About
When asked what I do for a living I tell folks I am a father – and, as a second career, I teach outdoor and environmental education.
I have six children, all but the oldest being girls. All time with the kids is quality time, but I do enjoy the hikes, canoe trips, winter sledding and any other outdoor activities we share.
I started teaching environmental education in 1987, spending the first 15 years working for various conservation authorities in Ontario, Canada. Since 2003, I have been the Coordinator of the Field Centres for the Peel District School Board just west of Toronto.
While outdoor and experiential environmental education may seem traditional, it is often the perfect avenue for bringing learners together. This has led me to speaking engagements with other school boards and agencies on “Why the Campfire is the Perfect 21st Century Learning Tool” and “My Niche in the Community” which blend traditional outdoor education with 21st century learning.
When not teaching youth, or adults for that matter about the world around us, I have somehow found the time to be a Scout Leader for 16 years.
My sanity project is long distance running. For decades this was accomplished through marathons (45 in total) – but once I was introduced to ultra trail running I now look at tarmac with distain and look forward to long runs on the Bruce Trail or elsewhere.
Epiphanies in Environmental Education 
Hello,
My name is Alana Sajatovic and I am a student in the Master of Teaching program at OISE, University of Toronto. A component of this degree program involves conducting a small-scale qualitative research study.
My research will focus on the integration of curriculum-related outdoor learning experiences into the teaching practices of educators in Ontario. I am interested in interviewing teachers committed to implementing outdoor learning as a means of teaching the Ontario curriculum. I am hoping to interview participants who meet the following criteria:
Participants must be involved in public or private school classroom functioning and activities on a day-to-day basis
Participants must have a minimum of 2 years of teaching experience
Participants must demonstrate a commitment to effectively and meaningfully implementing integrated outdoor learning with students
After perusing your awesome blog, I feel that your knowledge and experience would provide valuable insights into this topic. Participation in this research would involve one 45-60 minute interview, which would be audio-recorded and transcribed. Please let me know if you are interested in participating, and if you have any questions.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Alana Sajatovic