While the York Region Nature Collaborative was founded in York Region,
events are open to all interested educators, parents and families.
An apple indicates that a YRNC event is focused on Professional Development and open to adults.
A heart indicates that a YRNC event is family friendly and open to both adults and children.
Need a ride to an event? Have an extra seat and want to carpool? 
Connect by posting a request or offer on the Rideshare Page.
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Monday, August 13, 2018 at 09:00 AM through August 18, 2018
Swan Lake Outdoor Education Centre in Richmond Hill, ON, CanadaThe Rhythm of Learning in Nature
The Rhythm of Learning in Nature is an opportunity for like-minded educators to come together in place to experience nature, outdoor play, Reggio-inspiration and forest school practices. The week follows an emergent curriculum framework, as we will invite both facilitators and participants to decide the direction of the work and the focus of our professional inquiries.
Click here for an agenda for the week!
This year, we are thrilled to have Juliet Robertson, author of Dirty Teaching: A Beginners Guide to Learning Outdoors and Messy Maths: A Playful Outdoor Approach for Early Years as a guest facilitator. Participants will have the opportunity to experience multiple outdoor learning opportunities in the magical environment that is Swan Lake in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada.
This year we are also excited to have Hopi Lovell Martin who is originally from Traditional Lenni Lenape territory between the Hudson and Housatonic Rivers (New York and Massachusetts) of mixed Lenni Lenape, Britonnic and Eastern European ancestry. He belongs to the Anishinaabe Marten Clan and is being taught by a Traditional Grandmother. After completing a Master of Arts in Child Study and Education with an emphasis on Early Years and Child Development, Hopi spent 17 years teaching Kindergarten to Grade 12 as classroom and Outdoor Education teacher in Toronto. He has since gone back to OISE at the University of Toronto to work on a PhD that explores how Traditional Hodenoshaunee and Anishinaabe teachings support educators’ heart-understanding of Indigenous process as a way of “establishing and maintaining relationships” (Truth and Reconciliation Commission, 2015) with Community and Land.
This will be a week of empowering learning to support the development of a community of learners, researchers and teachers. There will be a small Forest School Camp run by The Nature School on the premises for an opportunity to observe children experiencing nature! To register you child for the Forest School Camp, please click here!
Included in the registration fee is free admission to a full day conference featuring Juliet on August 18th, 2018 at The Kortright Centre for Conservation. In exchange for the price of admission to the Kortright Conference, Rhythm attendees will share their experiences from the week with a wider audience.
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Saturday, August 18, 2018 at 09:00 AM
Kortright Centre for Conservation in Vaughan, ON, CanadaI am a Teacher
The York Region Nature Collaborative is thrilled to have Juliet Roberston as a guest facilitator for the Rhythm of Learning in Nature Conference August 13 to 17. To celebrate our week together we invite early years educators to join us for a day of outdoor play and learning at the beautiful Kortright Centre for Conservation in Vaughan on Saturday August 18th.
Keynote Speaker: Juliet Robertson
Juliet is one of Scotland’s leading education consultants who specialises in outdoor learning and play. She works at a national level delivering training, giving keynote speeches, leading and supporting innovative outdoor projects and writing content for websites, documents and case studies. She is passionate about enabling schools, play organisations and early years settings to provide quality outdoor learning and play opportunities for children and young people.
Juliet also works at an international level providing inspiring and engaging presentations and training everywhere. In the past two years alone, she has toured Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the Czech Republic. She provided the kickstart training for the first outdoor nurseries in Lithuania and worked with universities and schools in Spain and Belgium.
After years of ghost writing and public blogging, Juliet is now an author of Dirty Teaching: A Beginner’s Guide to Learning Outdoors (2014) and Messy Maths (2017).
Schedule of Events
9:00 to 9:30 Registration
9:00 to 10:00 Coffee, networking market place
10:00 to 11:00 Keynote address with Juliet Robertson
11:00 to 12:30 Outdoor Nature workshops
12:30 to 1:30 Lunch
1:30 to 3:00 Outdoor Nature workshops -
Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 12:00 PM
Varley Art Gallery of Markham in Markham, ON, CanadaToogood Walk and Talk
Join a guided walk through Toogood Pond to learn about the natural and human history of the Rouge River watershed.
Afterward, take a self-guided tour of the Varley’s new art exhibit “Refuge” to explore the physical and psychological effects of the forest on both humans and animals alike.
Walk distance: 1.5km
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Surface: Paved and boardwalk
Age Range: Family friendlyThis event will take place rain or shine so please dress for the weather. TRCA is committed to creating an accessible experience for all participants. If you require an accommodation, please email ldandrea@trca.on.ca at least 7 days prior to the event.
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Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 10:00 AM
Ross Family Complex in Mount Albert, ON, CanadaEast Gwillimbury Nature Day
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Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 10:00 AM
Kortright Centre for ConservationVolunteers
Interested in volunteering for with the YRNC?
Join us for our 5th Annual Family Adventure Walk in the Forest!
