5:45 pm - 6:30 pm Check-in, pick up packages.

6:30 pm - 7:45 pm Stories of Inspiration

7:45 pm - 8:30 pm Campfire, 'smores and connection!

Stories of Inspiration

Location: Church Sanctuary

4 passionate people will share their stories about being with children outdoors. The challenges and the joys!

Devon Karchut is a pediatric physiotherapist and runs both an outdoor enrichment program and a nature-based therapy program in Calgary. Through her experiences working with children outdoors, she has been witness to some incredible stories of how nature supports growth in little ones, and empowers them in ways she hasn't seen in other settings.

Lianne Wiebe is the lead teacher with Ready Set Go a program from the Trellis Society in Calgary. For just over a year, they have been having Wild Wednesdays where they venture beyond the fence into nearby natural areas. Lianne will share her experiences of Wild Wednesdays and the tremendous benefits she has seen for the children, especially those who have experienced trauma.

Dr. Moorthi has over a decade of international experience in India, United States, and Canada, specializing in mixed-method evaluation design, policy partnerships, and supporting community innovation.  Over the past few years, she has been involved in several research and community projects extending over areas such as community health, migration, gender studies, and social inequity. She is also a mom to Agastya Balasubramanian who has been attending Nature Play.

Sylvie Tissandier teaches nature play at a K-3 public school in Edmonton where she loves connecting kids with nature. Part of her role also involves helping teachers build their capacity and comfort with taking students outside. She will share her perspectives and stories from her work with children and teachers.

Morning Yoga with Kim

Location: Nursery found at the back of the sanctuary.

Bring your own towel or mat.

Within a small group setting, we will explore gentle movement, breath work, and relaxation/meditation strategies.  You will have an opportunity to connect with yourself and build supportive patterns enabling better movement, ease, relaxation, and resilience.

My name is Kim Marion and I’m passionate about supporting people in their ability to do the activities that are meaningful to them.  As an Occupational Therapist for 25 years and through my training in yoga therapy, I have experience seeing and understanding how the connections within our body and mind impact our ability to move and function in work, school, recreation/sports, caregiving, and self-care activities.  Patterns of movement/thinking/feeling develop in all of us from life events (i.e., pregnancy, illness, work, trauma, injuries, sports) and while some patterns are supportive, some patterns are less helpful as our biomechanics, anatomy, and mental/emotional states shift.

Arrive and sign in

Location: Church Foyer

Location: Church Sanctuary

Back by popular demand, Chantal Chagnon will be joining us on Saturday morning. Her drumming, songs, and stories will fill your heart. Come ready to participate! Chantal brings a bag of handmade drums and rattles and we have the opportunity to participate with her voice.

Chantal Chagnon is a Cree / Métis Singer, Drummer, Artist, Storyteller, Actor, Educator, Workshop Facilitator, Social Justice Advocate and Activist with roots in Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan. She shares Traditional Indigenous Songs, Stories, Culture, History, Arts, Indigenous Craftsmanship and Teachings. Chantal has presented in Classrooms from Preschool through University and Professional, Community, and Social Justice Events and Gatherings. Chantal aims to entertain, engage, enlighten, educate, and inspire everyone she meets.

Learn more about her work here: https://www.cree8.ca/chantal_chagnon

2023 Morning with Chantal

Earth Walks - Connecting Children with the Natural World

Location: Edworthy Park Owl

This session will share environmental activities and games that focus on exploration and sparking both imagination and joy. With the emphasis placed on the sensory experience of the forest rather than imparting factual knowledge, these activities support children in building a deeper sense of relationship, through both feelings and understanding, with the natural world. These activities help to promote an overall sense of well being in children, supporting what research continues to demonstrate, spending time in nature is good for us.

Christine Jenik recently retired from the Calgary Board of Education, where worked as a classroom teacher, physed/outdoor ed specialist and school administrator for over 34 years. Her love of being outdoors started as a young child and continued to grow through her experiences of running outdoor environmental programs and developing curriculum, facilitating professional development opportunities for schools, to most recently becoming a certified Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Getting to work with children and adults, connecting them to nature experiences, continues to be a passion and a privilege for her.

Sensory Sensations! How music, nature and other sensory activities benefit you and the children.

Location: Edworthy Park Stump circle

Have you ever noticed that deep breath you take once you get yourself outside? Or how about that moment of calm or levity that a certain piece of music will bring? Perhaps it is a favourite baking endeavour? Why is it that when we amp up our sensory activities, we tend to feel. . . well. . . better? What occurs in the body and brain to create that shift? Margaret a.k.a. Miss Tweetie, children's teacher, composer and pianist, will take you through an informative, fun and participatory session to learn more about why we need sensory play for the very young, as well as all humans.

Margaret Dahlberg, mother of 2, is also known as “Miss Tweetie”, a prolific early childhood music educator in Calgary. She created and ran Music Kids at Chinook School of Music for 18 years. Her current offering is called “Music in Nature”, an outdoor musical adventure for children 5 and under. Instead of using instruments, Miss Tweetie uses landscapes and natural items to immerse her students in music. Trained as a classical pianist, she is a dedicated piano teacher to people of all ages and pursuits. She has composed multiple albums and singles, which can be found on all music streaming sites. Her podcast, Guided Harmonies, uses words to support her music. Her compositions have been listed on the Grammy longlist as well as Netflix sensation “After Life”. She is a resident composer for the City of Calgary.

Don't have a forest? No problem!

Location: Church Front Lawn

While having access to forest and greenspace is lovely and ideal, that is not always the case. This session will be full of practical approaches, hands-on methods, and inspiration to support adults in facilitating outdoor play, no matter their space. Participants will be actively involved in utilizing the materials on hand to be creative and inspire themselves to introduce new and nontraditional play items into their place of work.

Monique Lozeron is passionate about sharing her knowledge and expertise in the fields of physical literacy, play, and the outdoors. She values the role each field brings to whole child development and recognizes that when they all come together amazing things happen for children and the professionals supporting them. Her enthusiasm, positivity and open-minded approach to working alongside children inspires educators and parents to reframe how they view the role of the adult, and the environment when interacting with children.

Nature-based play in elementary classrooms: why you should be doing it and ideas to get you started right away

Location: Church Mud Kitchen

Join Sylvie for easy activities, lessons, play provocations, and literature connections you can use to take your students outside. Research has found a link between outdoor play and mental health benefits such as increased ability to focus on classroom activities, higher levels of resilience and problem solving skills, and improved regulation skills. Learn how nature play can be incorporated into an early elementary setting, and walk away with resources, links, and ideas you can use with your students on Monday.

Sylvie Tissandier teaches Nature Play at a K-3 public school in Edmonton where she loves connecting kids with nature. Part of her role also involves helping teachers build their capacity and comfort with taking students outside.

Bringing Montessori Outdoors

Location: Church Basement Spruce Room

Join Jenna from Evolve Montessori for an introduction to the Montessori philosophy and how to naturally incorporate nature and outdoor play into your program. This session will take a close look at how to utilize nature and developmentally appropriate sensory experiences to cultivate the child's curiosity, problem-solving skills, and physical ability.

Jenna Mazzei is an AMS certified Montessori Teacher and mother dedicated to educating on the Montessori Philosophy. She teaches the Montessori method with a modern approach helps children discover their full potential. Jenna is passionate about bringing nature and outdoor time to children and incorporating it into the Montessori Philosophy in every way possible.

Music Outdoors

Location Edworthy Park Stump Circle

Getting outside helps our children learn more efficiently and effectively. But how can we learn music without the traditional instruments of a studio or classroom? Discover how you can teach foundational musical concepts without anything but the landscape around you.

Margaret Dahlberg, the mother of 2, is also known as “Miss Tweetie”, a prolific early childhood music educator in Calgary. She created and ran Music Kids at Chinook School of Music for 18 years. Her current offering is called “Music in Nature”, an outdoor musical adventure for children 5 and under. Instead of using instruments, Miss Tweetie uses landscapes and natural items to immerse her students in music. Trained as a classical pianist, she is a dedicated piano teacher to people of all ages and pursuits. She has composed multiple albums and singles, which can be found on all music streaming sites. Her podcast, Guided Harmonies, uses words to support her music. Her compositions have been listed on the Grammy longlist as well as Netflix sensation “After Life”. She is a resident composer for the City of Calgary.

Firecraft and Resiliency

Location: Edworthy Park Firepit

For the vast majority of history fire has been a central component of the human experience and, although many of us do not rely on fire as part of our daily lives, it still plays a role in both our outdoor experiences, imagination, and cultural expressions. There is something special about fire, something primal that draws us near. This session will focus on, not only the art of Firecraft, but also the art of resilience and its importance to facilitators and youth.

Rob Ross worked for twenty years in Youth Justice and Children's Mental Health. In 2017, Rob took the plunge and quit his job to pursue Kaykima Wilderness. A lifelong nature lover, Rob grew up in Thunder Bay ON, and spent much of his time outdoors camping, hiking, and mountain biking. Through the works of survival experts such as Mors Kochanski, Ray Mears, and others, Rob developed a deeper understanding of the natural world. Rob saw the crossover between the growth of resiliency in individuals, and spending time outside and wanted to share that with others. In addition to teaching Kaykima Classes, Rob loves being outside foraging and learning new bushcraft skills, spending time with family, traveling, meditation, creating music, yoga, and archery.

Bring Speech and Language Outside!

Location: Church Front Lawn

Speech and language skills don't stop at the door! You will learn strategies that are easy to implement when you are outside with the children. This will be a hands-on workshop where strategies will be discussed and practiced using the natural surroundings as a 'therapy tool'.

Abbey Massar is a neurodiversity-affirming Speech Language Pathologist who runs her private practice in Calgary. Abbey uses a play and strengths-based approach to support her clients. She is an avid skier, hiker, backpacker, and overall outdoor enthusiast! Abbey loves to bring her passion for the outdoors into her work.

Outdoor Learning Core Routines

Location: Church Mud Kitchen

Join me to learn how to take learning beyond the four walls of the early childhood classroom. Experience what it feels like to connect to the land and what the potential of learning can evolve into while using your senses and imagination. Hands-on games, songs and routines will be shared that can be used to build foundational practices, for successful learning in nature. Come prepared to be outside!

Xena Biffert is a settler here on Treaty 7 Land. Her roots come from the island of Malta on her mother's side and the Ukraine on her father's side. She grew up learning and playing in the Mediterranean Sea, where she believes many of my connections to the natural world were developed. She has been an educator for 15 years, predominantly in the early childhood classrooms.  She is a mother of two young girls, a sister, a daughter, and a partner. She has a BEd with a focus on science, is a certified Forest School Practitioner, and is currently working on her Masters of Education in Sustainability, Creativity, and Imagination.

Creating Secure and Supportive Learning Environments

Caregivers and educators in outdoor spaces have an important role to play in supporting child learning. Understanding how learning happens in a child's nervous system can inform how you show up for them. Claire will share research on child development, the role of the sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system, and the impacts of outdoor play on a child's nervous system. Our discussion will include; how to create emotional safety for children, what kind of stress is good stress, and how to support parents as they seek the benefits of outdoor play for their children.

Claire Cummings (MA, MSW) is a mental health therapist, educator, and clinical social worker from Calgary, Alberta.

Lunch will be served in the sanctuary of the church.

Rethinking Risk in the Early Years

Location: Edworthy Park Owl

Sarah Reader has been running recreation programs for all ages in the Calgary area since 2008. In 2016 she created and managed the City of Calgary's fist Mobile Adventure Playground. Sarah has a bachelor of Physical Education and is an instructor at Bow Valley College. Born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, her love of nature and outdoor play runs deep and you can find her enjoying the great outdoors with her husband and three sons. Through her company, Playful Adventures, she inspires people to rediscover their Wildhoods through education and unstructured, outdoor play.

Rejuvenation Forest Bathing

Location: Edworthy Park Field

Forest Bathing is a literal reference to spending time "bathing" in health-promoting chemicals produced by the forest. We don't focus on any goals such as getting to a certain location in a certain time, as we might if we were hiking. Rather, time is spent connecting with one's senses, slowing down, noticing the world around us. It’s an ‘invitation’ to step away from the chatter in your mind and simply show up in the moment, allowing you to strengthen your connection with nature and with yourself. What to expect:

• Low – no impact
• Slow walking with minimal terrain changes
• Guided mindfulness invitations
• Connection to nature through the senses
• Tea ceremony

Julianne Buchler is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide. Before becoming a Forest Therapy Guide, Julianne spent 16 years an international healthcare consultant and a Registered Nurse. She is a published, award-winning author and a motivational speaking coach who combines her experience in healthcare, a passion for wellness and nature to provide a sensory-based, insightful, and rejuvenating experience for Forest Bathing/Therapy participants.

Stories of Connection

Location: Edworthy Park Stump Circle

Humans are the “story telling animal.” Since the beginning, stories have helped shape us - we use them to weave our feelings, experiences, thoughts and ideas into threads of meaning. Stories are one of our most powerful tools for motivating and inspiring curiosity and activities that will drive children (and adults) towards a deep connection with nature. Drawing from our experiences at Forest Play and interpretive guiding this workshop will explore:

• How stories can be used to create powerful learning experiences.
• How you can use archetypes and life stage transitions to build meaningful stories
• How to rediscover a child-like passion for the natural world
• Essential routines that ground and reconnect us with the natural world

Dave Verhulst believes the natural world is one of our most powerful teachers and mentors. Through sharing stories and experiences in the landscape, he helps children and adults develop a strong connection with themselves and nature. In 2011, he co-founded Forest Play in Canmore based on Forest School models and the 8 Shields Mentoring Model. With over 20 years professional guiding experience, Dave facilitates programs for children ages 4-14. He also facilitates leadership programs for the Pacific Centre for Leadership and the Banff Centre. He has a Master's Degree in Recreation Management, is an accredited Master Interpretive Guide. Dave is the proud father of 2 girls and enjoys many outdoor adventures with his family.

Plant and Fungi Identification

Location: Edworthy Park Playground

Time to go off the beaten path and discover what the plant and fungi kingdoms have in store for us! Join Kaykima for mindful walk that will focus on developing a relationship with the plants, tress and fungi that live among us. When we, as facilitators gather knowledge it opens more opportunities for our youth to engage in new and deeper ways with the world around us. Discovering what is edible, medicinal and useful in our natural areas helps both adults and youth slow down, become more mindful and see the connections within the natural world and our place in it. Please note that we will be going off trail for a portion of this session. Please bring sturdy shoes and, if desired, long pants. We will meet by the closed washrooms next to the playground.

Rob Ross worked for twenty years in Youth Justice and Children's Mental Health. In 2017, Rob took the plunge and quit his job to purse Kaykima Wilderness. A lifelong nature lover, Rob grew up in Thunder Bay ON and spent much of his time outdoors camping, hiking and mountain biking. Through the works of survival experts such as Mors Kochanski, Ray Mears and others, Rob developed a deeper understanding of the natural world. Rob saw the crossover between the growth of resiliency in individuals, and spending time outside and wanted to share that with others. In addition to teaching Kaykima Classes, Rob loves being outside foraging and learning new bushcraft skills, spending time with family, traveling, meditation, creating music, yoga, and archery.

Bees – The Gateway Bug How learning about bees connects us with nature

Location: Church Basement Spruce Room

In this interactive session, we'll explore how bees serve as a gateway to understanding weather, plants, and ecosystems. We’ll talk about connecting children with nature through bee education, and exploring the transformative power of engaging kids with bees to cultivate a deeper connection to the land.

Gisele Hardock is passionate about connecting children with nature, something and does this through her work at Growing Roots Forest School in Cochrane, Alberta, and as a Master Beekeeper teaching kids about bees. Becoming a beekeeper changed her relationship to the land in profound ways and this is something she passes on to the children she works with.

Loose Parts Outside

Location: Edworthy Park Owl

Loose parts play offers limitless possibilities, and help develop children’s imaginative learning, physical, social, and problem-solving skills. Loose parts are any materials that can be moved, carried, built, and taken apart, lined up, stacked together, and tinkered with. They aren’t prescriptive and have no set directions, so there’s no right or wrong way to play – a stick can be a wand, a sword, or a fishing rod! The play is directed by the child, based on their own needs, desires and imagination which empowers them to take charge of their own play environments. Join Sarah in this active session as she talks about how loose parts play contributes to learning and healthy child development, how to gather and store loose parts, how to incorporate them into your programs, and how to promote this style of play to colleagues and parents.

Sarah Reader has been running recreation programs for all ages in the Calgary area since 2008. In 2016 she created and managed the City of Calgary's fist Mobile Adventure Playground. Sarah has a bachelor of Physical Education and is an instructor at Bow Valley College. Born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, her love of nature and outdoor play runs deep and you can find her enjoying the great outdoors with her husband and three sons. Through her company, Playful Adventures, she inspires people to rediscover their Wildhoods through education and unstructured, outdoor play.

Building Connection Through Nature Play

Location: Edworthy Park Stump Circle

When children are deeply connected with the natural world, they are more connected to themselves and are happier and more hopeful. During this interactive workshop we’ll share stories and experiences from the field and introduce some of the tools and techniques we integrate into our Forest Play programs that get kids learning (without knowing it) and deeply connected with the natural world.

Dave Verhulst believes the natural world is one of our most powerful teachers and mentors. Through sharing stories and experiences in the landscape, he helps children and adults develop a strong connection with themselves and nature. In 2011, he co-founded Forest Play in Canmore based on Forest School models and the 8 Shields Mentoring Model. With over 20 years professional guiding experience, Dave facilitates programs for children ages 4-14. He also facilitates leadership programs for the Pacific Centre for Leadership and the Banff Centre. He has a Master's Degree in Recreation Management, is an accredited Master Interpretive Guide. Dave is the proud father of 2 girls and enjoys many outdoor adventures with his family.

Playing the Story: Connecting Children, Place, and Literature

Location: Edworthy Park Firepit

Come play with story and place to explore possibilities for visual, verbal, and embodied storying with young children. In this active workshop, designed for preschool and elementary educators, participants will engage in place-based storied play. This play will connect the outdoor space with children’s literature and provide opportunities to engage in composing, (re)telling, and mapping stories. Participants will also have the opportunity to connect these experiences to children’s playful storying in their own place and practice.

Ronna Mosher and Anne Cloarec are early childhood literacy educators and researchers from the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary who are individually and collectively fascinated by the processes through which children engage in storied play, particularly in outdoor spaces.

Outdoor Process Art

Location: Church Front Lawn

Discover a world where creativity, nature, and childhood exploration merge. Step beyond the constraints of four walls and bring art class to the heart of nature where inspiration runs free. This hands-on workshop will arm you with an array of stimulating outdoor process art activities that nurture a child's imagination and sense of discovery. We’ll delve into creative ways to utilize natural elements in your art sessions. You will come away with practical tips and techniques to make the transition from indoor art class to the great outdoors smoothly.

Brittany Caldwell is an Early Childhood Educator who has worked in a variety of environments from Forest Schools to Outdoor Preschools. Brittany blends her deep-rooted passion for early education with her love for the great outdoors. She is the owner of Creative Seeds, a unique venture that breaks the conventional classroom walls to create a mobile nature classroom. She seeks to inspire young minds in preschools, dayhomes, and daycares by introducing them to the enchanting world of outdoor play classes. At the heart of Creative Seeds lies a commitment to the core principles of play, nature, and art – an immersive approach aimed at fostering the innate curiosity and creativity in every child.

Neurodiversity and the Benefits of Outdoor Therapy

Location: Church Basement Spruce Room

This session will start with an overview of what is neurodiversity. We will discuss different ways of learning and using language, sensory differences, communication and interaction differences. What does this mean when we are outside? You will come away from this session with a deeper understanding of neurodiversity and practical strategies for supporting ALL children outside.

Abbey Massar is a neurodiversity affirming Speech Language Pathologist who runs her own private practice in Calgary. Abbey uses a play and strengths based approach to support her clients. She is an avid skier, hiker, backpacker and overall outdoor enthusiast! Abbey loves to bring her passion for the outdoors into her work.

Location: Church South Field

We will gather to end our day and reflect on what we have learned. There will be draw prizes! You must  be present to win!