Outdoor Education Program
The CPAWS Manitoba Outdoor Education Program gets kids (and adults!) outside and teaches them to appreciate the wonders of nature through games, activities and community building.
It aligns with our mission to connect people to nature by teaching Manitobans about the value and beauty of our province and its wildlife.
Outdoor education is fundamental to establishing a long-lasting connection to nature. Researchers, educators and parents alike agree that when people of any age spend time outdoors, there are immense physical, mental, social, and environmental benefits.
This flexible program was designed to be delivered by educators, by parents or by CPAWS staff and volunteers in order to accommodate pandemic-related restrictions on social gatherings. It evolved into a program that continues to serve communities across Manitoba.
More than 22,000 children and students benefitted from over 1000 CPAWS Manitoba outdoor learning workshops and activities from May 2021 to Summer 2025.
School Workshops
Daycare Workshops
Nature Fun for Daycares & Summer Camps! Get kids outside and loving nature with our playful, hands-on workshops—right in your local green space. We bring everything you need! Available to daycares in Winnipeg and nearby areas (within 50 km).
Little Kits
Join us for a fun and heartwarming workshop all about baby animals—kits, cubs, and calves! This 45-workshop nurtures empathy and curiosity through fun, hands-on activities. Ages 3-5, 45 minutes
Little Wigglers
Let’s turn “eww” into “ooh!” In this 45-minute preschool workshop, kids aged 2–5 explore the tiny world of insects through songs, movement, a scavenger hunt, and a fun nature craft. Ages 3-5, 45 minutes
Animals of Manitoba
Calling all animal lovers! Kids ages 6–12 will explore local wildlife and habitats through fun games and movement, learning about predators, prey, and how animals survive and thrive. Ages 6-12, 60 minutes
Nature Mindfulness
Kids will explore nature with a sensory scavenger hunt, learn how trees support each other, practice calming techniques, and create a forest friend to take home. Ages 6-12, 60 minutes
Field Trips
Swap desks for dirt trails and let curiosity lead the way with our hands-on Nature Discovery Field Trips, designed to get students exploring, learning, and loving the natural world.
Our Nature Discovery Field Trips are designed for students in Grades 1–8 and are linked to Manitoba curriculum goals for each grade.
This 3.5-hour adventure includes basic wilderness safety tips, movement games, a guided hike with plant and tree ID, a nature scavenger hunt, self-guided exploration, and group reflections to wrap it all up.
Students will get hands-on with awesome tools like binoculars, magnifying glasses, and field guides to help them see the natural world up close and in a whole new way.
Choose from these great locations: Bird’s Hill Provincial Park, Beaudry Provincial Park, La Barriere Park, or Assiniboine Park.
Professional Development
These professional development sessions are designed to give tangible takeaways for educators and professionals to bring the outdoors into their worlds.
We are all connected to nature, whether it's used as a mindfulness tool, a place for learning, or a reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the world around us.
Safety
All CPAWS Manitoba staff members have cleared a criminal record and
vulnerable sector background check with the Winnipeg Police Department.
CPAWS policy requires that at least one person leading programming which may involve children must be certified in first aid. This applies to staff or to volunteers.
Funders
Get Inspired to Learn Outside
Get Students Outside this Winter
“The Life of an Educator”
