Annual Environmental & Sustainability Education Conference
Accelerating Climate Change Education TDSB-OISE Conference 2023
Save the Date! Planning for the 2023 fall conference in currently underway - it will be taking place at OISE on Saturday October 28, 2023. More information about the conference will be shared on this page as it becomes available. Information on last year's conference is found below.
2022 Conference
Saturday November 19, 2022
How can we re-connect with community to develop agency and resilience in a climate crisis? What can we learn from diverse voices and creative approaches to envision an equitable future for all life on this planet? This conference explores how K-12 educators and their students can help to build networks that support relationship and reciprocity to create just and sustainable communities. This free hybrid conference takes place on Saturday November 19, 2022, and will involve a keynote talk, in-person and online workshops, a luncheon, and an EcoFair. It is open to all TDSB educators & staff, members of the OISE community, as well as others in education.
This annual conference is hosted collaboratively by the TDSB’s Sustainability Office and OISE’s Sustainability & Climate Action Network.
Keynote Address:
Dr. Paul Elliott & Jacob Rodenburg - Creating a Pathway to Stewardship and Kinship: It Takes a Village
By working collaboratively, educators and other caring adults can work together to raise children who care for each other and for the Earth. The Pathway to Stewardship and Kinship is a project that strives to realize this aim. Drawing on research and Indigenous teachings, it identifies age-appropriate landmark experiences from birth to 18 that we believe all young people should have to become engaged stewards. Join Dr. Paul Elliott (Trent University), and Jacob Rodenburg (author of Big Book of Nature) as they share more about this innovative community project that provides a road map for teachers, early years’ educators, parents and other adults on how to foster healthy children for a healthy planet.
Workshops:
Building Our Roots: Learning from Youth Climate Activists - Emiko Newman and Megan Pham}
A Treaty Guide for Torontonians' Artful Activation - Ange Loft
Building Community Partnerships for Climate Justice - Allie Rougeot
Exploring Indigenous Presence and Educational Opportunities Along the Humber River - Mike Izzo
Change Agents in Classrooms: Cultivating Energy, Optimism and Allyship in the New Generations - Areej Riaz
Supporting Student-led Action for Sustainability and Climate Justice - Melanie Williams}
Grant writing for Youth-led Climate Action Projects: Keys to success - Michèle Martin
Exploring Climate Justice through Arts-based Learning - Hilary Inwood
Citizen Science - Paul Elliot
Your Better Sense of Nature - Jacob Rodenburg
Natural Curiosity: The Importance of Indigenous Perspectives in Children’s Environmental Inquiry and Climate Action in Schools - Velvet LaCasse
2021 Conference
Last year’s TDSB/OISE EcoSchools conference focused on encouraging K-12 educators to renew their courage and commitment to engaging their students in learning about climate change and sustainability. We heard from a range of inspiring and diverse voices, and learned innovative approaches and teaching strategies for engaging our schools and communities in climate change education.
Keynote Address:
Dr. Sarah Jaquette Ray: "Teaching at the End of the World: A Climate Justice Toolkit for Educators"
What does this historical moment demand of environmental educators? How can we attune our pedagogy to respond to the existential dimensions of planetary crisis and injustice for ourselves and our students? In this talk, Dr. Ray will argue that environmental education in a time of profound climate emergency must be trauma-informed, draw on wisdom traditions for resilience and interconnectedness, and embolden the psycho-social strengths of our diverse students.
Workshops:
Redefining Support For Outdoor Learning In Schools - Sylvia Denton Carryl and David Hawker-Budlovsky (TDSB)
Engaging Students On the Land in Indigenous Education - Mike Izzo (TDSB)
Environmental Racism, Justice and Sustainability in Education: Empowering Student Advocacy - Michael Giffen & Matt Webbe
From Anxiety to Agency: Transformative Pedagogies to Inspire Climate Action - Maria Vamvalis (OISE)
The Value of Inclusion and Accessibility in Environmental & Sustainability Education - David Anderson (York University)
Planet, People, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships: Teaching through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - Pamela Gibson (LSF)
Mapping Climate, Equity and K-12 Environmental Education Programs - Helen Toledo (EcoRise)
Nature-Based Mindfulness - Helen Gault and Angela Ventrice (Mindfulness Everyday)
Past Conferences
Climate of Change: Environmental Education in Action - February 2017
Health, Wellness & Sustainability - January 2018
Engaging with EcoJustice - October 2018
A New Climate: Climate Action in Our Classrooms - October 2019
Exploring the Nature of Cities (national conference) - April 2021
Climate Courage: Educators Addressing the Climate Crisis - October 2021
