Professional Development

OELA offers professional learning opportunities for educators who are interested in deepening their practice in outdoor and nature-based learning. Our courses are designed to be experiential, reflective, and grounded in the realities of working with children outdoors. Through hands-on learning and shared dialogue, participants explore approaches that support meaningful connections to place, community, and the natural world.

Bringing Mindfulness and Yoga into Nature

Learn how to integrate mindfulness and yoga into outdoor learning. This workshop explores how nature can inspire movement, breathing, and reflective practices that support self-regulation, calm, and well-being in children and educators.

Exploring Connections: Living Inquiries and Outdoor Education

Explore how the Living Inquiries from the BC Early Learning Framework connect naturally with outdoor education and forest school. This workshop looks at how learning in nature supports curiosity, relationships, and a sense of belonging

Let Them Fall Down: The Importance of Risky Play

An exploration of why risky play is essential for healthy child development. Participants will learn how risk supports confidence, resilience, and problem-solving, and how to support safe risk-taking in outdoor environments.

A Day in the Life of an Outdoor Educator

A practical look at what outdoor education looks like day-to-day, including rhythms, gear, planning, and how children learn and develop in outdoor environments.

Beyond Outdoor Play: Designing a Living Learning Community

This workshop explores the “invisible curriculum” — how relationships, environment, and daily rhythms shape behaviour, belonging, and learning. Learn how to move beyond activity planning toward intentionally designing a learning community

Additional Workshop Topics That We Offer

  • Starting a Nature Program
  • Forest School Foundations
  • Risky Play & Risk-Benefit
  • Site Assessment & Risk Management
  • Policies & Procedures for Outdoor Programs
  • Fire Building & Tool Use
  • Program Planning & Outdoor Curriculum
  • Nature-Based Activities (All Ages)
  • Plant Identification & Foraging
  • Team Building & Cooperative Games

On request, we can send Professional Development Certificates