Welcome to NatureSummitMB.com

Posted on September 27, 2011 by admin

For all knowledge and wonder (which is the seed of knowledge) is an impression of pleasure in itself. -Francis Bacon

Educators now understand that the solution to childhood obesity, and a disconnection to the natural world, is rooted in active nature education programs for children.

Schools are building outdoor classrooms, Adventure Playgrounds are growing increasingly common, Early Learning and Care Centres are planting gardens, and administrators are drafting policies about the importance of environmental education.

These things should lead to children experiencing more quality time in green spaces.

However, on the front lines we still see children being kept indoors because of inclement weather, limited nature experiences due to fears for safety, and teachers afraid to use outdoor classrooms because they themselves are uncomfortable leaving the indoors.

How do we expect educators who are afraid of nature to pass on a sense of wonder to our children?

The Nature Summit is the answer.

The Summit allows educators to immerse themselves in nature and rediscover their own sense of wonder. Participants of the Nature Summit will explore natural plants, taste wild liquorice, learn how to cook over an open fire, how to plant a container garden, and how to engage children by pretending they are animals in woodland games and much, much more. Summit workshops and experiences are hands-on opportunities to build skills that can be used in developing an effective nature education curriculum.

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Nature Summit 2012 Registration

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Cheryl

Registration for the 2012 Nature Summit has begun!

The previous posts have given you a description of all the workshops and presenters that we have lined up for September 14 & 15, 2012.  If you haven’t had a chance to read them yet you can see the full list here.  Workshop descriptions are not available on the registration page so review them before you head over to register.

Workshops and Keynote speakers are not the only things going on at this year’s Nature Summit.  On Friday there will be a resource fair and throughout the weekend there will be opportunities for activities like zip-lining, biking, hiking, archery, obstacle course, and more on the grounds of Camp Manitou.

Evenings will be filled with songs and stories around the campfire, musical entertainment, and networking.  Meals and snacks throughout the weekend will be provided by Diversity Catering with food sourced locally.

There are a limited number of dorm rooms available for those who want to stay overnight. Dorm rooms accommodate four campers – bring your own bedding.  Registrants who choose this option may also request to share a dorm room with specific colleagues or friends.  Unserviced camping is also available on the camp grounds – bring your own tent.

Cost for the full Nature Summit is $250  and includes all activities, meals and accommodations. If you register before June 30th the early bird rate is only $200 – a $50 discount! If you cannot stay for the whole event you may choose to attend either Friday or Saturday.  Cost for one day is $125 and includes daytime activities and lunch – tickets for supper and evening entertainment may be purchased separately for $20.

So, what are you waiting for?

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Workshops-Looking for the Little Things, Nature Journaling, Exploring Animal Behaviour, Learning For The Future

Posted on May 17, 2012 by corine

Heather Hinam, or Dr. Hoo as she is sometimes known, is one of two amazing keynote speakers at the 2012 Nature Summit. Besides teaching at the Uof W she also owns an operates Second Nature-Adventures in Discovery. She is a highly-trained naturalist and experienced educator, her endless curiosity fuelled studies through three university degrees, culminating in a Ph.D. in Ecology and Conservation Biology from the University of Alberta. Over the last 18 years, she has led programs with the Universities of Manitoba and Alberta, Fort Whyte Alive, Elk Island National Park and the Radisson Hecla Oasis Resort. Having returned to her favourite corner of the world, Heather is committed to developing and delivering experiences that will engage your senses and awaken your curiosity.

Manitoba Nature Summit Inc. is excited to be working with such a talented individual who clearly understands the importance of wonder and discovery! Here are the four workshops that she will be presenting:

Looking For The Little Things

Nature often strikes us on a grand scale: rolling forests, sweeping mountains, a majestic moose: but it’s much easier to get to know it on a personal level if you start small. There are entire worlds right under our noses, waiting to be discovered in our schoolyards, local parks, ponds, forests and streams.

Stop and smell the roses in this celebration of all the things we take for granted and see the world with the eyes of a child and mind of a scientist. This workshop will get you on the forest floor and at the water’s edge exploring the details that make this world special. Take a virtual snapshot of the understory ecosystem to learn about its major groups and their roles. Discover the underwater ecosystem, then take your explorations down one more level to uncover the microscopic world.

This workshop will take place along the forested edge of the Assiniboine River and will include quadrats, dipnets, magnifying glasses and all other equipment. Guides to common organisms and suggestions of how to use these techniques with your students will be included in your workbook.

Nature Journaling

Cement your connection with nature by making it a part of your life and the lives of your students. Keeping a regular record of your experiences feeds your curiosity and encourages exploration. It’s also a great way for you and your children to share stories and look back on how far you’ve come. Nature Journaling touches a wide range of subjects from art and creative writing to science and empirical observation. It is a way to slow down, start noticing the details and to find your own voice.

Begin this workshop learning the importance of field books for scientists, naturalists, artists and writers. After a brief overview of basic journaling techniques, set out and find a spot that speaks to you, somewhere quiet to settle in. Then enjoy 30 minutes of reflection and observation while you find your voice, rediscover the world around you and explore ways of capturing the essence of your space. Heather will circulate and offer guidance when needed, whether it’s identifying an unusual plant or providing tips for translating your inspiration to paper, be it in images or words. Wrap up back with your group and share your stories and impressions, discuss how you chose to record your experience and how you might be able to apply these techniques in your own situations.

I Want To Talk With The Animals- Exploring Animal Behaviour

Kids and adults alike are fascinated by animal behaviour: but how do we encourage exploration on limited budgets in our own backyard? Discover simple ways of attracting wildlife to your space and activities that allow students to engage with animals in a safe and meaningful way.

Begin this workshop with a walk in the woods and learn to read the stories animals have written on the world around you. Explore the basics of tracking and animal sign on your way to an outdoor laboratory that has been set up ahead of time. Once there, begin a hands-on exploration of basic animal behaviour by observing the feeding patterns of common local birds. Groups will enjoy a peaceful period of observation, reflection and discovery as they collect simple data about birds’ feeding behaviour. After all the observations have been collected, regroup and summarize your discoveries and discuss ways you could modify this experience for your needs.

Learning For The Future; Making a Difference Today- Citizen Science

Create a lasting connection with nature for you and your students by making a difference for research and conservation. Enter the world of the citizen scientist and discover ways to engage your class in a variety of activities right in your own back yard.

Begin this outdoor workshop with an introduction to environmental monitoring. Why do we do it? What is an indicator species? How do scientists enlist the public to help them keep tabs on the natural world? Discover monitoring programs going on right in your own Manitoba backyard.

Then, it’s time to get your hands dirty. Break into groups and head out to collect data for a selection of local and national monitoring programs that will be submitted by the end of the experience.

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Workshops- Cattail Mats, Blind Drum Stalk and Field Guide Scavenger Hunt

Posted on May 16, 2012 by corine

Laura Reeves is the 2012 Nature Summit’s connection to the Wilderness Awareness School. WAS were the keynote speakers at the 2010 Nature Summit but were unable to return for 2012 :( , however Laura-besides all the other amazing things she does- is currently working on the Kamana 3 Naturalist Training Program through Wilderness Awareness School. Laura Reeves is a botanist, living in Gardenton, MB, where she runs “Laura’s “You can eat that?!” Wild Edible Adventures”.  Her main passion is wild edible and medicinal plants, but her curiosity and penchant for learning new things often causes her to explore the endless network of other trails relating to nature awareness.  Laura also co-instructs the popular Wilderness Skills Intensives with Dwayne Logan.  She has taken 8 courses at Tom Brown’s Tracking, Nature and Wilderness Survival School in New Jersey.

She will be presenting 3 workshops at the 2012 Nature Summit:

1)     Cattail Mats – This workshop will be introduced by discussing the many ways that cattails can be used for food, shelter, fire, light, cordage and medicine.  I will have some examples on hand.  Participants will then be shown how to make a simple cattail mat that will be the envy of all other Summit participants!  Cattail mats have an insulation value comparable to blue foam sleeping pads with the added bonus of being completely biodegradeable!  (I use mine all the time when I want to sit outside in wet or snowy conditions.)

2)     Blind Drum Stalk  is a fun and exciting way to stretch peoples’ awareness of their surroundings and increase their comfort zones.  By removing our dominant sense – sight – participants will be left to depend on hearing, touch and smell to get from Point A to Point B.  To prepare for this activity, participants will practice using their owl eyes, dog nose, deer ears, and raccoon touch.  They will also be introduced to (or reminded of) the fox walk, which was introduced at the 2010 Nature SummitActivity leaders will lead the blindfolded group in single file to a predetermined area and spread people out along the starting line.  Once everyone is lined up, a distant drum will begin to beat every 8-10 seconds.  The blind-folded, bare-footed participants will then try to make their way to the drum, using their non-dominant senses and intuition to guide them around obstacles such as trees, shrubs, logs and buildings.  Activity volunteers will keep watch and quietly steer participants around or away from any potential dangers (e.g. pits, river, junk piles, etc.).  When each person reaches the drum, they will be tapped on the shoulder.  They may remove their blindfold and sit quietly behind the drum and wait as the others move in.  When all, or most, have made it to the drum, we will call everyone in and share our experiences and observations.

3)     Field Guide Scavenger Hunt- This activity is an excellent indoor alternative for days when the situation doesn’t allow for outdoor play or when the weather is just plain miserable.  The goal of this exercise is to introduce students to the wealth of information contained within nature field guides and familiarize them with the way this information is presented.  Participants will be given a selection of field guides to hunt down the answers to several (five) questions.  For example, “I am the smallest mammal in Manitoba, but I have an incredible appetite.  What do I eat?”  To answer this question, participants will need to find out which small mammals live in Manitoba (using the illustrations and maps provided in the field guides).  While doing so, they will notice that there are many different kinds of small mammals and that they are not all mice.  As they figure out which is the smallest, they will learn how to distinguish between mice, voles and shrews.  By reading about their diets, they may be intrigued by the different role each animal plays in their ecosystem.  As they flip through the pages, they may stop to look at or read about some other peculiar-looking animal, furthering their curiosity about the animal kingdom.

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Workshops-Making and Using Field Journals with Children

Posted on May 16, 2012 by corine

In this workshop participants will learn to make simple field journals and will have the chance to try out a variety of student-tested activities that have worked very well for my students and me.  Coming away from this workshop, I hope that participants will feel that a field journal is a simple and effective tool they can use in their journey to connect students with nature.  I would also like teachers to realize that a field journal can be linked to curriculum and integrated very effectively into a classroom setting.  Ideally, this workshop would take place over two days.  I would introduce the idea of field journaling and we would make covers for our field journals out of recycled paper, leaves and cardboard.  The next day, after the handmade paper had dried, we would assemble our journals and try out a variety of activities for different ages including micro-hike, sound map, leaf/berry rubbings, nature poetry/sketching, insect tracks and more.

Biography:

Maddi is an educator with a passion for taking students outdoors.  She is currently a fourth grade teacher at Riverbend Community School (Seven Oaks School Division), and has also worked in the U.S. and Canada as a park ranger, park interpreter, naturalist teacher and nature camp coordinator.  She believes that outdoor education can be effectively used across the curriculum at every grade level.

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Workshops- Growing up Green

Posted on May 16, 2012 by corine

photo by Fred Stein

The “Growing up Green” project is a family literacy and learning program that is in the developmental stages.

The project will support the development of a six week program with parents and children learning together. The purpose of the program will be to expand parent’s knowledge of environmental health and “plant the seed” about caring for our environment in the minds of young children.

Research shows that the influences in the first five years of life for a child will affect how they view the world for the rest of their lives. Parents will be encouraged to dialogue with their children in ways that enhance learning about environmental health.

Experiences in nature are essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of both children and adults. How children respond to nature and our environment and how parents raise their children, will shape the future of our communities and environmental health.

By interacting with their children through play, rhymes and books provided through the program, families will experience the joys of learning together while furthering their experiences and knowledge of good environmental practices and offering tools to foster their connection to nature and the environment.

Rhonda McLennon is currently a program trainer at Bookmates and has over two decades of experience in the field of childcare. Rhonda has also worked in unique social service settings such as Villa Rosa and the Behavioural Health Foundation where she taught parenting classes and ran programs for families.

Rhonda is a strong advocate of early learning education and of parents being children’s first teachers. Rhonda has a particular interest in connecting children to nature and of teaching healthy environmental habits early. Rhonda has incorporated these philosophies in the centres and programs she has worked in. Supporting facilitators to run family learning and literacy programs is a natural position for Rhonda as she hopes to inspire others to take advantage of early learning opportunities.

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Workshops- Fishing for Beginners

Posted on May 16, 2012 by corine

Alexie fishing

My name is Alexie Mauthe. Since the age of five I have been fishing and camping throughout Manitoba and Ontario. I have had the privilege to explore many beautiful lakes, embrace the wild, and interact with nature. Throughout the years I have fished for walleye, northern pike, perch, bass, and muskie. I would like to share some basic knowledge I have acquired through my experiences. This workshop will give participants the basic skills they need to get out and fish. Information will introduce a fishing rod; functions, how to assemble and different parts. We will explore different types of tackle and bait. We will practice attaching tackle and casting rods.
I feel that fishing is an activity that opens up many opportunities to connect with nature. By acquiring these basic fishing skills you can gain access to a wonderful sport, family activity, and delicious food source!

I am an Early Childhood Educator II. I have worked with preschoolers and school age children. I am recently back from maternity leave and working in an infant program. My current project is designing and creating a infant/toddler outdoor play space that focusses on nature. My favorite activities to implement with children are science, art, and exploring outside! Some of my coworkers call me the bug lady because I love animals and will pick up any bug! I have brought frogs, snakes, fish, and snails into my programs for the children to observe, care for and learn about! I am very passionate about my job and connecting kids with nature! I also recycle, compost, and grow a large garden at home. I am hoping to start some planting at my centre soon. I would love to get the whole centre composting and I love using recycled materials for art!!

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Workshop- Garden Problem Solving

Posted on May 15, 2012 by corine

Bad Soil? Vandalism? No space? Stinky compost bin worries? After this workshop you may be surprised by your ability to garden almost anywhere and solve some common problems! By being a little more prepared for the unexpected and learning some tricks, your garden can thrive. Take home some great design ideas and potted seeds to get your garden growing -even inside during the winter!

This workshop is open to any and all questions about gardening in challenging places- both indoors and out, public or private. Lots of Q&A time and some hands-on experience to get your garden growing. Open to beginners and to more experienced gardeners with a focus on designing for tough places and sharing ideas for getting your garden started on the right foot next year! Question and answer period ongoing throughout workshop, all gardening questions welcome!

For participants: If available please bring photos of your site that we can look at on the computer or as pictures. Comfortable clothing that can get a little dusty, gloves if desired.

Kathryn Mackenzie is a Prairie Horticulturist in Landscape Design, Permaculture Designer, long time community gardener and organizer, Master Composter. Kathryn presented at the last Nature Summit and the participants said their only complaint was that they wished the workshop was longer!

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Workshops- Edible Science

Posted on May 15, 2012 by corine

Ever stuck for ideas on how to do science learning with children and keep them engaged? Children learn through their senses and one of those senses is taste!

Use opportunities to teach children about growing their own food, and the science about agriculture in Manitoba. Participants will develop an understanding of planting practices, plant identification and coordinating planting and cooking with children.

Bio:

Ruth Lindsey-Armstrong is an ECE III, an Instructor at Red River College Early Childhood Education Workplace Program and outdoor enthusiast! Ruth is the current Chairperson (or head-hippie as we like to call her :) ) of the Manitoba Nature Summit Inc. She is also on the advisory committee for the Manitoba Nature Action Collaborative for Children.

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Workshops- The Outdoor Classroom

Posted on May 15, 2012 by corine

Workshop description:

See how your ‘classroom’ moves with you as you explore outside! We believe each student (and educator) has the right to regular outdoor education, across the curriculum. This workshop is if those who regularly teach indoors, such as early, middle, and senior-years teachers, professors and instructors, youth workers, ECE’s and those who teach outdoors but would like to improve their skill set. Experienced Outdoor Educators from Fort Whyte Alive will help you take whatever lesson you want to teach beyond the four walls of your regular classroom. Outside we will model and practice outdoor teaching skills that set the standard for outdoor education in Canada.

Learn how to effectively use any outdoor space to make each learning experience a safe but memorable adventure. Take the ideas back to your students and watch them grow to love the outdoors as your lessons come to life!

Specifically this workshop will cover:

-Linking curriculum or concepts to the outdoors

-Using the outdoors as an instructional tool

- Risk Management- making every experience a safe adventure

- Practical outdoor group management, safety and teaching methods

Presenter Bios:

Barret Miller: Growing up in the boreal forest around Pinawa, Manitoba, Barret played and learned outside. When he moved to Winnipeg, he was saddened to learn not every child gets to do so, and decided to do what he could to make change! In his role as Special Projects Interpreter at Fort Whyte Alive, he shares his passion for teaching and playing outdoors with students, educators and public visitors.

 

 

Minna Goulet: Minna loves nature, however and wherever it is found. Whether it has been protecting the forest as a wildfire fighter, connecting visitors with St. Norbert and Whiteshell Provincial Parks as an interpreter, or developing and running Fort Whyte Alive’s Naturescape program for homes and schools Minna is a strong advocate for the natural world.

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Workshops- Geocaching with School Age Children

Posted on May 15, 2012 by corine

 

Suzanne Geocaching with her neice and nephew

You may recognize Suzanne from a post about geocaching on the Manitoba Nature Summit website last year. I wrote a small piece about a geocaching project she was doing with her school-age children that has inspired the staff at my centre (SPLASH Child Care Inc.) to do geocaching with our school age children this summer. She has presented an abridged version of this workshop at the School Age Resource Evening last fall and is looking forward to doing a more hands-on version at the 2012 Nature Summit. What I find particularly intriguing about Suzanne’s workshop is that she can share personal anecdotes about her experiences geocaching with children and has great resources like an emergent curriculum web to show participants.

Here’s what Suzanne has to say about herself:

I am an Early Childhood Educator III with over twenty-four years of experience in the childcare field.  I have had experience as a frontline worker, a supervisor, an assistant director, and acting director.  Over the years I have worked with a variety of age groups and with a variety of children who have challenged and amazed me.

I truly believe that life is a journey! It’s not so much about the destination, but more about the experience that you have along the way!  I love nature and the outdoors and enjoy sharing this with the children in my care.  I am not afraid to bring nature inside for children to explore and experience.  Sometimes it’s my coworkers that learn the most from these experiences!  My husband Mike and I have been married for over twenty years.  We don’t have children of our own, just a cat (Kitkat).  Mike and I love spending time outdoors with friends on the snowmobile or ATV trails, camping or at the cottage, or out for a ride on our motorcycles.  When we aren’t out on the trail, we are looking after our house and yard out in the country.  We also love to travel, and have vacationed in Cuba, the Dominican, andMexico!  Some of my other hobbies include photography, gardening, snorkeling, and geocaching!

Three words that I believe sum me up:

LIVE! LAUGH! PLAY!

Suzanne Otte Geocaching

Suzanne Otte Geocaching

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