Pine & Ponder Outdoors.
Nature journaling workshops for K–12 schools, educators, and community groups across Ontario, led by a Certified Nature Journaling Educator
The brief.
Pine & Ponder Outdoors is a travelling nature-journaling education practice based in Ontario and founded by Billie Jo Reid, a Certified Nature Journaling Educator with ORCKA Canadian Style Paddling and Canoe Tripping Instructor Level II certifications and a postgraduate diploma in Adventure Tourism Management from Sir Sandford Fleming College. The practice delivers K–12 school programs, full-day educator professional development, and community workshops at client schools and partner sites including Orangeville Public Library, Mill Creek Park, and Riverwood Conservancy in Mississauga. Pine & Ponder Outdoors is an official vendor with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic and Simcoe County District school boards and a facilitator for Project WILD, Below ZERO, and Project WET Canada. Public workshop series run June through August 2026.
6. ways in.
- 01
Professional Development Workshop
For: Formal and informal educators (schools, nature centres, outdoor education programs)When: Contact for detailsFull-day professional development for classroom teachers, nature-centre staff, and outdoor educators that grounds nature journaling in observation, documentation, and reflection, then maps it across science, language arts, math, and social studies. Sessions incorporate Project WILD, Below ZERO, and Project WET Canada material — three programs the founder formally facilitates and coordinates.
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- 02
Community Nature Journaling Workshop
For: Beginners and adults deepening an existing practice; high school groups availableWhen: Contact for detailsA full-day "Getting Started On Your Nature Journaling Journey" workshop covering observation basics, journaling techniques, creative translation methods, and how to push past creative blocks into a personalized practice, with high school class formats available on request.
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- 03
School Programs — Intro to Nature Journaling (K–8)
For: Grades K–8 school classesWhen: Contact for detailsA K–8 introduction to nature journaling delivered in-person on school grounds or as a virtual session, sitting alongside ten other named school programs in the catalogue. Booked through Pine & Ponder's vendor relationships with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic, Simcoe County, Upper Grand, and Peel district school boards.
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- 04
School Programs — Nature Inquiry Series (Gr. 4–8)
For: Grades 4–8 school classesWhen: Contact for detailsA multi-session inquiry-based nature journaling series for grades 4–8, built to support cross-curricular learning across observation, recording, and reflection. Delivered through the same school board vendor channels as the Intro program.
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- 05
School Programs — Thematic K–6 Workshops
For: Specific K–6 grade bands per programWhen: Contact for detailsSeven curriculum-themed workshops mapped to specific grade bands: Shapes in Nature (K–2), Micro-Habitat Explorers (Gr. 1–4), Mapping & Sensory (Gr. 1+), Plants & Pollinators (Gr. 2–4), Surviving in Nature (Gr. 2), Seeds and Decomposers (Gr. 3), and Biodiversity & Ecosystem Study (Gr. 6). Each session uses nature journaling as the entry point into a science or environmental-studies unit.
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- 06
Speaking Engagements & Mini Workshops
For: Schools, libraries, environmental orgs, corporate wellness, community groups, conferencesWhen: Contact for detailsCustomizable 30-minute to 2-hour sessions introducing nature journaling and how to get started, sized for schools, libraries, environmental organizations, corporate wellness events, community groups, and nature conferences.
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Worth knowing.
- 01Founded and led by Billie Jo Reid, a Certified Nature Journaling EducatorSource ↗
- 02Official vendor with Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) and Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB); also delivering with Upper Grand DSB (UGDSB) and Peel DSB (PDSB)Source ↗
- 03Founder holds ORCKA Canadian Style Paddling Instructor Level II and Canoe Tripping Instructor Level II certificationsSource ↗
- 04Founder holds a Diploma in Parks and Forest Recreation and a Postgraduate Diploma in Adventure Tourism Management from Sir Sandford Fleming CollegeSource ↗
- 05Founder is National Coordinator for Program and Delivery with Project WET Canada and a facilitator for Project WILD and Below ZEROSource ↗
- 06Founder is an instructor and moderator with the Wild Wonder Foundation and has co-led nature journaling safaris in Tanzania with John (Jack) Muir LawsSource ↗
- 0711 named school programs available across grades K–12, ranging from broad intros to themed units like Plants & Pollinators (Gr. 2–4) and Biodiversity & Ecosystem Study (Gr. 6)Source ↗
- 08Public Family and Adult Nature Journaling workshop series run monthly June through August 2026 at Orangeville Public Library with walks to Mill Creek ParkSource ↗
- 09Project WILD educator workshop scheduled June 27, 2026 at Riverwood Conservancy in MississaugaSource ↗