Today’s episode is about how to utilize the outdoor learning spaces on your schoolgrounds in relation to our BC curriculum.  We will also discuss how school districts can support and encourage the adoption of outdoor learning routines.  To help guide our conversation we have two educators from East Kensington Outdoor Learning School or EKOlogy which is a K-5 school in the Surrey District. 
Twitter: @EKOLogy_sd36

They give some great tips on how to utilize your spaces and who you need to have "onboard" to help out.   

Alison Leslie is the Vice-Principal and K/1/2 teacher working at East Kensington Elementary Outdoor learning program in SD36.  Twitter: @Alimleslie

Cheryl is a passionate advocate for environmental stewardship in education. She has been lead teacher at East Kensington since the inception of the EKOLogy program four years ago, teaching kindergarten, grade 1 &  2. Cheryl is currently the Vice President of SEED36 (Surrey Ecological Educators of District 36) Twitter: @cherleclerc

Novelty Nature Notes:

Cheryl shared about orca whales near Saturna Island – first whale captured and brought into inner harbours so it could be studied.  The Killer Whale that Changed the World book.  

Allison shared about banana slugs and how their natural mucus has anaesthetic in it – can make your tongue go numb. Yikes! 

I shared about black bears and how they breed every other year, they can have up to 6 cubs who can stay with their moms til about 18 months old.  Their tracks have the deepest impression on the outside. This makes sense when you watch them waddle – they really sway from side to side.  Whereas most animals and humans – our weight usually falls to the inside of our bodies, rotating in.