The CIS Ontario Experiential Educators Network Celebrates and Looks Forward...

As the end of the academic year fast approaches our CIS Ontario Experiential Educators Network is busily preparing for the coming year’s exciting offerings and celebrating what we were able to do this year:

• 73% of our schools were able to execute full grade team building retreats or camps,
• 2-3 night (54%) and 3-7 night (36%) overnight outdoor education programs and
• 73% were able to bring back some form of domestic tour-based travel experience!

Many of us have shifted programming virtually and have found more equitable inroads to bringing global voices into our schools. And we are not done yet – a few schools will be sending their keen students to the upcoming international Round Square conference. 

Looking towards next year our optimism is high as the chart below indicates.

Also exciting, the EEN Conference will be returning October 2022 (fingers-crossed for in-person). The theme for the conference will be Experiential Learning through the lens of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice. What do we need to learn, know and do as experiential educators to ensure everyone is reflected in the programming, safe on the excursion and considered in the overall objectives? Please complete our survey here so we can tailor the experience to those wishing to attend.

Finally, this June 2022 we will be saying a farewell to one of our own – Louise Melville, St. Clements School, Coordinator of Experiential Learning, Geography Teacher, Round Square Representative, who will be stepping down from her position on the committee. Louise was a co-founder and co-leader of this committee for the past 10 years. She has been a constant champion for experience- based programs and risk and safety management over her 16 years at SCS! It is largely due to her tireless effort as a consultant and trainer that we have been able to streamline our risk and safety processes across the CIS Ontario network and it is due to her vision that we come together for a conference annually. This is a beautiful legacy to leave, one that we will continue to convene together even after she moves along. Thank you Louise for all you have done. We wish you all the best on your new adventures.