Registration Opens Tuesday, April 1 at 9:00 AM
Facilitated by: Tandy Morton, WILD CHILD Playgroup Facilitator, Childreach, and Nadine Reeves, RECE, Program Manager, Childreach
WILD CHILD playgroups incorporate a land-based pedagogy that allows children to gain independence, lead their own adventure, and test their abilities and limits in the natural environment. In this session, educators will have the opportunity to explore and play, be curious, take risks, and connect with the world around them. This immersive experience will inspire educators and build their confidence to incorporate unstructured play into their practice and set the foundation for their learners that includes problem solving skills, emotional resilience, social skills, and critical thinking.
We will gather as a group before exploring the beautiful Westminster Ponds. Educators will walk and play together as we discuss how we can notice and talk about the world around us with children. We will take time to intentionally share our experiences, how we can draw connections, activity ideas, and address the challenges with outdoor play and learning faced by attendees.
This workshop will run no matter the weather. Weather often acts as a barrier to outdoor exploration. In the case of inclement weather, watch your email for tips to get the most out of the experience. Be sure to join us to experience the joy and learn some strategies for supporting children in every weather. We guarantee that you will have fun.
Nadine Reeves (she/her) is the Program Manager at Childreach overseeing playgroups, parent education, and family support. Nadine has been a part of the administration team at Childreach since 2003 dabbling in everything from communications and fundraising to board governance. In 2015, she helped kickstart the Wild Child Outdoor Playgroups and day camp, and she fell immediately in love with all things outdoor play and learning. She firmly believes that to get children outside, you need to get parents outside to love and see the value of the outdoors themselves. Using her skills in communications and marketing, she has used social media to reduce the barriers to getting children outside to play. When Nadine is not working, she is happiest spending time in nature (of course!) and knitting woolly sweaters.
Tandy Morton (she/her) has worked in outdoor education and risky or adventurous play environments since 2004, including acting as a facilitator for Childreach's Wild Child Outdoor Playgroup since 2017. In that time, she has supported children as young as infants as well as parents and grandparents in their journey to spend more time outside with greater confidence. As a teacher, Tandy is passionate about bringing regular outdoor play to the school environment. Tandy truly believes that everyone can enjoy time outside in nature, and is passionate about helping individuals take the next step in their outdoor living adventures.
Saturday, May 31
9:00 - 11:30 AM
Westminster Ponds
930 Western Counties Rd
London, ON, N6C 4R3
Cost
London/Middlesex: Pay What You Can
Elgin/Oxford: $10
Registration closes on Friday, May 30 at 12:00 PM
* Ticket types are based on the county you WORK in.