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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. 

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