The Lord Selkirk School Division (LSSD) is a collection of 15 schools for K – 12 students that encompasses the City of Selkirk and stretches through the communities of Lockport, St. Andrews, Clandeboye, Petersfield, and Libau to the lakeshore communities of Grand Marais and Victoria Beach in Manitoba.
Celebrating LSSD Events
2025 Nature Education Retreat
In August 2025, 26 K-8 teachers joined the NEC for a Nature-based Education retreat at the Wetland Discovery Centre at Oak Hammock Marsh.
Over three days, participants explored hands-on methods for teaching biodiversity, climate change, and social-emotional learning through the lens of the natural world. Heidi Fingas, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, along with 8 other LSSD teachers, attended the retreat.
Outdoor Learning Leadership Conference
In October 2025, Heidi Fingas and Caitlin Schick from Lord Selkirk School Division joined Kailey Setter from CWF and Ellen Long from PLT Canada to present at the inaugural Take Me Outside Outdoor Learning Leadership Conference. Together, they shared LSSD’s journey toward prioritizing student health and well-being through Nature-based Education, and how partnerships with the Nature Education Collective (NEC) have helped support student success across the division.
Their presentation resonated with school leaders from across Canada, leaving participants feeling inspired, energized, and more deeply connected to the role nature can play in learning and well-being.
Winnipeg Community Table
On March 5, 2026, the Nature Education Collective (NEC) welcomed educators, school leaders, and partners from across Manitoba to Winnipeg for the first of four regional convenings focused on Nature-based Education (NbE). Designed as a Community Table gathering, the evening created a warm and collaborative space for meaningful conversation, shared learning, and connection over a shared meal.
The event brought together 35 participants representing eight school divisions, post-secondary institutions, government partners, nonprofits, and environmental education organizations, all united by a shared commitment to strengthening nature-based learning opportunities for students.
A highlight of the evening was hearing from Lord Selkirk School Division, who shared their inspiring journey integrating Nature-based Education across the division this school year. Their presentation highlighted the positive impacts already being seen in student engagement, mental health, and overall well-being for both students and educators.
The gathering sparked rich conversations, new ideas, and valuable connections between school communities, reinforcing the growing momentum for Nature-based Education across Manitoba.
