Year in Review
2022-23
This year, the Natural Curiosity team supported educators through exciting new opportunities that allowed us to expand and connect with our audience in new regions and in new ways! We are grateful for your support - thank you/miigwetch!
8,350 educators trained through our impactful workshops just this year! Read some of our programming highlights below.
AKI KINOMAAGEWINAN: ENGAGING EDUCATORS AND YOUTH IN INDIGENOUS LAND-BASED LEARNING THROUGH NATURAL CURIOSITY
Developed in partnership with ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency at the Humber Teaching Lodge, this retreat for 50+ educators centred Indigenous approaches to plant medicines and gardening.
NATIONAL E-COURSE: INTEGRATING INQUIRY AND INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES IN ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION
This 6-part e-course was attended by 78 early career and preservice teachers and early childhood educators across Canada.
NURTURING INQUIRY AND LAND-BASED LEARNING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS
This outdoor learning day for 150 ECEs working in Five Counties Children's Centre and the City of Peterborough focused on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion while connecting Natural Curiosity’s framework to Ontario’s pedagogical guidelines.
INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL INQUIRY AND INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES INTO CIS ONTARIO SCHOOLS
This 6-part professional learning course empowered over 50 educators from CIS Ontario Schools to deepen their grasp of environmental education and enhance their pedagogical skills.
FOUR SEASONS OF INDIGENOUS LEARNING: SEASON 2
With our partners from the Outdoor Learning School & Store, this 10-part professional learning course supported over 7,000 participants in strengthening their connection with the local land as part of their personal journeys toward truth and reconciliation
AN INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL CURIOSITY WEBINAR
This webinar for Scholar's Choice introduced over 1,000 new teachers across Canada and the US to Natural Curiosity's pedagogical framework and associated Indigenous lenses.
6,375+ educators reached and supported through our monthly Making the Shift newsletter
17,500+ followers and over 120,000 impressions on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms
17,923+ copies of Natural Curiosity 2nd Edition: The Importance of Indigenous Perspectives in Children's Environmental Inquiry sold
95%+ of all NC professional learning participants feel deeply inspired by our program experience, and would recommend it to their colleagues (100% of webinar participants)
Impact and Reach
38,000+ copies of Natural Curiosity 1st and 2nd editions have been distributed to educators globally, highlighting its popularity as a mentor text
35+ leading Universities and Colleges use Natural Curiosity as a course text in pre-service teacher education in Canada and around the world. Natural Curiosity has been cited in 62 academic
research publications.
2,000+ certificates have been awarded to educators
who completed our 5-part online training series on the Natural Curiosity framework.
71 educators have been recognized through Natural Curiosity's annual Awards, which provided $35,000 in funding to exemplary educators and schools, and 350+ hours of free professional learning to promising future teachers.
Created in collaboration with Indigenous educators and partners, the Natural Curiosity Program addresses a critical link between environmental and Indigenous education, supporting all educators to authentically respond to the calls to action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
Our Unique Value
To address the current challenges in education, we provide transformative professional learning for educators across Canada, to support them with integrating environmental and Indigenous education into their practice, in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation.
Our Purpose
Testimonial from a K-12 Educator
Tanya Murray (she/her)
OCT, Ontario Environmental Education, York Region Nature Collaborative, Child and Nature Alliance
About Tanya
Tanya Murray is a Curriculum Consultant who supports system leadership in Outdoor and Environmental Education K-12. She has been working with an Ontario school board for 13+ years. She champions nature connection that is accessible to all, especially in the public-school system. Tanya has taught in all divisions including a term at an Outdoor Education Centre. She is committed to amplifying all voices and leaning into the urgent need to listen, learn (unlearn) and lift the voices in conversations around our spaces including the environment.
"The professional development and conversations I was involved with repeatedly left educators wanting MORE ... [Natural Curiosity] is not a resource that will sit on a shelf, rather it will be weathered and folded from being used to align what was always meant to be connected: environmental inquiry and Indigenous ways of knowing. Congratulations on yet another outstanding resource that will set the stage for future caring environmental citizens."
Strategic Plan
2020 - 2023
Building on the success of the last 12 years, Natural Curiosity's 3-year strategic plan presents an exciting path forward. Through new and modified professional learning opportunities, Natural Curiosity continues to expand its reach with Canadian, and global, educators and deepen its impact in relationship with Indigenous partners.
Your Funding in Action
Donor Opportunities
Natural Curiosity is seeking donors interested in any or all of the following areas of concern:
Truth and Reconciliation in Education
The Integration of Indigenous Perspectives into Education
Education for Climate Change
Environmental and Science Education, Through Inquiry and Natural Curiosity
The Physical and Mental Wellbeing of Children, Facilitated by Outdoor Inquiry-Based Learning
Education Transformation and the Ongoing Improvement of Public Education
Address
45 Walmer Rd, Toronto ON M5R 2X2
Phone Number
416-934-4517
Contact Us
Thank you, chi-miigwetch, for your support.
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