From Headwaters to the Classroom: Rockies Educator Professional Development
Since time immemorial, water has connected us all. It flows and cycles across ecosystems and between communities, from coast to coast.
As the headwaters for much of the freshwater resources across Turtle Island, the Canadian Rockies serve as the ideal living classroom for examining the relationships that connect us to one another. This immersive professional development program brings together educators from all grade levels and subject matters, exploring water through an interdisciplinary lens. Over the course of 5 days and 4 nights, we will blend outdoor learning, Indigenous perspectives, environmental science and creative arts.
Educators will gain hands-on experience, learn from Stoney Elders and Knowledge Holders, glaciologists, environmental educators, and community leaders. Join us in the mountains to discover how land-based learning and real-world applications can transform student engagement across disciplines.
Please note that participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to Calgary/Kananaskis. A shuttle will be provided to/from Calgary Airport.
Overview
Dates:
Cost:
Duration:
Start/End Point:
Apr 16-20,
2027
$1,700 + GST
5 days
Calgary/
Kananaskis
Program highlights
All of our programs and the activities within are built around our four key teachings: Personal Resilience, Truth and ReconciliAction, Climate Action, and Community Building.
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Land-based learning naturally fosters well-being, mindfulness, and personal connection. The Rockies Educator PD Program is an opportunity for teachers to slow down, connect, reflect, and to put into practice the teachings that they can share with their students.
Through arts based methodology as well as guided personal reflection, gain confidence embracing creative approaches to teaching. Everyone has a creative spark and a story to tell. This program will offer you a dedicated space to strengthen the light they carry.
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Water – or mînî in the Stoney language – has deep cultural, spiritual, and historical significance. Learn from Stoney Elders and Knowledge Holders about the headwaters, Indigenous stewardship, and the relational importance of water.
Trace the journey of water from the glaciers downstream to Lake Minnewanka and Mînî Thnî and develop an authentic framework for weaving two-eyed seeing and reconciliation into the classroom.
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The Canadian Rockies are at the front lines of mountain environmental change, and perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in the changing glaciers.
Collaborating alongside local environmental educators and researchers, participants will have the opportunity to learn about and participate in ongoing research and study.
Gain direct insight into shifting snowpack patterns, glacial retreat, and evolving mountain weather patterns, equipping you with current scientific data and inquiry methods.
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Empower students to become active stewards through hands-on action projects and service learning. We will use the program itself as an active model for demonstrating how you can integrate citizen science and service learning into the classroom through projects like watershed monitoring and environmental stewardship projects.
Howl x Royal Roads Microcredential:
Land-based Community Leadership for ReconciliAction
Co-designed in partnership with the Resilience by Design Lab at Royal Roads University, the Land-based Community Leadership for ReconciliAction microcredential is a pathway for participants to gain post-secondary recognition for the knowledge and skills they develop during this Howl program.
Through the hands-on experiences alongside Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Holders, environmental and outdoor educators, climate scientists and activists, wellness practitioners, and local community leaders, participants grow competencies within the areas of our core teachings.
Development of these competencies is assessed by Howl staff in two ways:
During Howl programming: Participants will be guided through group and personal reflection activities that encourage them to explore, analyze, and discuss their experiences. In debriefing these reflections with Howl staff, we discuss lessons learned and look for an understanding of how participants can apply these learnings in their own lives and communities.
Capstone presentation: After completing a Howl program, participants provide evidence and a narrative of how they have achieved learning outcomes within each of the core teachings through a virtual presentation to a Howl staff member. This presentation may take the form of a video, art, song, powerpoint, interpretive dance, poem, or other medium. We encourage creativity in how youth share the story of their learning journey.
Completing the Land-based Community Leadership for ReconciliAction microcredential is optional for participants. Learn more about the microcredential here.
Frequently asked questions
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This program costs $1700 + 5% GST per person. Participants are required to arrange and pay for their own transportation to the program start location (Calgary/Kananaskis).
This program fee covers all on-program costs, including meals, accommodation, ground transportation, and on-program activities.
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Participants are responsible for arranging and paying for their own transportation to and from the program start location. This program begins/ends in Calgary/Kananaskis. If flying, please plan to arrive at the Calgary airport no later than 3:00 PM on April 16 and depart Calgary anytime after 2:00 PM on April 20.
For any participants who are planning on driving themselves, please plan to arrive at the Barrier Lake Field Station on April 16 between 4:00 and 5:00 PM. There will also be a shuttle available for folks from the Crowfoot LRT.
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The Barrier Lake Field Station provides a stunning location for research, teaching, conference and workshop facilities. It will be our basecamp for this program.
The facilities include a spacious community hall, dorm-style accommodations, indoor and outdoor classrooms, and diverse hiking trails.
Program team
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Mark joins Howl as the new high school program coordinator making the transition from teaching after over a decade of working in the public education system in Saskatchewan. He grew up in the National Capital Region (Ottawa) on un-ceded Anishinabe Algonquin territory. Mark holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Ottawa. As a teacher, Mark saw the tremendous benefits that land-based learning practices and opportunities had on his students and himself. The opportunity to be on the land and learn from Indigenous knowledge holders influenced Mark to seek out more ways to incorporate land-based learning along with Indigenous Ways of Knowing and two-eyed seeing into his professional practice. Mark has long-held a passion for the outdoors and more specifically a strong pull toward the mountains. Mark sees HOWL's high school programs as an opportunity for youth to find connection through land-based learning experiences while navigating their own personal path. Mark enjoys spending time on outdoor adventures with his family, sipping a good cup of coffee, and baking a mean apple crisp. You might also find him running for hours on single-track trails with big climbs and exhilarating descents or in a camp chair by a good fire.
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Morgan Paul (she/her) is a dedicated Métis educator based in Calgary, Alberta, with deep roots stretching back to her Red River Métis family in Manitoba. With an educator background that spans the K-12 spectrum, Morgan has intentionally spent time in the classroom fostering environments where every student feels a genuine sense of safety and belonging. She is particularly passionate about working alongside youth and creating environments where they feel heard, seen, and valued. Morgan finds immense joy in supporting others' dreams and sharing new perspectives and knowledge that help them navigate their own unique paths.
Driven by a desire to explore alternative learning environments, Morgan recently transitioned from traditional classroom teaching to focus on the healing and growth that occurs when education is rooted in the land and community. She aims to create meaningful opportunities for participants to connect with the outdoors, encouraging them to foster a bond with both their local community and the broader environmental ecosystem.
Guided by foundational values of respect and service, Morgan is currently channeling her energy and enthusiasm into her role with The Howl Experience. Outside of her professional life, Morgan stays grounded through her own creative and physical pursuits. She loves spending her free time creating art pieces through beading and sewing, and showing up for the people in her community. Most days, she can be found getting outside within nature and exploring the world with her new dog, Winnie.
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Gracie Jackson is the Manager of Indigenous Youth Pathways for The Howl Experience and a proud Indigenous woman with deep roots in the Iyarhe Nakoda Nation of Mini Thni, where she was raised on reserve and remains deeply connected to the land, mountains, culture, and community that shaped her. On her maternal side, Gracie is also connected to the Blackfoot Confederacy through her Kainai (Blood Tribe) family, grounding her identity in strong Indigenous traditions and kinship networks. Family is at the heart of everything Gracie does. As a wife and mother, she also has ties to the Northern Cree community of Whitefish Lake First Nation #128, strengthening her connections across Nations. Growing up on reserve, Gracie witnessed both the impacts of intergenerational trauma and the resilience, strength, and beauty of her people. These lived experiences have shaped her commitment to advocacy, education, and ensuring Indigenous voices are meaningfully included in decision-making processes not as an afterthought, but as leaders, knowledge holders, and partners. From the age of five, Gracie was immersed in the world of horses and competitive rodeo, developing discipline, determination, and a strong connection to the land. Today, she brings extensive experience in facilitation, program coordination, and program design, creating opportunities that empower Indigenous youth to thrive. Gracie is a passionate advocate for Indigenous peoples and is dedicated to supporting the next generation of leaders through cultural awareness, cultural understanding, land stewardship, and community-based learning. She is committed to continuously learning the history of her people and inspiring Indigenous youth to reconnect with culture, identity, and the land. Her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit have been recognized through her studies at the University of British Columbia, where she earned her Indigenous Business Management and received recognition for the Top Capstone Project. Gracie is known for her thoughtful leadership style one that prioritizes listening, observing, and understanding before taking action. Through her work, Gracie continues to be a strong voice for Indigenous youth, helping create pathways that honour culture, strengthen communities, and support future generations in achieving their full potential.
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