Canadian Healthy Schools Alliance – National Healthy Schools Week Organization Spotlight: Take Me Outside

Name of Organization: Take Me Outside

Location: Nation-wide scope

Mission: We believe in a future where spending time outside learning, playing and exploring is a regular and significant part of every learner's day. TMO is a registered charitable organization that has been operating across Canada since 2010.

How do you support youth/students?

Take Me Outside works collaboratively with educators, schools, and partner organizations to provide resources and support to educators in this pedagogical approach to teaching. Through this work, hundreds of thousands of learners are positively impacted annually, helping to foster and develop a meaningful connection with the outdoors.

What does a Healthy School look like to your organization?

Similar to our mission, a Healthy School entails students spending consistent time outside throughout the school year. This approach to learning can result in improved health and wellbeing, becoming more engaged in environmental issues such as climate change, and addressing Reconciliation through Indigenous ways of knowing, specifically connecting with Land-based learning.

Do you offer support in-person, virtually, or both?

Both! Most of our events are virtual to increase accessibility and encourage participation regardless of location. We also offer a few in person opportunities, including the Outdoor Learning Conference; the next one will be held May 9-11th 2024 in Banff, Alberta.

How is your organization celebrating NHSW (i.e. any workplace activities planned for Oct 2-6th?)?

Free workshop on Tues Oct 3rd for educators to help encourage them to take their learners outside: "Outdoor Learning through Patterns in Nature" with educators Janice Novakowski & Megan Zeni (co-hosted with the Outdoor Learning Store).

How can schools get connected/work with you?

Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated; register for one of our free events, such as Take Me Outside Day in October each year, or the year-long TMO for Learning Challenge; purchase a school board/district outdoor learning subscription package to access more direct support and resources from a coalition of outdoor learning organizations; email us to find out more at info@takemeoutside.ca.