Trees and Transition Deena Shaffer, Learning and Transition Specialist, Ryerson University John Hannah, Assistant Director Student Learning Support, Ryerson University Since 2008, Portage has been a part of the Academic Accommodation Support summer transition program, helping student with learning disabilities acclimate to post-secondary. The summer of 2014 saw Portage revitalized and more impactful than ever. Join us to hear about our Algonquin Park adventure, and all that the students and we learned. Connecting Meaning to Purpose: RyersonSA PD Conference 2015

1. Trees and Transition
Deena Kara Shaffer & John Hannah
January 2015

3. Your moment of awe

4. The Immediate and the Lasting

5. Why Trees and Transition?
Why the Woods?

6. A Brief History of Portage
Portage 2014
Looking Ahead

7. Portage 2014
The Great Moose Perspective

8. Five
Pillars, Potentials, Potencies
of Portage

9. Restorative
“The mind/body/nature connection…”
(Louv, 2012, p. 46-49)

10. Restoring
“Natural environments turn out
to be particularly rich....”
(Stephen Kaplan, 1995)

11. ConfidenceandCompetence
“…effects of the outdoor wilderness experience [include]
[i]ncreases in self-confidence, self-esteem, independ-
ence, autonomy, and initiative…”(Stephen Kellert, 1998)

12. Transition, Readiness and
Community
“…the past has lost its grip and
the future has not yet taken
definite shape.”
(Turner, 1992)

13. Biophilia
“…the human search for a coherent
and fulfilling existence is intimately
dependent upon our relationship to
nature.” (E.O. Wilson & Stephen Kellert, 1993).

14. More Wisdom from Great Moose

15. Awe-Based Education:
What if ?

16. Challenge and Awe

17. “…We're not alone in
(Louv, 2011, p. 1-2)
feeling this hunger.”

18. Portage 2014