Welcome to our interactive field trip to the UBC Orchard Garden!

A big welcome to everyone participating in the Children & Nature Network Conference 2017 field trip to the UBC Orchard Garden for our interactive workshop, Nature Connection Through Outdoor Learning Gardens for All: Diversity and Inclusion. Here is the program description of our workshop:

By their nature, gardens embody diversity. This field trip explores the cultural significance and value of learning gardens for diverse communities in restoring and reclaiming their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and resilience through stories, myths, nature connection, and practical examples. This on-site workshop will engage participants in dynamic, creative, community garden-based learning at the UBC Orchard Garden. Participants will leave with actionable strategies and inspiration for initiating community-collaborative, inclusive learning gardens. This workshop features garden researcher/practitioners bringing indigenous, multicultural, and urban perspectives from four different learning gardens in the Pacific Northwest. Participants will: (a) share cultural stories of hands-on engagement with garden-based learning; (b) practice the art of poem-making and cordage with the use of harvested site materials; and (c) use patterns from nature to capture permaculture-inspired wild design activities. Dress for the outdoors. An herbal tea will be served.

Four of us in garden-based learning from the Cascadia/ Pacific Northwest region are co-presenting this workshop on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 19: Marna Hauk, Dilafruz Williams and Judy Bluehorse Skelton from Portland, Oregon, and Susan Gerofsky from Vancouver, BC.  You can read our bios here.

Here is a map from the Westin Bayshore conference site to the Orchard Garden (at 261



3 West Mall, Vancouver, BC on the UBC campus).

Looking forward to meeting you and to an exciting workshop together!