News from Groups

September 15th, 2015
For immediate release


Innovative outdoor education program launched


Moncton - The Sustainability Education Alliance of New Brunswick (SEA) is launching Great Minds Think Outside, a hands-on, curriculum-linked, outdoor professional development program for teachers and educators. 

  “This program is the first if its kind in New Brunswick. It will give the teachers and educators the skills, tools, and resources they need to teach their students outside,” said Raissa Marks, Executive Director of the New Brunswick Environmental Network.  “This program will empower youth to become leaders in building sustainable communities through learning and increased environmental awareness,”.

 The workshop sessions will be delivered by a team of highly qualified and experienced professionals from all around the province who specialize in outdoor education, nature education, and environmental education. “There are many benefits to teaching outdoors for both the students and educators. Mental and physical health and wellness improve, and disruptive behaviours have been shown to decrease significantly. Spending more time outside also develops a stronger connection with nature and leads to a more active lifestyle,” stated Roland Chiasson, one of Great Minds Think Outside’s trainers.  “Any and all learning outcomes can be met outside with hands-on creativity. Our role as trainers is to ensure the perceived barriers to teaching outside are addressed and overcome through the relevant teaching methods”. 

According to Marcy Malloy, Community School Coordinator at Cambridge-Narrows Community School, “This program is a great opportunity to maintain the bridge between the school and the community. The skills you learn when teaching and learning outdoors are reflected in your behaviours and actions outside of the classroom. This program will help develop more environmentally-conscious communities.”

Half-day and full-day professional development sessions are available. The topics include approaches of “how” to teach outside, as well as “what” to teach outside. Limited subsidies are available. For more information on Great Minds Think Outside and to book a session, visit www.nben.ca/greatminds or call 506-855-4144. 


Start the new school year on the right foot! 

Contact: 

Roland Chiasson, Aster Group Environmental Services Cooperative, 506-536-1260

Serge LaRochelle, Groupe de développement durable du pays de Cocagne, 506- 576-8247

Raissa Marks, New Brunswick Environmental Network, office: 506-855-4144, cell: 506-588-2980.