The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is proud to be launching a new conservation program offering adventure learning journeys for educators and their families.
“Wild Pedagogies is a one of a kind experiential learning program that blends graduate level studies in education from top university professors with travel on the landscape,” said Wade Luzny, CEO Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Wildlife Federation. “This is an amazing opportunity for advanced education in the outdoors.”
This year the program will include sea kayaking on Lake Superior, backpacking in Cape Breton Highlands National Park and horse assisted hiking in the Tonquin Valley in Jasper National Park. Conservation science including CWF work with endangered species such as caribou will be highlighted.
Each program is $1,500, including meals, programming and outfitting. Participants will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the parks where the adventures will begin and end. The journeys will be offered concurrently at the end of August, 2015. World renowned professors from Brock University, Cape Breton University and McMaster University will guide the innovative programs. CWF thanks Dr. Mary Breunig, Dr. Pat Maher and Dr. Bob Henderson for their leadership.
Enrollment will be limited to ensure a personalized experience. While everyone is invited to apply the course is geared towards formal and non-formal educators and will include physical activities as well as camping.
“This is a unique approach to enjoying and appreciating Canada’s wild species and spaces while learning about conservation and best practices in education from some of the most outstanding professors in the field,” Luzny said. “Let’s put ourselves out there and connect to nature while learning how best to spread the conservation message!”
About the Canadian Wildlife Federation
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a national, not‐for‐profit charitable organization dedicated to fostering an awareness and appreciation of our natural world. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, sponsoring research, developing and delivering education programs, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, recommending changes to policy and cooperating with like‐minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature.
CWF Wild Pedagogies – A Learning Journey
Pedagogy means the best way to teach something. CWF’s Wild Pedagogies offers best practices in experiential education. In other words CWF believes the best way to learn about and appreciate nature is to experience it! That’s why we’re offering these three adventures:
A Superior Learning Journey with Dr. Mary Breunig – Aug. 24 –30, 2015
This beginner to intermediate sea kayaking experience will take you to Slate Islands Natural Environment Provincial Park, formed millions of years ago when a meteor impacted with the earth. This park is famous for its woodland caribou population which thrives due to a lack of predators.
This program will focus on reading and writing toward an understanding of place, with a focus on conservation and habitat.
Dr Breunig is the past president of the Association for Experiential Education, a Professor at Brock University, and a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and Outward Bound Instructor. Her research focus is nature as a site for social and environmental justice.
Pedagogy in the Park with Dr. Pat Maher – Aug. 24 – 28, 2015 in Cape Breton Highlands National Park
This family based adventure will focus on educational programming in the outdoors. You and your family will visit Cape Breton Highlands National Park and will camp with a group of other families. You will take part in structured lessons about pedagogy (best practices for education) and programming while your family visits the park.
Family members will be able to take part in some programming delivered by program participants. Please note that additional fees for food/camping will be required for family members.
Dr. Maher is a 3M Teaching fellow, the editor of the Journal of Experiential Education and an Associate Professor at Cape Breton University. His research involves the outdoors and how people understand and value that, and it is also aimed at learning how to better manage the outdoor environment.
A Tonquin Valley Adventure with Dr. Bob Henderson – August 21st – 28th, 2015 in Jasper National Park
The Tonquin Valley is one of the crown jewels of the Canadian National Park system. Ansel Adams visited here in 1928, photographing an early trip. When asked about his experience, his only complaint was that he did not have enough time to photograph everything.
You will travel on horseback and take part in a program that will focus on park politics, ethics and heritage. Also covered will be pedagogy of the journey (best practices for teaching about nature by experiences nature) and issues of the journey. The focus will be on Place, Story and Technology.
Dr. Henderson is a Professor Emeritas at McMaster University and the author of many books. He is particularly interested in the intersection between expeditions and the story of place.