Hello Muskoka Early Childhood Educators!

Summer in Muskoka is more than a season—it’s an invitation! An invitation to explore, get messy, breathe deeply, and rediscover the wonders of learning outdoors. The trees, the sand, the water, the rocks and everything in between—they’re not just part of the landscape here; they are the 3rd teacher.

Outdoor learning isn't just a break from the room—it is the learning environment. Whether it’s muddy feet, sandy hands, or the thrill of safe, supported risky play, every moment outside builds connection, curiosity, and confidence.

A well-designed outdoor space doesn’t need expensive play structures—it needs purposeful materials, and an invitation to wonder. We can create places where children can dig, slide, climb, get messy, and take ownership of their play. Whether it’s a shaded quiet space, a muddy building/mixing zone, or a climbing hill made of logs and stumps—every element should speak to the child’s right to explore and create.

This season, lean into the beauty of loose parts, unstructured exploration, and what the land can teach us. Reimagine your spaces. Look at your environment and ask: What can this environment teach us if we let the children lead the way? Let the natural world be your co-educator—and trust that your engagement, listening, and reflections are what transform a patch of grass into a place of learning and wonder.

“Start with what you see. Notice what children are doing, and respond with curiosity.”

— Ann Pelo, Early Childhood Educator & Author of The Language of Art and From Teaching to Thinking

All the best,

The Children Services Team

Email: childrensprograms@muksoka.on.ca

Please note that the information contained in this newsletter is intended to encourage conversation and self-reflection and is not to be considered as advice.

Welcome Vanessa Fraser!

The Children’s Services Team at the District of Muskoka is thrilled to introduce Vanessa Fraser as our new Pedagogical Lead. She will plan and facilitate our professional learning activities, communities of practice, mentorship opportunities, among other roles. Vanessa has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, most recently from the Calgary Board of Education. She is excited to return home to Ontario and enjoys exploring trails, experimenting with new recipes, supporting community through local aid efforts, and spending time with her big, snuggly dog. Vanessa will be authoring our newsletters moving forward and she will be out and about visiting programs soon. Welcome Vanessa!

Upcoming Professional Development

Check out the Seek App by iNaturalist and identify flora and fauna.

Promoting children’s risky play in outdoor learning environments - by the Education Hub

Active Communities – resources for trails and parks in Muskoka and surrounding area from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.

Muskoka Trials Explorer

The Mud Kitchen with Rusty Keeler

More mud play!

How to set-up a simple, moveable mud kitchen with Fairy Dust Teaching.

Storypark Outdoor Play resource hub.

SMDHU – Sensory, Nature Based and Arts and Crafts – Resources for Child Care Centre

Operators.

Simple Ideas for Nature Play - by The Empowered Educator

Podcasts!

Teach Outdoors Podcast

Rusty Keeler Play Nature Podcast

Stay Informed on What's Happening in Muskoka with Between Two Pines!

Changes to garbage and recycling, opportunities for small businesses, affordable housing developments, road improvements—we've got you covered! Stay informed with our monthly e-newsletter, Between Two Pines.

Subscribe!

ECE workforce Development Corner

with Pam Rennie, RECE

Building Pathways

As Early Learning and Child Care continue to expand across Muskoka, we are exploring new and engaging ways to introduce and promote the career as an Early Childhood Educator. Over the past school year, we visited numerous high school career classes to share our enthusiasm and insights about our field, and we look forward to continuing these visits throughout the upcoming year.

This summer, we launched our Building Pathways project. In partnership with Fleming College, the MERHIT Centre, Employment Ontario, and other valued collaborators, we provided two weeks of training for adults receiving Ontario Works, followed by a four-week placement at one of Muskoka Family Focus’ centres. For many participants, who shared a keen interest in working with children, this initiative was a great opportunity to gain practical experience and explore a meaningful career path.

Looking ahead to fall, we are planning additional events and marketing campaigns to showcase the depth, rewards, and positive impact of early learning and child care. We continue to play, learn, and grow together—building a brighter future for our community.

With Gratitude,

Pam

Coming up...

August 27th - Muskoka Discovery Centre Dance Party!

Community Spotlight!

Outdoor Environment - Port Sydney Daycare

We asked Bonnie Boyd owner of Port Sydney Daycare, how and why she has created such a wonderful outdoor environment for her children.

I spent years plotting all the little things I would do to my backyard to make it the outdoor learning environment I had always dreamed. I’d done the research on risky play, and on the sensory and mental health benefits of being outside.

I had a Pinterest board positively stacked with great ideas, but no time. When my licensed home child care was shut down at the beginning of the pandemic I was gifted that missing link: I had nothing but time.

As soon as the snow melted, I took all of the stress and fear that the pandemic had dumped on me and poured it into my project. I hauled logs in from the forest, found rocks to edge my gardens, and dug hole upon hole. Every night my arms were sore and my legs were aching, but the exhaustion helped me sleep.

I know that children are different creatures when they’re outside. They need to move and stretch into their world. Their voices need to fill the space and be big, letting themselves sing or shout as loudly as they can. They need to let their little bodies be free.

Inside, the world feels one-dimensional. Outside the world is all around you. The sky above you, the trees around you, the grass beneath you, and everywhere the air is moving. The ground is uneven, sometimes it comes up to meet you or falls away beneath your feet. You can be silly. You can be alone. You can run. You can get dirty.

Outside, children have fewer limits. I can step back as an educator and tune in, watching the children interact with the space. My job is to refill the water table and bandage scraped knees.

For 3 out of 4 seasons I start my program outside. The children are dropped off right at the gate. They have nothing but time and materials for the entire morning. When we finally traipse inside 3 hours later there are usually clean clothes needed all around, myself included. We have a well-earned lunch, some cozy stories, and 6 children nod off to sleep on their little blue cots. It’s Early Childhood Education as it was meant to be.

Bonnie shared this link about risky outdoor play.

Healthy childhood development through outdoor risky play: Navigating the balance with injury prevention - CPS

Community Spotlight....

Do you know a champion in our community, or do you want to share something awesome that happened in your program?

We have so many amazing people in the Muskoka Early Years sector and we would love to shine a light on the people, places and programs that show up and sparkle every day. Keep it simple, email Corinna a short write-up, add a photo or two and we will include it in the following newsletter.

Send your stories to childrensprograms@muskoka.on.ca

Children's Book Recommendation

The Hike tells the victorious story of three girls’ friendship—and their tribulations and triumphs in the great outdoors.

Professional Book Recommendation

Last Child in the Woods is the first book to bring together a new and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults.