My co-worker has a pretty cool job if you ask me. Nadine Ives spends most of her days outside, helping children connect with the natural world by teaching them all about the plants, animals, and habitats that are found on their school grounds. When she isn’t teaching students, she’s often showing teachers creative ways to teach their classes outside!
Ives is the coordinator of the Learning Outside program here at the Conservation Council, which helps connect New Brunswick children with nature by developing ways to integrate nature into teaching. She is also part of the Great Minds Think Outside program created by the New Brunswick Sustainability Education Alliance. Led by experienced professionals from all across the province, this program gives educators the tools they need to teach their students outside in nature.
On May 6th, Nadine and I, along with Emma McIntyre of Nature NB, are travelling to Moncton to take part in Elementary Council Day. This event, organized by the New Brunswick Teachers Association, involves thousands of New Brunswick teachers participating in three different professional development days across the province. Events are being held at Bernice MacNaughton High School and the Wesleyan Celebration Center in Moncton. The Conservation Council and Nature NB will be taking part by hosting two nature education training sessions. These sessions will show teachers how easy it can be to take learning outside the classroom.
“This will be the third time I’ve helped take our shared Great Minds Think Outside professional development training to the NBTA’s Council Day participants,” said Ives, who has been involved in nature education in various forms for over 20 years. “Feedback from participants is always very positive and I expect the same creative responses from our teachers this week. I have found that our New Brunswick teachers are enthusiastic leaders when it comes to building outside activities into their lesson plans!”
Sessions on Friday will include information on some of the barriers to teaching outside that educators might face and how they can be overcome. It will also include high energy activities and reflecting experiences at the end of the sessions. With this information, teachers will be able to adapt the activities to their own grade levels and curriculum needs at their own schools. Nadine, Emma, and I are all looking forward to a day full of fun, laughs, and learning!