Outdoor Learning Conference 2026

What does meaningful connection to the land really look like - and how do we know when it’s happening? In this reflective, participatory session, we’ll slow down and explore sensory-based, time-tested practices that nurture health, wellbeing, and authentic relationships with the natural world. Drawing from Vicki’s experience as an environmental educator and her current training in Forest and Nature Therapy, we’ll revisit the fundamentals of connection: presence, curiosity, and reciprocity. Together, we’ll tap into our collective wisdom as educators to explore how heart-centered experiences with the land help students move from curiosity to connection and ultimately to inspired action. Come ready to breathe, listen, wander, and learn from the land and from each other. Leave with simple activities you can use for your own wellness and to support deeper, heart-centered connections between your learners and the natural world.