Outdoor Learning Conference 2026

This interactive workshop introduces educators to Indigenous mindfulness that nurtures balance, presence, and connection within classroom environments. Drawing from traditional teachings and the cycles of nature, participants will explore how Indigenous worldviews understand mindfulness as a way of being one rooted in respect, gratitude, and relationship to the land, one another, and self.

Through stories, reflection, and experiential activities, teachers will learn practical ways to bring Indigenous mindfulness into daily classroom routines. Simple yet meaningful practices such as gratitude circles, mindful breathing with natural elements, and moments of quiet observation can help students develop emotional regulation, empathy, and a sense of belonging.

The session also emphasizes the importance of land-based awareness and relational teaching, helping educators create learning spaces that are calm, inclusive, and culturally responsive.

This interactive session invites educators to bridge theory with grounded practice in outdoor learning. Drawing on place-based and inquiry frameworks, we’ll explore how guiding principles, like time in nature, core routines, and knowledge-building, translate into real strategies for classrooms and school communities. You’ll engage with a spectrum of approaches, experience what they look like in practice, and leave with practical tools to move students from awe to action or transport your learning spaces into deeply connected learning places.

This interactive workshop introduces educators to Indigenous mindfulness that nurtures balance, presence, and connection within classroom environments. Drawing from traditional teachings and the cycles of nature, participants will explore how Indigenous worldviews understand mindfulness as a way of being one rooted in respect, gratitude, and relationship to the land, one another, and self.

Through stories, reflection, and experiential activities, teachers will learn practical ways to bring Indigenous mindfulness into daily classroom routines. Simple yet meaningful practices such as gratitude circles, mindful breathing with natural elements, and moments of quiet observation can help students develop emotional regulation, empathy, and a sense of belonging.

The session also emphasizes the importance of land-based awareness and relational teaching, helping educators create learning spaces that are calm, inclusive, and culturally responsive.

Recognizing and nurturing the natural gifts of children and youth can transform educational spaces into places of belonging, growth, and cultural affirmation. Grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems and holistic approaches to learning, participants will engage with strategies that honour each learner's unique strength, whether through storytelling, land-based activities, creative expression, or relational teaching.

Facilitators will share examples from community-based programs and personal practice, highlighting how culturally responsive methods can support emotional, spiritual, physical, and intellectual development.

Through reflection, dialogue, and experiential activities, educators will leave with tools to foster inclusive environments that celebrate identity, build relationships, and empower learners to thrive. Ideal for educators, program leaders, and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of holistic, strength-based approaches rooted in Indigenous Ways of Knowing.