Work with me

I want to increase your motivation and confidence to get outside with the children you work with. We will also have fun while we do it!

Workshops

We all learn best through play! Join me for an in-person workshop where we will talk, play, and quite often have a good laugh! Together we will explore the benefits of outdoor play, practical strategies for overcoming common barriers, loose parts, connection with nature, and whatever else you need to support your confidence in getting the children you work with outside to play!

The following workshops are available to book. Click on the title below to learn more. We can also mix and match the different sessions to meet your needs.

Interested in a different topic? Let's talk, send me a note at christina@getoutsideandplay.ca.

Get Outside and Play in the Early Years

Everything is possible outside - children are more physically active, the natural world enters through all the senses, and community connections are made. In this workshop, we will explore the reasons for getting outdoors and our role as adults in these experiences. You will come away with inspiration and practical ideas to create engaging outdoor play spaces and experiences. Come ready to play outside, no matter the weather!

What is covered:

Explore personal knowledge and feelings about outdoor play.
Identify barriers to and benefits of outdoor play.
Reflect on their “why” for getting children outside to play.
Review the key roles of adults in providing time, space, and materials for outdoor play.
Learn about loose parts and engage in loose parts experiences.
Build their repertoire of outdoor play experiences for children.
Build positive connections with the land and natural world and enjoy time outdoors.

This workshop is available as a 3 or 6 hour session.

Play that Makes You Say STOP - Embracing Risky Play Outdoors

Strong, confident children who enjoy moving their bodies in new and novel ways. Trying new things, gaining skills to tackle hard things, growing independence. This is what we want for children right? Risky play outdoors can support all these wonderful qualities but it can be challenging at times to support this play.

In this workshop we will explore the types of risky play, what it looks like for different children and ways to support this type of play in your program.

This workshop is available as a 2 or 3 hour session.

Natural Ties - Connecting with All our Senses

Children build relationships and learn about their world through play. What does this look like outdoors? How can children build a relationship with the trees, flowers and grass? In this workshop we will consider the benefits of nurturing a connection to the natural world and directly experience activities and that can support this important connection.

This workshop is available as a 2 or 3 hour session.

Snow, Ice and Cold - Celebrating the Wonders of Winter

Can you love the snow? What about ice? What about the cold?! These are the three gifts of winter that we can work on embracing! In this session, we will learn more about the ecology of winter including the beauty of snowflakes, animal survival strategies, and the joy of ice. We will play and learn together outside in this session. Come away from this session with a great appreciation and understanding of the wonders of winter!

This session is available as a 2 or 3 hour workshop.

Costs:

2 hour workshop $500 + GST + travel and accommodation if outside the Calgary area.

3 hour workshop $700 + GST + travel and accommodation if outside the Calgary area

6 hours (full day) $1400 + GST + travel and accommodation if outside the Calgary area

All workshops include summary handout and a certificate of participation.

Webinars

Webinars are a great tool to start conversations and share practical ideas. Through first hand stories, relevant photos and video, I am able to create engaging on-line sessions to support educators in getting children outside to play.

The following webinars are available to book. Click on the title below to learn more. All webinars are 2 hours long and include an opportunity for participants to connect through breakout conversations.

To book, contact christina@getoutsideandplay.ca.

Why and How of Outdoor Play

An introductory session that will start the conversation about outdoor play. We will explore the benefits of outdoor play and why it is an essential environment for children. Once we understand the why, we will dive into the how. What can this look like for you and the children? Through real-life examples, you will come away with inspiration and practical ideas to create engaging outdoor play spaces and experiences.

Loose Parts Outdoors

Talking with Adults About Outdoor Play

Snow, Ice and Cold - Celebrating the Wonders of Winter

Costs:

2 hour workshop $400 + GST. Includes reflection and summary handout and Certificate of Participation

Consulting

There is much work to be done to shift our perspectives and practices around the role of outdoor play in children's lives.

I have worked with agencies and programs to explore what they need to support a shift to more outdoor play. Is it an outdoor play policy? Regular professional learning? Education for families? We work together to figure out what is needed and implement it.

Interested? Let's talk. Contact me at christina@getoutsideandplay.ca.