PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
For Educators, Childcare Providers & Parents
As a lead designer and facilitator of professional development workshops, Pete has worked with school boards and child-care centers across Ontario, including the Toronto District School Board, Upper Grand District School Board and Matawa Education. Pete provides engaging and accessible workshops that equip educators with field-tested activities and approaches that can be applied to any outdoor space.
Trainings offered
HEALTHY RISK TAKING
What is the difference between “as safe as necessary” and “as safe as possible”? How can we encourage the benefits of risk while accounting for real and present hazards? How can we get parents, administration and colleagues on board?
We’ll review concrete and easy-to-implement tools for addressing the above questions based on the circumstances of your learning environment. We’ll explore games, activities and introduce prompts that can support engagement, skill development and confidence.
LOOSE PARTS
Loose parts are objects that can be used an infinite number of ways while bringing rich, hands-on and experiential learning to any space.
Why are loose parts important? How can loose parts be acquired? What types of loose parts should we prioritize? Where can we store them? What types of activities can we do?
We’ll explore these questions and more while working to help you build a robust loose parts practice that can be incoprorated into daily routines.
PLACE-BASED LEARNING
How can we create meaningful, memorable connections between young people and the natural in their communities? How can we build lasting relationships that will translate to care and empathy as they grow?
Through games, daily routines, immersive activities and inpsiring pedagogical approaches, we’ll expand your teams’ place-based toolbelt and support local nature connection in your community.
LEARNING IN ALL SEASONS
We can’t support quality outdoor learning in the cold seasons if we ourselves are uncomfortable or unprepared!
We’ll explore strategies for maximizing educator and child comfort in the cold seasons, tools for supporting as safe as necessary winter learning, approaches for getting parents onboard and Pete’s favourite, tried and tested winter activities.
Booking & Consultation
Please contact pdemakos [at] gmail.com to set-up a virtual consultation!