Events

--- PAST EVENTS ---

April 2024 Cohort: Nature-Based Educator Course

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Register today!

This 12 month, fully online course is designed to provide participants with the theory, skills, and practicum opportunities to be equipped with the necessary skills to safely operate a Nature-Based program in many early learning settings. 

The components of this course include:

• Online, learn at your own pace modules
• Research-based assignments
• Hands-on practicum requirements
• Real-time feedback from facilitators on all course components and assignments

Diving into Communities of Practice

Using the research from Dr. Diane Kashin we will help you find easy, attainable solutions to burnout, low morale, and feeling overwhelmed that will contribute to a community of belonging, well-being, engagement and expression. These sessions will be filled with networking, interactive learning, and opportunities where we will explore the ways we can build a community of mentorship, communities of practice, and practice. What does it mean to be a professional friend and why is it important? This workshop is relevant to educators and leaders who are struggling to find ways to create a cohesive community within any early childhood setting. If you feel overwhelmed and burnt out, these ideas will help you find new strategies to support reflective practice and bring belonging, well-being, engagement and expression into each and every day. 

January 2024 Cohort: Nature-Based Educator Course

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 

Register today!

This 12 month, fully online course is designed to provide participants with the theory, skills, and practicum opportunities to be equipped with the necessary skills to safely operate a Nature-Based program in many early learning settings. 

The components of this course include:

• Online, learn at your own pace modules
• Research-based assignments
• Hands-on practicum requirements
• Real-time feedback from facilitators on all course components and assignments

Mentorship Communities of Practice

Discovery Professional Learning fosters the values, skills and dispositions of mentorship through a virtual meeting place for educators to gather and share ideas. This virtual space cultivates a sense of belonging and community amongst all educators in Chatham-Kent. It responds to the desires of feeling like we are a part of a bigger mission and community that is responsive to the needs of our time and context. Educators will engage in topics meaningful and important such as diversity, equity, and inclusion and create critical spaces for thought.

Tilt Toward Connection

 A virtual series that has cultivated connection, purpose, and relationships for the EarlyON community with Andrew Fleck Children’s Services. We have used online virtual modules and Zoom gatherings that “tilts towards connection” to co-construct meaning in our experiences and connect the community to a bigger mission.

NOVEMBER COHORT: Nature-Based Educator Course

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 

Register today!

This 12 month, fully online course is designed to provide participants with the theory, skills, and practicum opportunities to be equipped with the necessary skills to safely operate a Nature-Based program in many early learning settings. 

The components of this course include:

1. Online, learn at your own pace modules
2. Research-based assignments
3. Hands-on practicum requirements
4. Real-time feedback from facilitators on all course components and assignments

System-Wide Professional Learning Days

Keynote: Cultivating pedagogical and passionate cultures. How pedagogy can (re)ignite our spark. 

An interactive and engaging keynote presented by two facilitators: Karen Eilersen (RECE, Forest School Practitioner, Director Discovery Child Care, Co-founder Discovery professional learning) and Jessica Holder (RECE, BSc, Forest School Practitioner, Pedagogical Leader Discovery Child Care, Co-founder Discovery Professional learning.)

This keynote will include a powerpoint presentation and an interactive storytelling approach that will provide educators inspiration and an understanding as to how our pedagogical values and our personal why is the roadmap to reigniting our professional and personal spark. We will provide an interplay of theory and practice that is relevant to those working in all early learning contexts within your specific context and landscape. These ideas will be relevant and meaningful to act as a springboard for cultivating individuals to feel a sense of value and well-being.

Breakout #1 (Facilitated by Jessica Holder)

The lessons we learn from pedagogy. How can we lead with pedagogy in all that we do? 

Breakout #2 (Facilitated by Karen Eilersen)

How transforming our cultures can impact how we ALL experience workplace well-being and support recruitment and retention. 

Breakout #3 (Facilitated by Karen Eilersen):  

Connecting with outdoor play and its relationship to resilience for adults and children.

Breakout #4 (Facilitated by: Jessica Holder)

We are all leaders…now what?  How to foster well-being in a world of overload

SEPTEMBER COHORT: Nature-Based Educator Course

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. 

Register today!

This 12 month, fully online course is designed to provide participants with the theory, skills, and practicum opportunities to be equipped with the necessary skills to safely operate a Nature-Based program in many early learning settings. 

The components of this course include:

1. Online, learn at your own pace modules
2. Research-based assignments
3. Hands-on practicum requirements
4. Real-time feedback from facilitators on all course components and assignments

Full Professional Learning Day

• In-person Professional Learning Day with keynotes, breakout sessions, and documentation studies. 
• This day will provide educators with opportunities to deepen their understanding of Pedagogy, the processes of pedagogical documentation, The values of “How does learning happen?”, play based and inquiry based learning, and the role of the child, educator, environment, and materials.

Pedagogical Consultation

• As pedagogical consultants we will use protocols and leadership prompts to guide the group conversations to the desired outcomes, and support the project lead to translate this into a clear vision of mentorship for 2023 and beyond. 
• Our research based pedagogical consulting will support the project lead, “To work collaboratively with Children’s Services, the Discovery/Advisory group and child care organizations. They will build and nurture effective and collaborative networks and relationships with communities of practice, colleagues, and stakeholders to organize focus groups, gather data, develop resources, and lead collective learning communities towards the development of a strategic mentoring plan.” (Spriggs, 2023). 

Virtual Communities of Practice

• Discovery Professional Learning will use this space to foster the values, skills and dispositions of mentorship through a virtual meeting place for educators to gather and share ideas. This virtual community of practice is accessible 24/7 to all educators to ask questions and share ideas.
• A place to reconceptualize what it means to be in a community of practice. This virtual space cultivates a sense of belonging and community amongst all educators in Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent. It responds to the desires of feeling like we are a part of a bigger mission and community that is responsive to the needs of our time and context. It allows us to engage in topics meaningful and important such as diversity, equity, and inclusion and create critical spaces for thought.

Deepening Pedagogical Practices Series

• In person and virtual professional development series for all educators and leaders at Simcoe Childcare Services with a specific focus on growing pedagogical skills and understanding how our values impact our work. 

  
  

  This series is intended to grow a shared and deepened understanding of:

  1. What is Pedagogy? & Processes of pedagogical documentation,
  2. Exploring Values Driven work & Values of HDLH 
  3. Exploring Image our image of the child (and play)
  4. Exploring role of the educator, environment & materials

System wide PL day AM and PM Breakout sessions

• Our Interactive breakout sessions will allow educators to understand the “why” of nature based pedagogy and the connection it has to educators and children's mental health and resiliency. 
• We will create a space for educators to connect these ideas to their programs and How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years. We will create supporting opportunities to make connections to personal and professional values and the ways this can derive new meaning in their work, their personal well-being and belonging. 
• Topics will include: 

1. Igniting the Spark for Nature Based Learning. Understanding the why, how, and what of getting outside…Regardless of your location, budget and resources and,
2. Using environmental education to save and heal the planet. How to create an inclusive and sustainable program with children from infants to school age.

How can I be a leader while being a supervisor? - Series

• Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of virtual learning encounters. We will examine the paradigms and discourses that contribute to our beliefs around leadership in the early learning sector. Through this cyclical model participants will have the opportunity to reflect, discuss, challenge and practice new skills. 

  
  

  Topics will include: 

  1. Leading From Values and Intention and Cultivating Culture,
  2. Understanding Accountability and Compliance through the lens of Pedagogy, 
  3. Deepening our understanding of Pedagogical Leadership.

How can I be a leader while being a supervisor? Series

• Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of virtual learning encounters through a social constructivist lens. We will examine the paradigms and discourses that contribute to our beliefs around leadership in the early learning sector. We will think alongside leaders, examine new perspectives, and reflect on our aspirations in Early Years Programs. 
• Through this cyclical model participants will have the opportunity to reflect, discuss, challenge and practice new skills.
• Topics will include: 

1. Leading From Values and Intention
2. Cultivating Culture
3. Understanding accountability and Compliance
4. Pedagogical Leadership

Deepening Pedagogical Practices Series

This series is intended to grow a shared and deepened understanding of:

1. Pedagogy,
2. Processes of pedagogical documentation,
3. The values of “How does learning happen?”
4. Play based and inquiry based learning
5. The role of the child, educator, environment, and materials.

How does learning happen 101 series

• A virtual series for educators and leaders to reorient themselves with the values of HDLH and consider the ways that this can be (re)woven into our practice.
• This will create a co-constructed space for early learning to understand the foundations of the pedagogical framework and how it can derive meaning and belonging in their day to day practice as a new or second career educator. 
• This series will help leaders in their pursuits of training and supporting educators with the values of HDLH.

Virtual Professional Learning 2023 Kick Start Event

• Virtual professional learning event to cultivate relationships, community, and belonging. This event is intended to share the values and desires of the professional learning work of the 2023 year within the County of Lambton and Chatham-Kent.  We will weave in values of mentorship into the event.
• Creating spaces to understand our role in the bigger mission of professional learning and creating more livable futures through early learning professional learning encounters.

Professional Learning Day: Cultivating a culture of wellness. How do the values of HDLH and nature based education support a thriving and sustainable society?

Outdoor Winter Conference

Play-Based & Emergent Curriculum

Reigniting the Spark in Pedagogical Leadership

Tilt Toward Connection

Making Meaning of Mentorship Conference

Ongoing Mentorship Communities of Practice

Image of the Child/Image of the Educator Modules

Bringing Program Statements to life and Rethinking Annual Reviews

Ongoing Mentorship Communities of Practice

How Does Learning REALLY Happen?

How Can I Be a Leader while Being a Supervisor? (Leadership Series)

How Does Learning Happen 101

CNCP Annual Conference: Connecting with Outdoor Play and It’s Relationship with Resilience for Adults and Children

• Two hour in-person breakout session presented for their annual conference for 250-300 educators working in the Greater Toronto Area. Our breakout session will be a part of their larger goals of resilience and mental health for children and educators.
• Our focus will be on the ways that outdoor play connects to How Does Learning Happen? and connects to supporting children with moving through stress and developing resiliency.

Studying Environments - In collaboration with Ellen Brown

• In collaboration with Ellen Brown we presented a virtual study tour and examination of our Nature-Based values, ethos, and environment. We created a virtual presentation for educators to examine alternative ways that we can co-create environments with children.

My Role In Cultivating An Ecological Identity

The Why/How/What of Nature Based Pedagogy

• To cultivate a sense of confidence, competence and community among early childhood leaders in order to effectively lead a team of educators and maintain compliance within a licensed child care setting.
• Used online learning modules, virtual community of practice, thinking ally (mentoring pairs), and online discussion support groups. These groups were together on a seven-month journey to grow their skills specifically to Natured-Based Education.

Three Part Nature Based Series

• Three-part series focusing on Cultivating an Ecological Identity, Mud Kitchens, and Gardening with Children.
• These virtual, interactive workshops focused on the skills and dispositions necessary for intentional outdoor learning through storytelling, small group conversations and hands-on experiential opportunities. Participants explored what is meant by the values that drive Nature-Based pedagogy. We created conditions for educators to critically examine their spaces and consider adaptations using pedagogical tools and examine core routines for nature connection including rituals and routines that evoke Nature connection.

How Can I Be A Leader While Being A Supervisor?

• To cultivate a sense of confidence, competence and community among early childhood leaders in order to effectively lead a team of educators and maintain compliance within a licensed child care setting.
• Used online learning modules, virtual community of practice, thinking ally (mentoring pairs), and online discussion support groups. These groups are together on a seven-month journey to grow their leadership capacities.

How Does Learning Really Happen? How Do We Think About Learning

• Throughout the year, participants had the opportunity to engage in a variety of virtual learning encounters through a social constructivist lens. We examine theories, paradigms and discourses that exist within the Early Learning Sector. Through this work we held a strong image of educators that see themselves as optimistic critical thinkers.
• Comprised of online learning modules, virtual community critical dialogue, pedagogical documentation studies, and community fireside gatherings with community contributors (ie. An artist to visit our work on environments-offering in their perspectives to our work).

Skills and Dispositions for Intentional Outdoor Play

• Hybrid online community of practice with interactive modules and Zoom meetings to support educators in their pedagogical approaches to outdoor play and our roles in cultivating an ecological identity.

Navigating a Pandemic: Reimagining Our Programs in COVID Times

• Month long in person training for Discovery Child Care educators to re-enter programs after a six-month closure.
• Reimagined organization with new values, pedagogical aspirations, and regulations.

Tilt Towards Connection: Our Experiences in COVID Times

• Online community of practice hosted for educators to engage in pedagogical ways of being.
• Supported professionals as they reimagined programs through the time of COVID.

Embracing the Wonders of Winter Conference (100 Educators)

• Hosted at Discovery Child Care Centre
• Full day conference outside connecting to HOW programs can flourish outside regardless of the weather
• Key Note address
• Engaging, hands on experiences for educators

The Wonder's of Fall Conference (100 Educators)

• Hosted at Discovery Child Care Centre
• Key Note Address
• Full day four-part interactive sessions
• Connection with our Local Barrie Native Friendship Centre

Joy of Childhood Conference (100 Educators)

• Hosted at Discovery Child Care Centre
• Key Note Address
• Small-group interactive breakout sessions