Professional Development Workshops

Today, children spend more time playing on screens than exploring the world around them—leaving nature on the fringes of their lives. It's time for change!

We offer a range of core and customizable workshops around outdoor learning for anyone who works with children and youth.

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About our workshops

Regular outdoor learning enhances the physical and mental health of kids, it increases their resiliency, and nurtures their social and problem solving skills. Yet in many childcare and education settings, it is still treated like an afterthought.

Designed to be highly interactive and engaging, participants of our workshops will experience the value that outdoor play and learning can bring to all forms of teaching and caregiving models. Even better, these workshops will provide you with easy to implement approaches regardless of your access to nature or greenspace. These play and inquiry-based activities can work in any season or space.

Areas of focus
Nature Connection Principles & PracticesSupporting Outdoor Learning in All Seasons
Activating Outdoor Learning in All Spaces Risk Management & Risky Play

Our teachers came away from the workshop excited and inspired about their new found knowledge and are eager to start implementing many of the ideas into their curriculum. It was the most fun workshop we have had to date and I would say also the most inspiring to make important changes for the sake of our students.

Principal

Children’s Garden School

Workshop Options

Core Workshops

Dive deep into outdoor learning with Evergreen’s Core Workshops—3-hour sessions designed to provide in-depth exploration and practical insights into one of the following key areas of focus:

 

    • Nature Connection Principles & Practices: Explore the fundamentals to fostering a deeper connection with nature. Participants will explore essential principles and practices to enhance their relationship with the natural world and develop strategies for incorporating these into their daily routines through experiential, nature-based approaches to outdoor play and learning.
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    • Activating Outdoor Learning in All Spaces: Unleash creativity and discover new possibilities for play and learning with our workshop on understanding and activating any outdoor space. Participants will discover the transformative power of Loose Parts, learn cost-effective design strategies to make the most of your existing outdoor spaces, and gain practical insights into creating dynamic and engaging outdoor learning environments that welcome in nature (even in the heart of the city).
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    • Supporting Outdoor Learning in All Seasons: Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to embrace outdoor learning in any weather. This workshop focuses on the importance of year-round outdoor education, providing participants with practical strategies to adapt activities and create inclusive and engaging outdoor experiences in all seasons.

     

    Each workshop has been carefully crafted to empower participants with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in a key area of outdoor learning and nature connection. Plus, benefit from an associated post-workshop resource package tailored to the content, providing ongoing support for your educational journey.

     

    Location: Core Workshops can be delivered in-person at your location or held at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto, Ontario.

     

    Duration: 3.00 hours

     

    Cost: Starting at $4,000+HST for up to 25 participants. Rates increase with additional participants. Transportation fees apply for workshops held outside Evergreen Brick Works.

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Custom Workshops

Looking for a more personalized learning experience? Our Custom Workshops are tailored sessions that blend content from our key areas of focus to meet your team wherever you are on your outdoor learning journey. Learn new ideas, connect with peers, reflect on existing challenges, and leave with activities and approaches that can be implemented right away. Whether it is the first step or the next step on your outdoor learning journey, we cater the workshop to your team’s needs through a 1-hour consultation to understand learning goals and objectives. Post-workshop, access a curated resource package supporting educators in implementing newfound insights. Personalized learning, direct impact.

 

Location: Custom Workshops can be delivered in-person at your location or held at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto, Ontario.

 

Duration: 3.00 hours (Half day) or 6.00 hours (Full day).

 

Cost: Starting at $5,600+HST for Half-day, and $8,000+HST for Full-day for up to 25 participants. Rates increase with additional participants. Transportation fees apply for workshops held outside Evergreen Brick Works.

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Nature Play and Learning Lab

Looking for a quick, practical introduction to outdoor play and learning? Experience nature connection in action with Evergreen’s Nature Play & Learning Lab. This dynamic 2-hour applied session immerses participants in the fundamentals of outdoor learning and nature connection through a condensed workshop at Evergreen Brick Works that includes a guided hike followed by a sampling of our favourite outdoor activities that can be easily adapted to any space or season.

 

Location: Nature Play and Learning Labs are run exclusively at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto, Ontario.

 

Duration: 2.00 hours

 

Cost: Starting at $3,200+HST for up to 25 participants. Rates increase with additional participants.

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Virtual Workshops

Interested in a workshop but can’t meet in person? No problem.

 

Any of our core or custom workshops can be adapted for a shorter, virtual session.

 

Please note, our Nature Play and Learning Lab cannot be done virtually

 

Location: Virtual

 

Duration: 2.00 hours

 

Cost: Starting at $2,800+HST for Core Workshops, and $4,000+HST for Custom Workshops for up to 50 participants. Rates increase with additional participants.

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Need help deciding which workshop would work best for your team? Reach out by emailing us at pdworkshops@evergreen.ca.

Want all the best outdoor learning resources and updates?

Make sure you’re signed up for our Outdoor Classroom Newsletter! It goes out every other month stuffed with great content to help you reconnect the kids in your life with nature.

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