Let’s Talk Outdoors

Join Leah and Derek as they sit down with Maxine Panchuk as she discusses teaching kindergarten, gardening and outdoor learning! Maxine in an avid gardener and teaches kindergarten at Buena Vista outdoor school in Saskatoon. First Book Canada Marketplace Saskatoon Horticultural Society Saskatoon Compost Coaches Connect on Instagram

Join Derek and Leah as they talk with Greg Fenty about his 30+ years of experience working with various species of birds, bird research and bird banding in Saskatchewan. Greg also discusses the Bluebird Trail and his passion for Saskatoon's Young Naturalists Program. Saskatoon Young Naturalists Program Bluebird Trail

Leah and Mike sit down with Kim Archibald to talk about the Outdoor School program in Saskatoon, as well as paddling and other adventures. BHK Outdoor Experience Paddle Canada Lake Skills Canoe Course - May 18-20

Join Derek & Leah as they connect with Hugh Henry and Aditi Garg. Hugh and Aditi talk about Historic Walks and The Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society. They discuss the connections between these walks and education and potential collaborative efforts. Resources somethinggrand.ca Geography of Blood - Candace Savage The Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society Treaty Land Sharing Network Mary Smilie Podcast Episode Network in Canadian History and Environment Jane's Walks

Join Derek & Leah as they connect with Sophia Young. Sophia is the 2023 recipient of the SaskOutdoors Cydney Weir Youth Award. Listen in to hear about her remarkable contributions to her community. Due to her passion for sustainability, equity, and the conservation of ecosystems, Sophia has founded and chaired the Miller4Nature Permaculture Club, Sophia is a community builder, acting as a youth representative on the City of Regina Community Advisory Group. Sophia is now pursuing a career in environmental engineering to create sustainable and accessible futures.

Join Leah and Mike as they speak with Ben Oaken about Climate Education. Ben explores the reasons why some educators may hesitate to incorporate climate education into their teaching and offers strategies to overcome these obstacles. Climate Education is important in Saskatchewan - listen in to find out why! EcoSchools CanadaEcoSchools How-to WebinarSaskOutdoors Climate Action EducationThe Weather Makers book - Tim FlanneryThis Changes Everything book - Naomi KleinSolutions Board Game from the Outdoor Learning Store

Join Leah, Justine, and Maeghan James as they delve into the topic of Inclusive Outdoor Play. Maeghan shares insights on how educators can craft inclusive and high-quality outdoor experiences for every child, addressing prevalent barriers to inclusive outdoor play. She emphasizes the importance of collaborating with a child's family or caregivers to facilitate enriching outdoor experiences. Additionally, Maeghan encourages educators to cultivate new, inclusive habits, integrating inclusive play into the classroom environment. Learn more about Maeghan. Resources PLaTO-Net - Play, Learn and Teach Outdoors Network Dr. Louise de Lannoy speaks about Outdoor Play Quality Participation on Playgrounds Blueprint A Blueprint for Building Quality Participation on Playgrounds for Children with Disabilities: Programmer Version Jump Start Training for Play Leaders Outdoor Play Canada Megan Zeni - UBC - online educator outdoor play tool Outside Play App Inclusive Play Leadership Certificate

Join Mike & Leah as they chat with Whitney Blaisdell about her non-profit, Play YQR. Whitney discusses how to prioritize and increase access to play for all ages. Listen in as Whitney talks about the importance of play! For more information on Whitney, visit her University of Regina Student Spotlight. Checkout Megan Zeni with Room to Play on Instagram for more outdoor play content.

Join Mike & Leah as they chat with Megan Gurski, SaskOutdoors' former Outdoor Play Coordinator, teacher, and owner/operator of NW25 Outdoor Learning Co. Teachable moments outdoors, risks and hazards, and barriers to taking students outdoors are only a few of the topics touched on during their conversation.

Join Mike & Leah as they chat with Kyle Harrison about winning the 2021 #ExploreSask Parks Road Trip. Be inspired by Kyle's storytelling; his stories may help you choose where to go camping and exploring in Saskatchewan throughout the year!

Join SaskOutdoors as they chat with Louise de Lannoy about Outdoor Play in Canada. Louise continued to ponder our conversation after recording and wanted to add to her response to "What one thing would you change about the world?": I think what really matters is making the outdoors the easy choice. Just like placing stairs in a more convenient location than the elevator: make the outdoors the easy, more convenient choice. This is something we need to figure out to actually affect change.

Leah and Mike connect with David Pratt to chat about Indigenous connection to land, treaty rights, and reconciliation. David is the first Vice-Chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN).

Kristine Levesque joins Mike and Leah to discuss her involvement with the DePave Paradise Project. Kristine shares about a successful project at Walter Murray Collegiate in Saskatoon where they transformed a run-down tennis court into a space for outdoor learning and food education.

Join Mike and Leah as they chat with Skyler Haugan about respect, time, and adventures. Skyler runs an organization called The Moment Outdoors which focusses on encouraging people to put down their digital devices and explore Saskatchewan's landscape.

This episode, join Leah and Brooklyn as they chat with Annika Mang from Born to Be Adventurous. Topics covered include ideas for getting families outside on adventures, breastfeeding in the backcountry, wild life precautions, the TrailCollectiv app, food ideas, and her book, Hikes for Families.

Mike and Leah connect with Zoe Arnold from Wildernook Fresh Air Learning. Zoe shares about risky play, using tools, and supporting both outdoor and garden education.

This week, Mike and Leah are joined by Mary Smillie. Mary is a farmer located near Davidson, Saskatchewan and is a leading member of the Treaty Land Sharing Network. Tune into the conversation as they chat about sustainable agriculture, reconciliation, and allyship. For further information, check out the Globe and Mail's article about the importance of the Treaty Land Sharing Network and the Regina Leaderpost's article about Mary Smillie's discovery of the importance of what grows on her farm.

Join Mike and Leah as they talk with Ann Coxworth about her lifetime of work in the environmental sector, her early years and our place in the world. Learn more about the Saskatchewan Environmental Society.

Join Mike and Leah as they talk with Samantha Gunn about her journey as an outdoor educator. Samantha works at Brightwater Science, Environmental and Indigenous Learning Centre and leads the Climate Educator’s Network. We talk about connection to the land, solo time, and shifts in educational programming. Also mentioned is the One School One Farm project. You can listen back to our interview about One School One Farm with Elizabeth Bekolay. You can reach Sam at gunns@spsd.sk.ca. We talk about connection to the land, solo time, and shifts in educational programming.

Join Leah and Mike as they talk to Jen Mason about Forest Schools, child led learning, play, and the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada. Jen shares what led her to becoming an outdoor educator and her philosophy of play and learning.