Below ZERO
UPCOMING WORKSHOP DATES:
November 10 & 17, 2026
7:00-8:15pm CST (2.5 hours total over two evenings)
Discover how to teach outdoor education, winter ecology, and wildlife adaptation even when the temperature drops! Below Zero is an interactive, inquiry-based professional development workshop designed specifically for educators, drawing from the acclaimed Canadian wildlife education curriculum by the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Project WILD. Guided by a trained SaskOutdoors facilitator, this virtual training equips teachers with practical activities, outdoor safety strategies, and hands-on lessons to explore winter survival, animal adaptations, and cold-weather ecosystems with K–12 students.
Appropriate for:
Audience: K–12 classroom teachers, pre-service teachers, outdoor educators, ECE professionals, non-formal educators, and youth group leaders.
Format: Virtual evening sessions accessible from anywhere in Saskatchewan.
Goals: Educators seeking practical, safe, and engaging ways to bring learning outdoors during the winter months and teach cold-climate ecology.
Details
Workshop Details
Duration: 2.5 hours total (Delivered virtually over two evening sessions)
Facilitator: SaskOutdoors provides a fully trained facilitator to lead all instruction
Location: Online / Virtual Zoom meeting
Cost:
- SaskOutdoors Members: $50
- Non-Members: $80
What you Learn
Winter Survival Adaptations: How to guide students through hands-on activities examining sub-zero physical adaptations, insulation (fur, fat, feathers), and hibernation strategies.
Snow & Ice Ecology: Interactive ways to teach subnivean (under-snow) ecosystems, snow-pack layering, tracking, and how wildlife navigates winter landscapes.
Winter Activity Facilitation: Safe, high-engagement methods for leading outdoor learning activities during cold weather, including weather assessment and cold-risk management.
Human-Wildlife Winter Interactions: Strategies for teaching how human activities impact wintering wildlife populations, winter habitat conservation, and seasonal resource scarcity.
Applied Benefits
Direct Saskatchewan Curriculum Alignment:
Kindergarten – Grade 2: Observing seasonal changes, temperature effects, animal winter survival, and sensory exploration.
Grades 3 – 5: Examining insulation properties, animal structural adaptations, energy flow, and weather patterns.
Grades 6 – 8: Analyzing thermal energy transfer, ecosystem stability in extreme conditions, and wildlife management.
High School (EnvSci / Biology): Ecological physiological adaptations, winter field sampling techniques, and population dynamics.
Year-Round Outdoor Education: Helps educators overcome cold-weather barriers and turn Saskatchewan winters into a rich teaching asset rather than a obstacle.
Cross-Curricular Adaptability: Integrates science, physical education, health, social studies, and environmental stewardship into engaging winter lessons.