Special discussion time will be dedicated to the "ROM Investigators" lesson, deliverable to grades K-3 which employs cross-curricular integration, perfect for matching green themes to your social studies, arts and language subjects.

Primary

Sarah Kinsey is an Art and Science teacher at the Royal Ontario Museum and Visual Arts teacher with the TDSB.  She holds a BFA, BSc and BEd from Queen's University.

Project CHIRP! Creating Habitat for Songbird Conservation

Please join Christina for an educational and inspirational talk on planting with native species to meet the survival needs of local and migratory songbirds. Using her own Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) – certified songbird habitat as an example, students will be introduced to a variety of native species and their value in providing habitat for songbirds and pollinators. Christina will introduce the most recently seen local and migratory songbird species, highlighting their foraging behavior, preferred water source and the native species which appeal to them for food and shelter. Taxi-dermis birds may be used to highlight beak structure’s compatibility to food preference. Berry and seed samples from her garden may also be included. Each student receives 2, CWF Songbird Identification posters, a CWF “Creating Habitat Garden Planner” and a recommended native species list for songbirds. Please visit www.projectchirp.com – Education, to learn more.

Grade 4 – Habitats and Communities

Christina Sharma has been a volunteer educator with the Canadian Wildlife Federation since 2001. In 2002, she received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for her public education on how residential properties can support wildlife conservation. In 2007, she founded Project CHIRP! In 2009, she was nominated for the Toronto Community News Urban Hero Award.
Christina uses the design and composition of her property as a teaching tool for songbird conservation. Her initiatives have been featured in the Toronto Star, on CBC Radio and television and in a variety of publications.

Green Homes & Climate Change

Children and adults can make the biggest contribution to reducing their carbon footprint by acting on C02 reduction opportunities around the home. Discover what you and your students can do through a virtual tour of Canada’s newest green home.

General

Alex Waters has designed and implemented many of Canada’s most innovative renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, demonstrations and programs for children and adults as Manager of the Kortright Centre, Canada’s largest environmental and renewable energy education facilities. A Sustainable Technology Specialist for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, he has also assisted in the design of educational materials for the Waterloo Green Home, the Toronto Healthy House, and Enerworks solar water systems.
Alex has also been the National Education Coordinator for Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Executive Director of EnviroMark, Markham’s green community initiative conducting green energy home audits.
Last year, Alex coordinated the development and construction of the Archetype Sustainable Houses at Kortright, two of the most sustainable demonstration homes in Canada, obtaining LEED Platinum.
Alex is a leader in making the Kortright Centre a world class demonstration and education centre in sustainable living as part of the Living City Campus.

Changing Currents

Help your students discover the health of their local watershed!
At this hands-on outdoor session learn how you can engage your students in a stream or river study using proper bio-monitoring protocols. Participants will learn the basics of performing such a study and will be introduced to Changing Currents - a program that provides free resources, leadership, and fieldtrips to perform the studies. Changing Currents is a free program in the GTA, but non-GTA teachers can attend to learn the procedures and to learn how to access many CEW resources. This program is suited for Grades 8-12 and is most easily incorporated into the sciences and geography.

Grade 7+

David Gordon has been teaching Science, Biology, and Environmental Science at Dunbarton High School in Pickering since 1991. He has worked as a researcher on citizen conservation activities around the Great Lakes, a naturalist, a wilderness guide, a bicycle courier, and a book editor. He is on the Board of Directors of Citizens Environment Watch. Since 2002 he has been working to return Environmental Science to the curriculum and is the author of the locally developed course Urban Watershed Science (SBU 381). He is a great believer in simple, gentle and sustainable technologies and uses his bicycle to go just about everywhere.

Paul Tucker is the Environmental Education Manager at Citizens’ Environment Watch (CEW). He has been with CEW since early 2009 designing and implementing the organization’s two flagship environmental education programs: Changing Currents and Wattwize.

Wattwize

Engage Your Students in an Energy Conservation Project!
At this session learn how to engage your students in a school energy audit and conservation plan creation and implementation. Teachers will learn about Citizens’ Environment Watch’s free online resources (and full program including workshops in the GTA) to engage students in electricity conservation activities. Teachers will learn how to use the resources available to facilitate student-run energy audits and conservation planning. This program connects with the grade 5 and 6 science curriculum as well as high school geography and science courses. Many EcoTeams and Environment clubs also take part in the Wattwize program.

Grade 5 +

David Gordon has been teaching Science, Biology, and Environmental Science at Dunbarton High School in Pickering since 1991. He has worked as a researcher on citizen conservation activities around the Great Lakes, a naturalist, a wilderness guide, a bicycle courier, and a book editor. He is on the Board of Directors of Citizens Environment Watch. Since 2002 he has been working to return Environmental Science to the curriculum and is the author of the locally developed course Urban Watershed Science (SBU 381). He is a great believer in simple, gentle and sustainable technologies and uses his bicycle to go just about everywhere.
Paul Tucker is the Environmental Education Manager at Citizens’ Environment Watch (CEW). He has been with CEW since early 2009 designing and implementing the organization’s two flagship environmental education programs: Changing Currents and Wattwize.

Taking the Field Trip Home: Classroom Activities That Extend Your Outdoor Excursion

Participants will explore outdoor environmental excursions and how to take the knowledge and skills acquired back to the classroom and the community. You will be introduced to the Weston Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow, offered at the Lake St. George Field Centre. Through this program, you will see how the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has created a ‘layered’ approach to environmental education, fostering the idea that the outdoor education excursion begins well before the bus arrives and continues long after it returns home! How can we, as teachers, ensure that the environmental lessons taught while outside the classroom for an hour, a day or overnight, be infused into sustainable practices at home and in the school? This workshop will provide practical options for you that will both prepare your students for gaining the most out of their excursions and provide guidance for action-oriented, post-visit activities, which will “take the field trip home”.

Grades 6-8

Ian Rodhouse works at the Lake St. George Conservation Field Centre with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, facilitating the Weston Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow Program. Ian prevously science in England in the Academies program – to raise the profile of education in low socioeconomic areas where education was traditionally undervalued. Ian puts his current environmental teachings into real-life action as he bikes, skiis, and walks to work, maintains a low-ecofootprint diet, and has established a business providing locally and ethically made children’s products.

Raja Raudsepp is an outdoor and environmental education instructor with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. She previously worked in group dynamic development incorporating the use of high ropes courses and wilderness excursions; with vulnerable youth in developing a sense of citizenship; and with children of all ages exposing them to the wonders of nature. For the last 2.5 years, Raja has been enthusiastically focusing efforts on environmental education especially within the context of the Weston Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow program at the Lake St. George Field Centre.

How to Lead a Nature Walk

Do you want to get your students out of the classroom but aren’t sure how to do it? During this hands on walk, Ian Hendry will share some of the tips and tricks he has learned during his 30 years of leading nature walks. Topic will include “classroom” management on the trail, low prep activities, safe handling of “creepy crawlies” and how to answer the dreaded question ’What is it?”

General

Ian Hendry has close to 30-years experience in outdoor education. He is Royal Botanical Gardens’ Nature Centre manager. He has also done outdoor, environmental education for school boards, conservation authorities, camps, and NGOs. For seven years he also ran his own business delivering outdoor ed programs from the back of a pickup.

Organic and Inorganic Forms in Art

Bring out your creativity and learn about some art activities which you can do with your students.  Work with oil pastels, and create your very own masterpiece.

Primary/Junior

Monika Roy is a teacher of the junior grades with the Waterloo Catholic DSB (WCDSB). She is a former President of OSEE, has presented at many OSEE and Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario (STAO), and was the “Art Corner” columnist in Interactions for a number of years, as well as being on the elementary committee for STAO. Monika enjoys using art to bring more awareness to her students of the influence of humans on the environment.

The River RAP and More: St. Clair River Remedial Action Plan

Motivate and inspire students to learn about the environment and have fun at the same time. There will be demonstrations, videos, models, lesson outlines and other applications, especially but not limited to Grade 7 to 9 science units.

Intermediate/Senior

Kris Lee is the Canadian Chair of St. Clair River Remedial Action Plan (RAP) Binational Public Advisory Council (BPAC) as a charter member of the RAPs. She lives along the St. Clair River and is very active in the community dialogue process of environmental issues between the public, industries, governments and First Nations. A recently retired high school science teacher who believes students need to experience the outdoors for meaningful life long learning, she devotes her time among her grandchildren, the environment and health & safety.
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Kim Gledhill, a teacher for the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority (SCRCA), lives in Corunna, on the St. Clair River where she is a volunteer for The Friends of the St. Clair River.
With the SCRCA, she provides 28 environmental programs to students and adults of all ages. Kim feels her role on earth is to open people’s eyes and minds by experiencing first-hand the beauty and intricate process of all life on Earth.

Star Gazing

Nothing is quite as relaxing, inspiring, and thought provoking as a dark sky full of stars. Join Ian Hendry for an informal evening of star gazing. Learn a few basic tricks for navigating the night sky. Share a few stories of the stars. Look for satellites like the ISS.

General and “Recreational”

Ian Hendry has close to 30-years experience in outdoor education. He is Royal Botanical Gardens’ Nature Centre manager. He has also done outdoor, environmental education for school boards, conservation authorities, camps, and NGOs. For seven years he also ran his own business delivering outdoor ed programs from the back of a pickup.

Monarch Teacher Network

Join us and find out why monarch butterflies make the best classroom creatures. These insects are small and easy to care for, but the lessons that they teach are unparalleled! Come and discover how teachers have used monarchs to teach across the curriculum - from language to math to arts to character education. Learn about upcoming workshops this summer through an exciting new partnership between Monarch Teacher Network - Canada and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

Elementary

Annie Scherz has over 10 years experience as an environmental educator, working for Parks Canada, Ontario Parks, and non-profit outdoor/environmental education centres. In 2006, she entered the public school system and has been a primary French Immersion teacher in a traditional classroom. Usually, Annie finds herself busy with the roles of a classroom teacher, presenting the curriculum while wishing she could do a better job of integrating the environment as a core context. Then she stumbled upon Monarch Teacher Network - Canada and the energy-saving, compact-fluorescent light bulb went off! Now she spends her summers crawling through milkweed patches, gardening to attract butterflies, and feeling that thrill of excitement when a monarch butterfly glides past...”

Nancy McGee is the Supervisor, Education Program Services, at Toronto and Region Conservation. Nancy focused her teaching degree on environmental and outdoor experiential education, and has spent over 15 years offering her passion for the environment to over 40,000 students and their teachers via the conservation authority’s residential facilities.
Nancy is also pursuing her Masters of Education degree at York University, and exploring the methodology teaching environmental education, as well as the barriers that exist in the formal education system to taking students outdoors. She views the praxis of environmental education through multiple lenses, including the systems thinking approach, multiple intelligences, experiential learning, integrated learning and of course, outdoor education. “I am thrilled to be able to work with the Monarch Teacher Network to offer two workshops in the GTA this summer, and am humbled by the expertise and passion that Annie and other past participants have to offer. Don’t miss this presentation!”

SPLASH!

Plunge into interactive games, model building and demonstrations designed to look at the water cycle and watersheds through a systems thinking lens. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of this precious resource, and a copy our new How Big is your Splash? – waterfootprint challenge will be distributed. It allows students to evaluate their own personal water consumption, and take action to use water more sustainably. Geared towards the Grade 8 Water Systems unit in Science and Technology.

Grade 8

Janette Lewis-Cridland brings over 15 years of experience as an outdoor education instructor at the Toronto Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) Albion Hills Field Centre. She has been instrumental in Albion’s gold-certified ecoschool status over the last 4 years, and in raising awareness about local foods in her “Food Miles Minute”.

Eco Puppetry

The Paddling Puppeteers have been performing their musical puppet shows across Ontario and Quebec since 1999. A variety of colourful puppets bring to life several stories having to do with the environment. The shows present ideas of how we can take simple steps to preserve and restore Canada’s natural heritage. See how puppets can teach and bring environmental issues to life and learn about using puppets in your programs first hand, with lots of curriculum links. Make a “lolly puppet” to take home.

Primary

Glen Caradus and Johanna Hart http://ecologypark.greenup.on.ca/

Watershed Education

Watershed Education using a three dimensional model. Glen Caradus presenting.

Primary

When Eco Art is Really Environmental Education

When can making hand-made items be considered environmentally sound learning opportunities versus simply adding a new item eventually to a landfill? This workshop will offer many ideas for ways to constructively criticize many art projects for their environmental hazards while also offering ways to adapt many school ground resources into useful projects that are environmentally friendly.

General

Zabe MacEachren is Coordinator, Outdoor & Experiential Education at the Faculty of Education, Queen’s University. Her research is on sustainability education for teachers in the public education system, and ecological literacy regarding made items. Zabe is also President of the Coucil of Outdoor Educators (COEO).

Learning for a Sustainable Future

Lilly Briggs, Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF) Project Coordinator, will provide an overview of LSF’s programs:

– Resources for Rethinking (www.r4r.ca)

– EcoLeague (www.ecoleague.ca)

– Project FLOW (www.r4r.ca/en/project-flow)

and explain how they can be accessed by educators to engage their students in action-oriented projects. She will provide hands-on training on how formal and non-formal educators can successfully integrate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into their classrooms.
LSF (www.lsf-lst.ca) is a Canadian non-profit organization, founded in 1991 to integrate Education for Sustainable Development into Canada’s education systems. LSF's mission is to promote, through education, the knowledge, skills, perspectives, and practices essential to a sustainable future. Across Canada, LSF's innovative programs and partnerships are reshaping education policy, helping teachers broaden their abilities, and bringing classrooms into the community.

Elementary and Secondary

Lilly Briggs became Project Coordinator for Learning for a Sustainable Future upon graduating from the Masters of Environmental Studies program at York University. She also has a degree in International Development Studies and Environmental Studies from Dalhousie University, and has worked for other environmental organizations including the Sierra Club of Canada and the Falls Brook Centre. The daughter of a former Canadian diplomat, Lilly was born in Bangkok, then lived outside of Ottawa, as well as Taipei, Beijing, and Seoul, before her family settled in North Vancouver. Lilly has been passionate about the environment, birds, traveling, and learning languages her whole life.

The Great Lakes Outreach Program

This free, curriculum-based outreach program that has been running successfully for over seven years will be outlined in this session. The curriculum-based presentations and complementary planning resources for teachers are provided for Grades 1, 2, and 7. The educational materials are based on the Life Systems strand of the Ontario Science and Technology Curriculum. Students, educators and their families are encouraged to “Keep our Great Lakes Great”, while learning about four local fish species at risk, water conservation and waste reduction. During the 2008/2009 school year, more than 630 classroom presentations were made, reaching more than 13 000 students and educators at over 130 schools. The program focuses on these four local species at risk: Atlantic salmon (extirpated), the redside dace (endangered), the eastern sand darter (threatened) and the American eel (special concern). The program message reinforces the notion that our actions have direct consequences on our natural resources and the environment.

Elementary

Vithuja Vijayakanthan is the Coordinator of the Great Lakes Outreach Program at Toronto Zoo. Toronto Zoo is well-known for its interactive education and conservation activities. As a unique wildlife experience, we motivate people to live in ways that promote the well being of the natural world.
Vithuja graduated from the University of Toronto with a double major in Integrative Biology and Health Studies, and a minor in French. She has a great enthusiasm for environmental education – through the Great Lakes Outreach Program she strives to inspire students and educators to get active and help save the Great Lakes. She has been working as the Coordinator of the Great Lakes Outreach Program for two years and is dedicated to conservation education.

Lessons from the Jungle... Nature’s 9 Principles of Creative Self-Management

Lately, Nature’s management principles have become important themes in the social sciences and with business consultants. Since the 1940’s, management and social sciences have viewed human organization as something more than the sum of its parts. Looking at our various spheres of activity, studies found that an organization does not function as a separate, passive, discreet and rigid “whole entity”. It is a dynamic system, and as such its configuration and behaviors evolve during the normal course of operations. The precise way things evolve is largely determined by the organization, and by the individuals who make up its creative capital.
Observations in Nature reveal existence to be a living system of great complexity, created from other chemical systems, in a dynamic and constant exchange of information. Every form is composed of smaller bits (molecules, atoms, sub-atomic particles/waves of energy, causal forces, etc.) Forms are also a component part of a larger system (tissue, organ, mammal, biosphere, sun, galaxy and super-cluster of galaxies in a unified field of limitless oscillations of vibratory energy).
Self-management means self-creation in the sense that forms of life will emerge at specific levels of complexity. In other words, when conditions are right, or when complexity is organized for a specific form to emerge, it will spontaneously appear. Like magic. Learn the 9 principles the self-management and explore how they can be used to create an environment where implementing day-to-day changes in easy.

Elementary and Secondary

Lawrence Poole — Founder-president of Gestion Consult- IIDC Management Inc., a Montreal training company, and of Instituto Internacional de Desarrollo Creativo, a Costarican educational initiative, Lawrence Poole specializes in developing the creative capital of leaders. He has taught more than 20,000 people Nature’s adaptive strategies. Lawrence created a series of heuristic training programs called Lessons from the jungle. From the Greek for self-discovery, heurism is activity-based training designed to shorten the learning curve. A long-time activist on disability issues and a veteran traveler, some of his adventures were published in the book Able To Travel (Prentice-Hall) while others were the subject of radio and television shows.

Suzy Ethier is a Gestion Consult-IIDC Management partner and trainer since 1988. An author and training consultant, with Lawrence Poole she leads workshops and training events that develop the creative capital of leaders by using Nature as a model for applied creativity.
An expert and highly appreciated facilitator, she has developed a great many tools that help individuals and teams define their objectives and jump-start their creativity. Be it in the jungles of Costa Rica, the backwoods in Quebec or an office classroom, Suzy guides participants in training adventures that mobilize their intelligence and stimulates them to act.
She co-wrote Investissez dans votre capital créatif (I.Q. Éditeur) with Lawrence and has published numerous articles of the creative work environment.

Distance Learning & Videoconference, La Biosphère, Environnement Canada

René Brunet is Distance Learning & Videoconference Coordinator / Facilitator 
La Biosphère, Environnement Canada météorologue/meteorologist 
Coordonnateur d’Éducation à distance et des vidéoconférences / Animateur

Elementary and Secondary

GIS: A Tool to Engage Your Students and Explore the Environment

This presentation is aimed at educators who are interested in using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the classroom to explore the environment. We will look at the benefits of using this technology in the classroom, provide examples of possible applications and activities, and introduce resources that highlight how GIS is a tool for learning.

Intermediate/Senior

Angela Alexander has been working as the Education Program Specialist at ESRI Canada for the last 3 years. She is responsible for developing GIS related resources, conducting and creating custom GIS workshops for educators and managing the Education Spotlight resource, a free e-newsletter aimed at educators and administrators in the K-12 and college/university markets distributed six times a year. Angela has a Bachelors degree in Geography and Sociology from the University of Western Ontario and completed the Applied Digital Geography and GIS certificate program at Ryerson University.
Lynda Valenzuela is the Bilingual Education Coordinator at ESRI Canada. She has over 6 years experienced as a teacher and is currently responsible for helping teachers integrate GIS in their classrooms. She graduated from La Salle University in Mexico with a double major in International Business and Education. She will share her experience as an elementary teacher and will help teachers bring GIS into every strand of the curriculum.

Bottled Water:  History, Backlash and Teaching Techniques

Re-Fresh! – a Polaris Institute project and part of the national Inside the Bottle program – is geared towards fostering youth awareness and action on bottled water issues in their schools and communities. This presentation will highlight ways teachers can incorporate bottled water issues into the classroom. The Re-Fresh! Curriculum guide is used to outline curriculum links along with basic lesson plans and materials.

Elementary and Secondary

Joe Cressy is the Campaigns Coordinator for the Polaris Institute, a Canadian public interest research and advocacy organization designed to stimulate democratic social change. As the Campaigns Coordinator, Joe is actively involved in municipal, provincial and federal advocacy on energy, environment and corporate issues.
His prior experience includes advocacy and activism at national and international levels. He has worked as a Federal Organizer for the New Democratic Party (NDP), a Mobilization Officer for the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) – the world’s largest anti-poverty alliance based in South Africa – and served as the youth representative on the national Steering Committee of the Canadian Peace Alliance. He holds a B.PAPM from Carleton University.
Daniel Cayley-Daoust is the Public Education and Outreach Officer at the Polaris Institute, a Canadian public interest research and advocacy organization designed to stimulate democratic social change.Since the fall of 2009, Daniel has been working to get education on bottled water and water justice issues into schools and the curriculum, and encouraging school boards to take action against bottled water. As well, he continues to organize community-based tar sands and energy campaigns in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
Prior to joining the Polaris Institute, Daniel was involved with many environmental and social justice organizations such as OPIRG-Ottawa, where he is still on the board of directors, and with the CREDDO based in Gatineau where he currently resides. Daniel has recently completed a B.Sc. in environmental science at the University of Ottawa.

Around the World in 80 Days.

Workshop Focus:
How to get your students out of the classroom on an overnight trip
How you can travel in a low impact manner
The process of getting approved at the school and board level
Orchestrating your very own “dream” environmental or curriculum  focused overnight trip
The benefits of traveling abroad
The evolve challenge weekend event
The benefits of traveling locally
Tying in curriculum to the travel program
Benefits for a teacher (travel free)
Studentkind.com and Evolve Tours

Elementary and Secondary

Daniel Rinzler and Jeff Richmond have been traveling the world since the minute they were born. For the past five years they have been operating an educational  and adventure tour company, which takes students and teachers on  educational tours around the world and globally. Another great program which was started 2 years ago is the Evolve Challenge, which takes students to Bancroft, Ontario. The Evolve Challenge focuses on team building, environmental education and team work. Daniel and Jeff’s focus is primarily on eco-tourism and environmental education. Their love for the planet and humanitarian work is evident through various projects they have started around the world and locally as well

Bring Back the Wild: Empower your students to make a real difference!

Across the world, it is estimated that 25% of mammals and around 30% of reptiles and amphibians are threatened with extinction. With the greatest threat faced by species today being habitat loss, kids want to do something about it.
Earth Rangers is excited to launch Bring Back the Wild, a new kid-powered campaign to help protect animals by raising funds to restore and preserve their habitats. At this session, learn about what Canadian habitats kids are helping protect, our innovative kids’ website, and activities to bring back the wild in your school or class.
Teachers will also learn about classroom resources to educate students about biodiversity loss and EcoSchools certification points that can be achieved by taking part in this important eco-action program.

Elementary

Chandler Andrews graduated with a BSc. from the University of Waterloo in 2006 and earned his MSc. from the University of Guelph. In 2009, he published several papers on genome size diversity in birds and, in that same year, he accepted a Science Advisor position at Earth Rangers where he helps develop programs that engage children in biodiversity issues.

Amy Vyse has over 5 years experience working with schools in the GTA region to make a difference in their community. Amy is the Campaign Ambassador for Earth Rangers’ Bring Back the Wild program, currently working with teachers and students to take action to help protect animals and their habitats.

Hands-On Activities for Exploring Environmental Science

Grades 1-8

Danielle Waltenbury has been part of the Science North team since 2001, leading the centre’s representation in the Northern educational community by creating links and forging partnerships with schools, school boards and science teachers. As Senior Scientist of Education & Northern Programs, she is also responsible for the development and implementation of curriculum based programming for schools and students and leads special projects, events and education related conferences, programs and workshops for educators. Danielle is a strong communicator with both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Biology.
Ashley Larose is originally from Northern Ontario, and has both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Biology. As the Outreach Staff Scientist at Science North, her role is to provide students in Northern Ontario with fun, hands-on science experiences. She has also been delivering teacher workshops that are linked to the Ontario curriculum for the past three years. One of her passions is to help teachers become confident in exploring science with their students.

PlantWatch: Engaging Student Scientists (Videoconference)

PlantWatch, one of our national NatureWatch series of volunteer monitoring programs, enables teachers to get outside with their students to observe and record flowering times of particular plants, while helping researchers discover how and why our natural environment is changing.  Karin will be doing the presentation via videoconference from RBG, demonstrating this innovative, interactive technology while discussing what PlantWatch is and how you and your class can participate and how it can be integrated into several subject areas via curriculum-linked activities.

Elementary and Secondary

Karin Davidson-Taylor joined RBG in 2006, coming with 17 years experience with the Upper Grand DSB in Ontario in elementary, secondary and adult education. She has been responsible for establishing RBG as one of the Canada’s leaders in the world of videoconference-based virtual field trips. Karin develops and delivers our distance education programming to schools throughout North America and the UK, working in coordination with other staff and partners.

Magic of Soil and Growing Food

Recognizing that a connection to our food is a way to bring awareness to the environment that surrounds us, you don’t need a school garden to bring this magic into your K- Gr.5 classroom. This workshop will provide ideas, activities, resources and inspiration to bring food education into your classroom and school.

Elemantary: K - 5

Maeda Welch has had the opportunity to work with, and learn from many great educators and food producers alike.
Through farm and garden based educational programming for farm education centers like Everdale Farm and Shelburne Farms, Maeda has come to believe that the way to the spinach-loving heart of every child is to create space to experience the magic of soil and growing food.

Generation Conservation

Grade 5 - Conservation of Energy and Resources
Grade 6 - Electricity
Grade 7 - Heat
A hands-on one workshop exploring the use of the classroom-ready Generation Conservation program, which meets the S&T curriculum as well a providing strategies for integrating environmental outcomes into other subject areas such as language, mathematics, social studies and visual arts.

Elementary

John Gregory