PD Corner

Congratulations on your acceptance to Inside Education’s Professional Development Program!! Here are all the details you need to help you plan for this one-of-a-kind learning adventure that will inform and inspire your teaching! Please keep your eye on your inbox for further information, but you can bookmark this page and it will be updated as we get closer to the program dates! 

DATES, TIMES & LOCATION

Program Start: Monday, July 6th - 10:00 am - Red Deer Resort & Casino, Red Deer, Alberta
Program End: Friday, July 10 - 4:00 pm - Red Deer Resort & Casino, Red Deer, Alberta

 **Inside Education will cover all program costs including meals and accommodations during the program.

THE PROGRAM
We have been busy working with some amazing experts in the region to ensure the program provides a comprehensive look at sustainability in southern Alberta. 

Check out our *UPDATED* detailed program schedule here! You’ll see a mix of speaker presentations, tours, and workshops. The goal is to introduce you to what conservation agriculture looks like, with a focus on dry land and irrigated agriculture. We’ll be hearing from researchers, producers, and industry experts. Our program is still being finalized, so while you can expect the start and end times to stay the same, you may see some slight changes as we work out travel details and speaker confirmations. Most of our tours are outside, so please be ready with close-toed shoes, and dress for unpredictable weather! 

TRAVEL INFORMATION
During the program, we will be lounging in style in a coach touring bus! There may be some longer travel times, so feel free to bring books, ear buds, or your favorite knitting (we see you, crafty teachers!) for the bus. The bus times are often a great chance to connect and chat with fellow participants, but also a nice way to passively process all the things you’ve learned! 

Participants are responsible for coordinating their own travel to and from Red Deer. Traveling over 150 km to get to the program? Click the button below to learn how to claim a travvel subsidy to help offset costs - he subsidy can be used towards flights, car rentals, buses, taxis, and/or shuttles. 

Please review our travel subsidy policy for more information

 NOTE: *You must participate in the full program to receive the subsidy, with reimbursement provided after the program is complete.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Inside Education will provide accommodations for the program, including the night of July 5th, if required for those traveling from out of town. We will be staying at hotels across Alberta and the detailed hotel information will be posted here once it is available.

June 6:  Red Deer Resort & Casino 3310 50 Ave, Red Deer
June 7:  Sure Stay Plus by Best Western, Drumheller
June 8-9 : Sandman Hotel Lethbridge
June 10:  no hotel - end of program

We will be staying in same-gender double occupancy rooms and have limited ability to provide single rooms. If you are sharing a room, you will be introduced to your room mate before we check in to the first hotel, and you will have that room mate the entire trip. However, we know that some folks are night owls and some folks are early birds, so please talk to a staff member on the trip if you find you and your room mate are not compatible. 

FOOD
Inside Education will provide all meals starting with a mid-morning snack on Monday, July 6 through to and including lunch on Friday, July 10. You are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle and coffee mug. Since we are traveling through some rural parts of Alberta, not all hotels or caterers may be able to accommodate specific dietary preferences or allergies and it can be difficult to find safe, allergen-free places to eat. If that is the case, Inside Education staff will connect with you before the program begins to discuss risks at certain venues and what food options will be available to you. 

 
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Click here to see a General Packing List!

• We expect that participants will travel with the group and attend the full program from start to finish, so please plan accordingly.
• Make sure you know when/where to meet the Inside Education team.
• Pack comfort items for the bus and for the hotel - including a swimsuit or gym gear if you want! 
• Have an easily accessible day pack with everything you need it in for a successful day in the field; this program runs rain or shine, so be prepared for 30C and also rain! 
• We do our best to create a program that allows some down time in the evenings, but we cannot always control traffic, quick dinner service, or any other barriers that might delay our program. Please prepare for long days.
• Make sure to prepare for allergies; our agriculture tours often put us in pollen-laden fields, dusty indoor facilities, and near animals. 
• Pack your smile and your suitcase! Check out the helpful packing list above for some key things you might want to have with you!

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

Inside Education is happy to help out and answer any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 403-263-7720 or contact the participant coordinator Jayme at [email protected]  or 587-224-5063. 

We can’t wait to welcome you to the 2026 Roots, Ranches & Rivers Summer Institute!

The Inside Education Team, 

Jayme, Kat, and Kathryn

Congratulations on your acceptance to Inside Education’s Professional Development Program! Here are all the details you need to help you plan for this one-of-a-kind learning adventure that will inform and inspire your teaching! Please keep your eye on your inbox for further information, but you can bookmark this page and it will be updated as we get closer to the program dates!

DATES, TIMES & LOCATION

Program Start: Monday, August 24th - 12:30 pm - The Westin (320 4 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 2S6)
Program End: Tuesday, August 25th - 10:00 pm - The Westin (320 4 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 2S6)  

*Rooms will be booked the night of the 25th, with checkout the morning of Wednesday, August 26th. 

 **Inside Education will cover all program costs including meals and accommodations during the program.

THE PROGRAM

Check out our detailed program schedule here! You’ll see a mix of speaker presentations, tours, and workshops. 

Our goal is to provide you with a strong foundation in Alberta’s energy sector while creating opportunities to connect with like-minded educators and engage with industry experts. Throughout the program, you’ll have opportunities to fine tune your project plan, gain valuable insights into project execution, and learn tips and strategies to help ensure a successful project.

Our program is still being finalized, so while you can expect the start and end times to stay the same, you may see some slight changes as we work out travel details and speaker confirmations. Some of our tours may be outside, so please be ready with close-toed shoes, and dress for unpredictable weather! 

2026 A+ for Energy PD Schedule

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Participants are responsible for coordinating their own travel to and from Calgary. Traveling over 150 km to get to the program? Click the link below to learn how to claim a travel subsidy to help offset costs - the subsidy can be used towards flights, car rentals, buses, taxis, and/or shuttles. 

Please review our travel subsidy policy for more information

NOTE: You must participate in the full program to receive the subsidy, with reimbursement provided after the program is complete.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Inside Education will provide accommodations for the program, including the night of August 23rd, if required for those traveling 4+ hours out of town. We will be staying at the Westin in downtown Calgary for the duration of the program (320 4 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2P 2S6)

We will be staying in same-gender double occupancy rooms and have limited ability to provide single rooms. If you are sharing a room, you will be introduced to your room mate before we check in to the first hotel, and you will have that room mate the entire program. 

FOOD

Inside Education will provide all meals starting with dinner on Monday, August 24th through to dinner on Tuesday, August 25th. You are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle and coffee mug. If you require specific dietary preferences or have allergies, Inside Education staff will discuss what food options will be available to you. 

 
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Click here to see a General Packing List!

• We expect that participants will travel with the group and attend the full program from start to finish, so please plan accordingly.
• Make sure you know when/where to meet the Inside Education team.
• Pack comfort items for the hotel - including a swimsuit or gym gear if you want! If you are participating in our wellness activities, please be sure to bring active wear/comfortable clothing.
• Pack your smile and your suitcase! Check out the helpful packing list above for some key things you might want to have with you!

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

Inside Education is happy to help out and answer any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 780-421-1497 or contact the program coordinator Ilana at [email protected]

We can’t wait to welcome you to the 20th anniversary A+ for Energy PD!

The Inside Education Team, 

Ilana, Jayme, and Kathryn

Careers in Energy | December 4-6, 2025

Thank you for joining us on the Careers in Energy PD! We hope it inspired your teaching and planted some new ideas on how to bring natural resources & career education to life in your classroom. Here are a few of the follow up details we promised you to help keep the momentum of the tour going.

We value your feedback and would really like to hear what you thought of the program. If you haven’t done so already please complete the post-program survey – it will only take a few moments and goes a long way to help us improve and ensure these programs are available in the future. 

Contact Lists

We’ve put together the contact information of our speakers and program partners and have sent them to you in an email. A quick thank you note, possibly noting some of your highlights over the tour, goes a long way towards making these types of programs possible! We’d ask if you could take a few moments and let them know what you thought of the program. 

Classroom Resources and Program Information

Check out this link for some resources mentioned during the program, and a few extra! Can’t remember everything we did? Check out the Detailed Schedule here. We hope you enjoy taking a look back at the program though this Flikr Photo Album - feel free to comment and add your own photos as well! 

Travel Subsidy

For those traveling greater than 150 km, Inside Education has a travel subsidy of up to $500 to help offset the costs of travel - the subsidy can be used towards flights, car rentals, taxis, and/or shuttles. Travel subsidies must be approved, so please review our 2025 Subsidy Policy for more information!

NOTE:
*You must participate in the full program to receive the subsidy.

Stay in touch! 

We love to see photos and posts on social media (Facebook, X, Instagram  - @insideeducation) and we love to see what you’re up to over the school year too! If you have any questions about what we learned, who to connect with, or other ways we can support you, you can reach out to Ilana at [email protected]

Thanks for an amazing program!

Agriculture in the Parkland Teacher PD

Congratulations on your acceptance to Inside Education’s Professional Development Program. Here are all the details you need to help you plan for this one-of-a-kind learning adventure that will inform and inspire your teaching! 

DATES, TIMES, & LOCATION
May 1-3, 2025

Program Start: Thursday, May 1, 10:00 am
Meet at the Sandman Hotel Red Deer (2818 Gaetz Ave, Red Deer, AB) to board the bus. The bus will be rolling at 10:15 am. Participants will be able to leave their vehicles at the Sandman for the duration of the program, at no charge.  

Program End: Saturday, May 3, 2025 - 4:30 pm -  Sandman Hotel Red Deer (2818 Gaetz Ave, Red Deer, AB)

*Inside Education will cover all program costs, including meals and accommodations.

THE PROGRAM
Check out our *UPDATED* detailed program schedule here! You’ll see a mix of speaker presentations, tours, and workshops. The goal is to introduce you to what sustainable agriculture looks like in the Parkland Region, hearing from researchers, producers, and industry experts. We are also very fortunate to be traveling to the Altario Agriculture Academy, a small school with a big story! We’ll hear from teachers and students on how they went from a tulip garden in the old outdoor hockey rink to building an academy that unites core subject classes with agriculture education. And we might get to pet some pigs as we listen too! 

Our program is still being finalized, so while you can expect the start and end times to stay the same, you may see some slight changes as we work out travel details and speaker confirmations. Most of our tours are outside, so please be ready with close-toed shoes, and dress for spring-in-Alberta weather! 

TRAVEL INFORMATION
During the program, we will be lounging in style in a coach touring bus! There may be some longer travel times, so feel free to bring books, ear buds, or your favorite knitting (we see you, crafty teachers!) for the bus. The bus times are often a great chance to connect and chat with fellow participants, but also a nice way to passively process all the things you’ve learned! 

Participants are responsible for coordinating their own travel to and from Red Deer. Traveling over 150 km to get to the program? See the next section to learn about mileage subsidies. 

SUPPLY TEACHER AND TRAVEL SUBSIDIES
We recognize it’s tricky to take time off and travel for teacher professional development, so we are offering subsidies to help offset costs. All classroom teachers qualify for the Supply Teacher subsidy.  If you want to claim a mileage subsidy, you must email Laura Pekkola in advance of the program and have your travel approved.  We can only cover the Supply Teacher Subsidy or the Travel Subsidy - not both. Check out our subsidy policy to learn about to submit your receipts for reimbursement and for Laura’s contact information. 

NOTE: *You must participate in the full program to receive subsidies, with reimbursement provided after the program is complete.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Inside Education will provide all accommodations. We will be staying in same-gender double occupancy rooms, but we may be able to accommodate a single occupancy room if required. When you confirm your attendance, there will be an opportunity for you to share your preference. 

May 1: The Sandman Hotel in Red Deer (indoor pool and fitness centre)
May 2: The Golden Prairie Lodge in Consort

FOOD
Inside Education will provide all meals starting with refreshments on Thursday, May 1  and ending with lunch on the 3rd. You are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle and coffee mug. Since we are traveling through some rural parts of Alberta, not all hotels or caterers may be able to accommodate specific dietary preferences or allergies. We still do everything to be creative and accommodate dietary restrictions, so please be sure to indicate your food preferences on the participant details form.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Pack your smile and your suitcase! Check out this generalized packing list for some key things you might want to have with you - we program rain or shine with the exception of unsafe conditions. Having a small day pack for on the bus is very helpful to keep track of all your warm gear and any comfort items. We expect that participants will travel with the group and attend the full program from start to finish, so please plan accordingly. 

You can also check out the Teacher PD section of our FAQ page for more!

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

Inside Education is happy to help out and answer any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 780-421-1497 or email Laura Pekkola at [email protected]

We’ll see you soon! 

 ~ The Agriculture PD Team

Forestry Teacher PD for B.Ed Students and Beginning Teachers!

DATES, TIMES, & LOCATION
September 26-28, 2024

POST-PROGRAM
Thank you, everyone, for an amazing PD program! Here’s the program schedule for posterity, and all post-program information has been sent via email. 

Connecting to the Land 

Thank you for joining Inside Education and HOWL on our Connecting to the Land professional development program! It was a remarkable experience to have such passionate and engaged educators come together to share ideas, stories and support land-based teaching and learning. We hope you gained new knowledge and networks and found this to be a meaningful personal and professional development opportunity.

Program Survey and Thank you’s:

We value your feedback and would really like to hear what you thought of the program. If you haven’t done so already please complete the post-program survey – it will only take a few moments and goes a long way to help us improve and ensure these programs are available in the future. Inside Education directed support from our program partners to cover the costs of the program, a note from you goes a long way to reminding our partners the value of these programs, we have shared their contact details in follow-up email.

Travel/Supply Teacher Subsidy Information:

In an effort to remove barriers to participation in our programs, Inside Education is happy to provide a travel or supply teacher teacher subsidy for participants. Please review our subsidy policy here to find out how to claim your subsidy.

Keep in Touch!

We love to see photos on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @insideeducation), and hear how this experience is shaping your teaching so please reach out us at any time! You can also check out our photos of the program in this shared Google Photo Album - feel free to comment and add your own photos as well!

Thank you for attending, and for your continued dedication to environmental education. We hope to see you on another program soon!

Jayme, Adam, Leah, & Kathryn

Grasslands Summer Institute - July 2-5, 2024

Thank you for joining us at the Grasslands Summer Institute! We hope it inspired your teaching and planted some new ideas on how to bring natural resources education to life in your classroom. Here are a few of the follow up details we promised you to help keep the momentum of the tour going.

We value your feedback and would really like to hear what you thought of the program. If you haven’t done so already please complete the post-program survey – it will only take a few moments and goes a long way to help us improve and ensure these programs are available in the future. 

Contact Lists

We’ve put together the contact information of our speakers and program partners and have sent them to you in an email. A quick thank you note, possibly noting some of your highlights over the tour, goes a long way towards making these types of programs possible! We’d ask if you could take a few moments and let them know what you thought of the program. 

Classroom Resources and Program Information

Check out our Shared Folder of Resources, included those mentioned on the program, and a few extra! Can’t remember everything we did? Check out the Grasslands Detailed Schedule here. We hope you enjoy taking a look back at the program though this Google Photo Album - feel free to comment and add your own photos as well! And take another look at our wrap-up video!

Travel Subsidy

For those traveling greater than 150 km, Inside Education has a travel subsidy of up to $500 to help offset the costs of travel - the subsidy can be used towards flights, car rentals, taxis, and/or shuttles. Travel subsidies must be approved, so please review our 2024 Subsidy Policy - Inside Education for more information!

NOTE:
*You must participate in the full program to receive the subsidy.

Stay in touch! 

We love to see photos and posts on social media (Facebook, X, Instagram  - @insideeducation) and we love to see what you’re up to over the school year too! If you have any questions about what we learned, who to connect with, or other ways we can support you, you can reach out to Jayme Nelson jnelson [at] insideeducation.ca

Thanks for an amazing adventure! 

~ Jayme, Kat, Dan, and Braeden

If you are looking for information/resources/contacts from past professional development programs, please email Natalie at [email protected] 

Congratulations on your acceptance to Inside Education’s Professional Development Program. Here are all the details you need to help you plan for this one-of-a-kind learning adventure that will inform and inspire your teaching! 

DATES, TIMES, & LOCATION
July 2-6, 2025

Program Start: Wednesday July 2, 10:00 am
Meet at Thelma Chalifoux School (2781 43a Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6T 1G7) for the PD program kick off! Cars will be left in the school parking lot for the duration of the program.

Program End: Sunday July 6 2025 - ~3 pm -  Thelma Chalifoux School (2781 43a Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6T 1G7)

*Inside Education will cover all program costs, including meals and accommodations.

TRAVEL INFORMATION
During the program, we will be lounging in style in a coach touring bus! There will be some long travel times, so feel free to bring books, ear buds, or your favorite knitting (we see you, crafty teachers!) for the bus. The bus rides are often a great chance to connect and chat with fellow participants, but also a nice way to passively process all the things you’ve learned!

Participants are responsible for coordinating their own travel to and from Edmonton. Traveling over 150 km to get to the program? See the next section to learn about mileage subsidies. 

SUPPLY TEACHER AND TRAVEL SUBSIDIES
Since this PD takes place during the first week of summer vacation, we’re assuming most of you won’t require a supply teacher subsidy (though it is there if needed!). If you’re traveling more than 150 km, you are eligible to claim a mileage subsidy. If you want to claim a mileage subsidy, you must email Laura Pekkola in advance of the program and have your travel approved. We can only cover the Supply Teacher Subsidy or the Travel Subsidy - not both. Check out our subsidy policy to learn how to submit your receipts for reimbursement and for Laura’s contact information. 

NOTE: *You must participate in the full program to receive subsidies, with reimbursement provided after the program is complete.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Inside Education will provide all accommodations. We will be staying in same-gender double occupancy rooms, but we may be able to accommodate a single occupancy room if required. 

We’ll be staying at a work camp on our first night of the program, which might be a new experience! At camp you’ll have your own room and bathroom, and we’ll be eating in their cafeteria. Please pack your own shampoo, conditioner and indoor shoes/flip flops/slippers if you don’t want to walk around in socks. You can read through the camp rules here and I will print them off for you to sign on the bus ride up to Fort McMurray. Please note that the camp is dry, which means you cannot have alcohol or drugs on you or in your luggage while at the camp. View the camp rules here.

FOOD
Inside Education will provide all meals starting with refreshments on Wednesday, July 2 and ending with lunch on the 6th. You are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle and coffee mug. Since we are traveling through some rural parts of Alberta, not all hotels or caterers may be able to accommodate specific dietary preferences or allergies. We still do everything we can to be creative and accommodate dietary restrictions.

THE PROGRAM
Check out our draft program schedule here! You’ll see a mix of speaker presentations, tours, and workshops. The goal is to introduce you to the boreal forest, how we as humans use the landscape in this natural region, and what this means for the plants and wildlife living there. Our program is still being finalized, so while you can expect the start and end times to stay the same, you may see some slight changes as we work out travel details and speaker confirmations. 

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Pack your smile and your suitcase! Check out this generalized packing list for some key things you might want to have with you - we program rain or shine with the exception of unsafe conditions. Having a small day pack for on the bus is very helpful to keep track of all your weather-ready gear and any comfort items. We expect that participants will travel with the group and attend the full program from start to finish, so please plan accordingly. 

We will be touring active oil and gas sites, so please ensure you have closed-toed shoes and long pants and sleeves made of non-flammable materials for these tours. We will be wearing coveralls and appropriate PPE on site, but having non-flammable clothing up against your skin is an extra level of safety.

You can also check out the Teacher PD section of our FAQ page for more!

IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION

Inside Education is happy to help out and answer any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 780-421-1497 or email Laura Pekkola at [email protected]. If you need to reach us on the day of the program, call/text Laura at 587-645-0985

We’ll see you soon! 

 ~ The Biodiversity in the Boreal Summer Institute Team

A+ for Energy PD - August 20 to August 21, 2025

Thank you for joining us on the A+ for Energy professional development program! We hope it sparked inspiration and offered you valuable ideas to enhance your projects for the 2025-2026 school year, bringing energy education to life in your classroom. As promised, here are some follow-up details related to the PD.

We value your feedback and would really like to hear what you thought of the program. If you haven’t done so already please complete the post-program survey – it will only take a few moments and goes a long way to help us improve and ensure these programs are available in the future.

Contact Lists

We’ve compiled the contact information for our speakers and program partners and have sent it to you via email. A brief thank you note, mentioning a few highlights from the tour, can greatly contribute to the continued success of these programs. We encourage you to take a few moments to share your thoughts and feedback with them!

Program Information

Check out our Shared Folder of Resources, including those mentioned on the program, and a few extra! Can’t remember everything we did? Check out the A+ for Energy Schedule here. We hope you enjoy taking a look back at the program through this Google Photo Album - feel free to comment and add your own photos as well!

TRAVEL SUBSIDY INFORMATION

For those traveling greater than 150 km, Inside Education has a travel subsidy of up to $500 to help offset the costs of travel - the subsidy can be used towards flights, car rentals, taxis, and/or shuttles. Travel subsidies must be approved, so please review our 2025 Subsidy Policy. Feel free to reach out for more information!

NOTE:
*You must participate in the full program to receive the subsidy.

Keep in Touch

We love to see photos on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), so please tag us at @insideeducation, and use the tag #APlusForEnergy! Also, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] any time to let us know how this experience is shaping your teaching.

Thank you for attending, and for your continued dedication to energy education!

~ Ilana and the Inside Education Team