The Child and Nature Alliance of Canada aims to support high-quality Forest/Nature School practice and programming through evidence-based, practical, and inspiring professional learning opportunities, community building, and advocacy.
Our goal is for all children in Canada to have the opportunity to lead their play and learning on the Land as an integral part of their education and healthy development.
The Forest and Nature School Practitioners Course is a year-long certificate course that consists of both in-person outdoor, experiential learning, as well as an optional, online self-directed certification. We have been offering this course since 2012, adapting and improving it each year based on participant feedback and the ever-evolving Forest/Nature School landscape in Canada. While some things have changed, what remains consistent is our intention to offer an immersive and transformative professional learning experience with like-minded educators and the Land.
We currently offer the course in two formats:
Five consecutive days of in-person learning outside, followed by an optional 365 days of online coursework to receive certification. Please note that both the in-person and online parts of the course are required for certification. (See “Invest in Your Career” below, for more information.)
Five days of in-person learning outside (spread over two weekends, usually six to eight weeks apart), followed by an optional 365 days of online coursework to receive certification. Please note that both the in-person and online parts of the course are required for certification. (See “Invest in Your Career” below, for more information.)
We currently offer four pathways to certification:
This designation is for professionals that currently work in a regulated setting like a licensed childcare program, a school, an extra-curricular program or other program where children attend regularly.
This designation is for those interested in running independent programming, such as new private Forest/Nature School Programs.
This designation is for those working in an existing Forest/Nature based program as support to other trained professionals.
This designation is a theory-based, non-practicum certification designed for administrators who provide support to uncertified teachers to facilitate regulated nature-based programming for children within Canadian school boards.
*Please note that the in-person training is a prerequisite for completing the online coursework and receiving certification.*
Please read our Terms and Conditions in the “Frequently Asked Questions” section below.
Relationship with the Land is at the heart of what we do, and this Land is Indigenous Land.
Although many people in Canada trace the roots of “Forest/Nature School” back to the United Kingdom, and look to CNAC as a national leader in land-based learning, we acknowledge that Indigenous peoples have been learning with the Land since time immemorial.
As a white settler-founded organization that works on and benefits from stolen Land, we have appropriated and caused harm to Indigenous Peoples’ knowledges and sovereignty on this Land. We have come to understand that we cannot ethically speak of learning and connecting with the Land without telling the truth about its colonization, and honouring and centring Indigenous sovereignty as we support the development of relationships to the earth in a holistic way. We are grateful to the many Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, communities, and team members who have worked with us over the last 10 years and have supported us in deepening our understanding and responsibilities to our core values of Justice, Truth, Community, and Accountability.
The CNAC team is learning to care deeply about past, present, and future generations, and living in right-relations with ourselves, each other, and the Land. We are committed to co-creating current and future programming with Indigenous partners, so that our programming is safe, meaningful, and culturally relevant for all participants.
To that end, we endeavour to center Indigenous voices in the Practitioners Course by:
Our conversation and discussions will be guided by the Elder or Knowledge Sharer present, acknowledging that their knowledge and teachings are incredibly valuable to this work. In keeping with the Forest School approach, this course is learner-led, emergent, inquiry-driven, and playful! We explore those pedagogies, tell stories, and dive deeply into supporting risky play. We may practice “hard” skills such as firebuilding, knots and tool work depending on the needs and interests of the group. And we share practical tips, recommendations, policies, and protocols for the day to day operations of a Forest/Nature School program. Please note: We do not extensively discuss “how to start a forest school” in terms of legislation or licensing requirements, which vary from province to province, and territory to territory. We recommend that you seek your own legal counsel and guidance from an insurance professional, and many of the course assignments are designed to help you put together the documentation legal and insurance professionals (and parents!) will ask of you. As each day unfolds, we will deepen our relationships with the Land, each other and ourselves.
Quick List of Themes we Explore:
Relationship with Land and Working with the Land in your unique context
Relationship with Play
Relationship with Story
Relationship with Learning
Relationship with Power
Relationship with Trust
Relationship with Risk
Throughout the course we will hold space for conversations and experiences that bring these essential relationships to life within the context of Forest and Nature School. Some of the questions we may dive into include:
If you choose to complete the online coursework for certification, you will have 365 days from your first login on the online learning platform after your in-person training. During this time, you can engage in self-directed learning with support from peers and CNAC Facilitators in the Practitioner Community Forums, as well as optional virtual gatherings led by CNAC Facilitators. There are many resources we recommend and you will use them to complete the assignments required for certification. Please note: The number of assignments you are required to complete depends on the certification pathway you choose. See above for more information.
The assignments will prompt you to go deeper with themes introduced during your in-person, and to develop the documentation you will need to safely start and run a high-quality Forest/Nature School program. You will be encouraged to complete your assignments in whatever way feels most meaningful to you. That may mean that some assignments are written, while others are more audio/visual. It will be up to you!
Practitioners are expected to complete all course elements within the 365 days timeframe, and we encourage participants to prepare to invest 2-5 hours/week reading, reflecting, connecting with the Land, and completing coursework. Please remember, this is a learner-led, highly self-directed program, and CNAC will not be checking up on you and enforcing readings or assignment completion.
Registration for courses happens on a rolling basis. Registration is a three-step process:
Step 1: Discover Your Course & Register
Find the perfect course for you directly on our website or through our social media channels. Once you’ve made your choice, simply click the registration link to begin.
Step 2: Complete Your Registration Form
You’ll be directed to a registration page where you’ll fill out a form with some basic information and a few questions, and provide your informed consent. This form typically takes 10-20 minutes to complete. We recommend setting aside the full 20 minutes to finish it in one sitting. This will help prevent timeouts and ensure you secure your spot in the course without interruption.
Step 3: Finalize Payment & Get Started!
After completing the registration form, you’ll be prompted to complete payment for the five days of your in-person course experience.
Once your payment is processed, you’ll receive three important emails:
Important Notes:
Online Coursework & Certification – On the last day of your in-person experience, a module will become available on the online platform. This will give you the option to enroll and pay for the online coursework and certification portion of the course.
Waitlist Information – If a course is full, you’ll have the option to add yourself to a waitlist. If a spot becomes available, we’ll reach out to you. Please keep in mind that waitlist spots are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and do not carry over to the following year.
Upon registering for the course, practitioners agree that:
In-Person Training
Optional Online Certification, After Your Time on the Land
Force Majeure:
In no event shall CNAC be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that CNAC shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
All fees for the in-person training are due at the time of registration unless the participant has selected the 3-month installment payment option. In the event that you need to withdraw from the course due to unforeseen circumstances, a full refund will be issued upon request up to 12 weeks prior to the course start date. No refunds will be granted for cancellations made within 12 weeks of the course start date. Course fees are also non-transferable. In cases of extenuating circumstances, participants who cancel within this 12-week period may be offered the option to defer their enrollment to a future course within the next 12 months.
We understand that lump-sum payments may not be accessible for everyone, so we are currently exploring options to support greater accessibility. We hope to make this available in the future. We apologize for any inconvenience.
We encourage participants to carefully consider their schedules and commitments before enrolling in the online certification. Participants will have 365 days from the first login to complete coursework, and extensions are not available at this time. Please note that online certification course fees are non-refundable.
All participants who take this course will gain knowledge and skills in leading play and learning on the Land with children. After the in-person training, participants have the option of pursuing certification by choosing a designation path. They will complete an assignment package based on their designation and professional needs over 12 months. Throughout the course, participants will have opportunities to:
At this time, there are no official prerequisites for this course. This course is designed for child-focused professionals, parents and caregivers who have influence on the learning experiences of children. Whether you are starting a program at your school or childcare facility, or exploring opening your own Nature Based program, this course can help you!
A background understanding of the emergent learning process can be helpful to course participants, but is not required. This course has a flexible structure that takes learning out of the classroom and onto the Land. It’s unlike any course you’ve taken. Be prepared to learn from and be guided by the First Peoples of the Land when learning how to live in good relationship with Land.
This course is most often taken by educators and early learning professionals, but we’ve also noticed an increased attendance of homeschooling parents, outdoor enthusiasts or professional guides, recreation workers, social workers, occupational therapists and health care professionals.
Please connect with us if you’re considering attending and still have questions.
Host: CNAC
Location: Fish Creek Provincial Park [Exact Location: TBD]
Dates: October 6 – 10, 2025
Host: Hinterland Nature Worker Cooperative Limited
Dates: August 11 – 15, 2025
Host: Knowlesville Art & Nature Centre
Dates: August 18 – 22, 2025
