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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Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at 01:00 PM
Scanlon Creek Conservation Area in Bradford, ON, CanadaScanlon Creek Forest School
The Scanlon Creek Forest School is pleased to offer outdoor learning opportunities for children aged 5 – 10 years old. To learn more and to register, click here.
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Saturday, April 27, 2019 at 08:30 AM through April 28, 2019 · 29 rsvps
Kortright Centre for ConservationLand as Our First Teacher: Establishing and Maintaining Relationships
Saturday, April 27, 2019 (8:30am - 4:30pm) - Sunday, April 28, 2019 (8:30am - 12:00pm)
Land as Our First Teacher: Establishing and Maintaining Relationships
The Land has always taught Indigenous peoples the value of maintaining good relationships with all aspects of Creation, human and non-human. Western research and practice in Early Learning and Child Care is beginning to recognize what Indigenous peoples have always known: we learn best in a community of positive relationships connected to our natural environment.Come join the York Region Nature Collaborative’s partnership with Indigenous community members as we explore ways to establish and maintain good relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in the beautiful land connected to the Humber River for the benefit of our youngest learners. Saturday morning will begin with Traditional Ojibwe Opening Ceremony, a Sacred Fire, a Keynote Story, and Toronto Council Fire’s Youth Big Drum. So far our workshops include a Water Walk, Storytelling, Anishinaabe Cooking, Land-based Art, and Medicine Walks with more being added each day.
Come experience how these hands-on experiences ignite holistic learning through respectful, reciprocal relationships. All workshops are designed to bring families, caregivers, and educators together in learning so please bring your kids. This event will be free for Indigenous families and there will be transportation support available from Toronto (TBD).
Ticket sales begin: January 1, 2019 at 8:00am
For tickets please click: Land as Our First Teacher: Establishing and Maintaining Relationships
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Monday, August 19, 2019 at 09:00 AM through August 23, 2019 · 14 rsvps
Lake St. George Field Centre in Richmond Hill, ON, CanadaRhythm of Learning in Nature 2019
Tickets on Sale Now!
The Rhythm of Learning in Nature is an opportunity offered by the York Region Nature Collaborative 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. Past participants become returnees and the week has come to be known as a “knowledge retreat”.
This year, we are thrilled to have Niki Buchan with Natural Learning from Australia join us as a guest facilitator. Niki is considered a leading voice in promoting nature-based practice and is the author of multiple books on natural early learning including A Practical Guide to Nature-Based Practice and STEM Detectives: Identifying and Supporting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Children’s Play. Participants will have the opportunity to experience multiple outdoor learning opportunities facilitated by Niki and others in the magical environment that is Swan Lake in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. Included in the registration fee is free admission to a full day conference featuring Niki on August 24th, 2019 at The Kortright Centre for Conservation; Natural Early Learning: Finding Our Rhythm. In exchange for the price of admission to the Kortright Conference, Rhythm attendees will share their experiences from the week with a wider audience.
Once again we are also excited to have Hopi Lovell Martin continue helping us establish and develop relationships with Indigenous community and pedagogies. Hopi is descendant from Lenni Lenape, Britons, and Eastern Europeans. He is adopted by Ojibwe Marten Clan where he is learning Traditional ways from his Auntie. After completing a Master of Arts in Child Study and Education with an emphasis on Early Years and Child Development at OISE/UT, he spent 17 years teaching Kindergarten to Grade 12 as a 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 Anishinaabe Early Years pedagogy.
Overnight accommodations will be available at Lake St. George Field Centre at a reasonable rate from Sunday January 19 - Saturday January 24, 2019.
For tickets please click here: Rhythm of Leaning in Nature 2019
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Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 09:00 AM · 7 rsvps
Kortright Centre for Conservation in Woodbridge , ON, CanadaNatural Early Learning: Finding our Rhythm
August 24, 2019 - 9:00am - 3:00pm
The York Region Nature Collaborative is thrilled to have Niki Buchan as a guest facilitator for the Rhythm of Learning in Nature Conference August 19th to 23rd. 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 24th. Niki will begin the day with a keynote address. Participants from The Rhythm of Learning in Nature Conference will share their learning from the week by facilitating workshop experiences set up throughout the forest at Kortright Centre for Conservation. There will be a marketplace to purchase books, a delicious lunch and plenty of time to connect with nature and other educators.
Keynote Speaker: Niki Buchan
http://www.naturallearning.net.au/professional-development.html.
Niki is considered a leading voice in promoting nature-based practice and is the author of multiple books on natural early learning including A Practical Guide to Nature-Based Practice and STEM Detectives: Identifying and Supporting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Children’s Play.
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 Niki Buchan
11:00 to 12:30 Outdoor Nature workshops
12:30 to 1:30 Lunch
1:30 to 3:00 Outdoor Nature workshopsFor tickets, please click: Natural Early Learning Tickets