22nd Annual ISEEN Winter Institute

Trust the Process: Discover, Design, and Evolve Experiential Learning in Your School

February 10-12, 2027 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada


Register Now

Non-member registration will open on October 16, 2026.

Thank You to Our Signature Sponsor

 

Insight Global Education works with schools across Canada and the United States to create educational travel programs that prioritize learning, safety, and meaningful community engagement. Beyond travel, we bring global learning into the classroom through workshops, educator support, and our SDG Curriculum, connecting the UN Sustainable Development Goals to real-world issues. Our purpose is to create meaningful experiences that foster curiosity, critical thought, and compassion in today’s learners, empowering students to engage thoughtfully with their communities and the wider world. Insight has been involved with ISEEN since 2021.

About the Institute

The 22nd Annual ISEEN Winter Institute invites experiential educators from all over the world to examine where their school is along their “experiential education journey” and connect with other K-12 professionals to share ideas, resources, and spark innovation. From the physical campus spaces to the curriculum, St. George’s School in Vancouver intends to show each participant how they made experiential learning an integral part of all that they do with their students.

A More Focused ISEEN Experience

Based on what we've heard from the ISEEN community, we've streamlined this year's schedule to make every moment count — same ISEEN magic, less time away from campus.

Please plan to:

  • Arrive no later than 1:00 PM on Wednesday, February 10, 2027 
  • Depart no earlier than 8:00 AM on Saturday, February 13, 2027 

We can't wait to welcome you to an institute that's more intentional, more connected, and just as unforgettable as ever.

Trust the Process: Discover · Design · Evolve
This Year's Institute Theme — What to Expect
 

The theme for this year's institute, “Trust the Process” acknowledges that the work we do as experiential educators is not about the end goal, but about the journey. As we head towards fulfilling our outcomes, we like to pause for a moment and notice that ‘one step forward and two steps back’ is part of our learning process. We celebrate risks taken and shine brighter when a spark of curiosity adds a new route forward. But we also know that trusting the process is hard work. As we gather in Vancouver, the institute will support your next step forward — to Discover, Design, or Evolve experiential learning in your school.

Throughout the institute, you'll find experiences that meet you where you are, with sessions organized into three strands so you can choose what fits your current needs:

1. Discover

For educators and schools just beginning to ask what experiential learning could look like, for those wanting to revisit the assumptions underneath programs they already run, or learn something completely new, this strand is about curiosity — the spark that gets a school to pause, question the status quo, and think seriously about what "authentic experience" really means for their students and community.

Come ready to explore:

  • What's driving your school's interest in experiential learning right now?
  • What support do you need to move your learning and skills forward?
  • How are other schools defining "authentic" and "experience" in their own contexts?

This strand is a good fit if you want to learn something new, if you're still shaping the vision at your school, or if you want to step back and re-examine the "why" before going further.

2. Design

For schools who already have experiential programs in motion and are thinking about what's next — the "version 2.0" conversation. This strand is about leveling up: refining, deepening, and connecting the experiences you already offer, and getting clearer on the pedagogies, values, and principles that should anchor the work going forward.

Come ready to explore:

  • How to take a good program and make it more intentional, cohesive, or far-reaching
  • What values and principles other schools center as they mature their programs
  • Peer perspective on the growing pains of moving from "good idea" to "strong program"

This strand is a good fit if you already have something running and are looking for ideas, sounding boards, or a nudge toward the next stage.

3. Evolve

For schools with [an] established program[s] who are focused on sustaining and growing their impact — including the work of elevating experiential learning from a valued extra to an institutional priority. This strand digs into feedback, iteration, and community connection, as well as the harder institutional question: how might you help garner thought partners and supportive collaborators at your school to bring experiential education to the core of your school’s framing ideas? 

Come ready to explore:

  • How schools gather and use feedback from students, families, and outside partners
  • Approaches to refining an existing program without starting over
  • Real conversation about building the case for leadership — moving experiential learning into the strategic plan and institutional identity

This strand is a good fit if your program is well-established and you're wrestling with sustainability, buy-in, or what long-term growth looks like.

 
 

Photos from past ISEEN Institutes.

Who Should Attend

The Winter Institute is for school change leaders such as administrators, directors, staff, and teachers who work in various strands of experiential education programming at their institutions. ISEEN embraces many forms of experiential learning such as:

  • Outdoor Adventure Education 
  • Global Education 
  • Service Learning and Community Engagement 
  • Student Leadership 
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging 
  • Sustainability and Environmental Justice 
  • Experiential and Innovative Co-Curriculars 

Educators from K-12 independent, public, charter, and international schools who wish to deepen their schools' experiential practice and pedagogy and connect with like-minded colleagues will gain valuable tools and global professional connections by attending this institute.

What You’ll Take Away from the Institute

  • A place-based experience grounded in experiential education pedagogy and practice.
  • Practical models for integrating experiential education into curricular and co-curricular programs.
  • Deeper understanding of the ever-evolving, multi-stage process of creating and iterating on dynamic experiential learning in your school.
  • A strong professional network of like-minded experiential educators.

 Photos from past ISEEN Institutes.

Location and Host School

The Vancouver Area

Vancouver, BC, offers a rare combination of urban sophistication and immediate access to nature, making it one of North America's most distinctive destinations to visit or explore.

 

The city occupies a unique position between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains, meaning that within the same day, you can experience a cosmopolitan downtown core and dramatic alpine scenery. Stanley Park's 8.8 km seawall is lined with old-growth cedars and Indigenous totem poles, remaining one of the city's defining features.

If you are interested in exploring local cuisine, you will find Chinatown and Richmond home to some of the most authentic Cantonese, Sichuan, and Taiwanese cuisine outside of Asia, a reflection of the city's long-established and influential Asian communities. Granville Island's public market further showcases the region's fresh seafood, produce, and artisanal food culture.

Many of you are outdoor enthusiasts! This location is in proximity to Whistler, a world-class ski destination (90-minutes away), as well as Grouse, Cypress, and Seymour mountains (30-minutes away). These areas are suitable for hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing. 

The Indigenous culture is highlighted throughout the city, including at the Museum of Anthropology. This museum is recognized for its collection of Northwest Coast First Nations art. Vancouver is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, and First Nations People and Indigenous art, architecture, and storytelling are prominently and visibly integrated throughout the city.

In short, you do not have to choose between an urban and a nature-based itinerary; it is entirely feasible to hike a nearby trail in the morning and dine at a rooftop restaurant downtown the same evening.

St. George's School

Situated in Vancouver on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam First Nation, St. George’s School is one of Canada's leading independent, university-preparatory day and boarding schools for boys. Serving a dynamic and diverse community of over 1,200 day students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 and boarders from across Canada and 15 countries around the world, the School enjoys a distinguished local, national, and international reputation. At the heart of a St. George's education is its mission of "Building Fine Young Men, One Boy at a Time," balancing rigorous academic excellence and top-tier university preparation with a storied tradition of co-curricular achievement across athletics, the fine and performing arts, and service learning. True to its guiding principle of developing the "well-rounded boy," the school integrates academic rigor with experiential learning and robust outdoor education programs designed to foster character, resilience, and global readiness. Driven by its bold strategic plan, Ready and Relevant, St. George's is experiencing an era of meaningful evolution. Backed by a world-class learning environment, including a state-of-the-art Senior School campus, the School continues to expand through a comprehensive campaign for access and building forward-thinking strategic partnerships with leading global institutions to bridge classroom learning with the wider world.

About the Local Conveners

Sarah McLean (she/her/hers)

With over 20 years of experience teaching and leading in public and independent schools across Vancouver, Canada, and London, England, Sarah McLean brings a deep understanding of both the profound joys and the complex demands of education. Throughout her career as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, curriculum designer, and department head, she has consistently focused on one central belief: that educators are best positioned to make a lasting impact when they are supported, trusted, and given the conditions to thrive themselves. Sarah has spent the past 10 years leading initiatives to embed experiential learning more meaningfully into curriculum and student leadership development, build authentic and sustainable community partnerships, and support school teams and committees through a culture grounded in care and connection. Her work has also focused on thoughtfully expanding faculty capacity, engaging teachers in innovative pedagogical practices, and facilitating meaningful professional growth through workshops, cohort-based learning, and ongoing collaborative development. As Head of Leadership and Impact at St. George's School, Sarah drives a culture of compassionate leadership, ensuring all students recognize their potential to lead while building a collaborative leadership learning hub for the entire school community. 

Sarah joined ISEEN as a member in 2015 and serves as the Key Contact for her school. She has been attending Winter Institutes annually since 2019. In recent years, Sarah has collaborated across the US border to unify the Pacific Northwest Regional Group and design (as well as support) regional meet ups and connection opportunities. We are excited to welcome her as one of ISEEN's newest board members.

Emily Moir (she/her/hers)

Emily Moir is the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Student Pathways at St. George's School in Vancouver, BC. In this inaugural role, she bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world application, designing high-impact collaborations with universities, global industries, and social enterprises. Her work expands the boundaries of a traditional education, ensuring students graduate with the network, adaptability, and real-world experience needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. A collaborative leader with two decades in independent school administration, Emily brings a holistic, whole-school perspective to her work. Her experience spans teaching, boarding life, curriculum design, strategic enrollment management, communications and marketing, strategic planning, leadership, and change management.

Experiential Education in Action & Speakers

Experiential Education in Action workshops are a signature part of the ISEEN Winter Institute. They provide a unique opportunity for participants to be “students for the day” and immerse themselves in place-based experiential learning led by educators at St. George’s School and surrounding academic institutions, as well as partner organizations.

 Photos from St. George's School.

 ExEd In Action Workshops

In partnership with Water Rangers, Stream Keepers (Jericho Chapter), and the Vancouver Parks Board, participants will explore how citizen science can deepen environmental stewardship and inquiry-based learning. Following an introduction to the Water Rangers program, participants will visit a local waterway to conduct water quality testing, collect field observations, and investigate watershed health using citizen science protocols. The session concludes with collaborative planning focused on adapting similar projects for participants' own schools. Reflection opportunities are embedded throughout the day, encouraging participants to consider their relationship with local waterways, identify insights about environmental stewardship, and develop an action plan for implementing citizen science in their educational contexts.
Thematic Tie: Discover
Tags: Outdoor Education, Sustainability
Physical Rigor Level: Moderate
In partnership with Talaysay Tours, participants will explore Indigenous ways of knowing through an immersive experience in Stanley Park. Guided by Indigenous cultural ambassadors, the session will include a hands-on activity and guided walking tour, offering opportunities to learn about the longstanding relationship between Coast Salish Peoples and the land and waters, with a focus on ecological stewardship, sustainability, and reconciliation. The experience will also include opportunities for guided conversation and reflection, encouraging participants to deepen their understanding of place, Indigenous knowledge, and how these perspectives can inform their own educational practice. Participants should be prepared for an outdoor experience involving walking in Stanley Park.
Thematic Tie: Discover
Tags: Community Engagement, Social Justice, Sustainability, Reconciliation
Physical Rigor Level: Moderate
Guided by Insight Global Education and The Binners’ Project, participants will explore the root causes of urban poverty and homelessness while examining how social enterprise can drive meaningful, community-led change. Following an introductory briefing, participants will visit The Binners’ Project, tour the organization, and engage in a guided learning experience through Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, hearing directly from staff and community members about lived experiences, social innovation, and the power of narrative. Reflection is woven throughout the day, inviting participants to challenge assumptions, consider how students engage with vulnerable communities, and develop ideas for incorporating community partnerships and social impact learning into their own schools.
Thematic Tie: Discover
Tags: Social Justice
Physical Rigor Level: Moderate
Through collaboration with Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours, participants will engage in a place-based exploration of Vancouver’s LGBTQ2S+ histories, moving through Davie Street to learn about key figures and moments of activism, identity, and social change. Beginning with a structured morning session focused on SOGI education, inclusion, and shared goals, educators then transition into a guided walking tour that brings local histories to life through storytelling and lived experience. The day concludes with structured reflection and peer dialogue, supporting participants in connecting insights to their own school contexts, identifying opportunities for more inclusive practice, and developing practical approaches for integrating identity, belonging, and place-based learning into their programs.
Thematic Tie: Design
Tags: Social Justice
Physical Rigor Level: Moderate
Working alongside Musqueam First Nation and St. George’s English First Peoples' students, participants will engage in a place-based learning experience grounded in relationship-building, language learning, and community knowledge at the Musqueam Cultural Centre. Through dialogue with Elders and Council members, participants will deepen their understanding of Musqueam history, present-day community life, and the ongoing responsibilities of educators in responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. The experience includes collaborative learning with students, a language session, and opportunities to connect Indigenous perspectives to classroom practice. Reflection is woven throughout the day, supporting participants in considering how reconciliation is enacted in schools, how Indigenous voices are centred in curriculum and relationships, and how these learnings can be meaningfully carried forward in their own contexts.
Thematic Tie: Design
Tags: Reconciliation
Physical Rigor Level: Easy
Through collaboration with the Steveston Historical Society, participants will explore the histories of Japanese migration and community building in Richmond’s Steveston area, with a focus on how internment shaped local identity. The experience begins with guided learning at Britannia Shipyards, followed by a walking tour along the Steveston Boardwalk. Participants will engage in a scavenger hunt in Steveston Village and conclude with a shared lunch and facilitated reflection over tea. Throughout the day, participants are invited to connect historical narratives of displacement to contemporary understandings of community, belonging, and place-based learning, and to consider how these stories can inform more inclusive and socially aware educational practice.
Thematic Tie: Discover
Tags: Social Justice
Physical Rigor Level: Easy
Through participation in St. George’s Fusion 10 program, educators will experience experiential STEM learning in action within a cohort-based model, engaging directly in a design challenge alongside students. The day provides insight into how cohort learning structures, maker-based environments, and design thinking frameworks are implemented to support interdisciplinary learning and student agency. Participants will collaborate on problem-solving tasks, explore the philosophy behind the Fusion model with educators and administrators, and reflect on how similar approaches could be adapted within their own school contexts. The experience concludes with structured reflection focused on translating cohort-based and experiential learning principles into actionable ideas for program design and classroom practice.
Thematic Tie: Design
Tags: Design Thinking/PBL
Physical Rigor Level: Easy
Working with the Hogan’s Alley Society and a network of community, development, and education partners, participants will explore the layered history, present-day realities, and future possibilities of Hogan’s Alley as a site of cultural significance, displacement, and urban redevelopment. Through a combination of historical grounding, community dialogue, and site-based exploration, educators will examine how systemic inequities have shaped the neighbourhood and how current initiatives are reimagining its future. The experience begins with an introductory session led by partner organizations, followed by insights into ongoing redevelopment efforts and the tensions between preservation and change. Participants then engage in a place-based site visit to Hogan’s Alley, followed by a collaborative design challenge where they prototype ideas for more inclusive, community-rooted futures. After a shared lunch, participants take part in a multi-stakeholder simulation and facilitated reflection focused on how schools can design more meaningful place-based learning, strengthen community partnerships, and support courageous conversations about history, belonging, and justice.
Thematic Tie: Discover
Tags: Community Engagement, Social Justice
Physical Rigor Level: Moderate
Using structured protocols from NSRF, participants will explore practical approaches for facilitating more effective classrooms and team meetings. Through hands-on engagement with discussion and reflection protocols, educators will learn strategies for introducing ideas, examining student work, addressing complex dilemmas, and improving collaboration through structured, solution-focused dialogue. The session emphasizes equity of voice, active listening, and purposeful questioning to surface new perspectives and strengthen collective practice. Reflection is embedded throughout the session, with dedicated opportunities to connect learning to participants’ own classrooms and teams. The experience concludes with a debrief focused on how these protocols can be directly applied to improve meeting structures, instructional practice, and collaborative decision-making in their school contexts.
Thematic Tie: Evolve
Tags: Cirriculum Design, Team Building Initiatives
Physical Rigor Level: Easy
Working with UBC Orchard Garden and contributors from UBC Faculty of Education, participants will explore how foundational STEM and computational thinking concepts can be taught through unplugged, nature-based, and experiential approaches. Through hands-on activities in the garden, educators will model algorithms, fractals, binary systems, and coding concepts using natural materials and embodied learning strategies, with a strong emphasis on empathy, inclusion, and accessibility. The session takes place entirely outdoors and is structured around experiential activities, including pattern recognition in nature, “human coding” role-play, and collaborative design thinking. Reflection is woven throughout the day, supporting participants in translating unplugged STEM approaches into their own school contexts and considering how experiential, human-centered design can make STEM more accessible and engaging for all learners.
Thematic Tie: Design
Tags: Design Thinking/PBL, Sustainability
Physical Rigor Level: Moderate
Working with the North Shore Restorative Justice Society, participants will engage in restorative circle methodologies and inclusive design frameworks to strengthen experiential learning practices. Through facilitated circle work and a design session, educators will explore how intentional structures can build community, support belonging, and address conflict before, during, and after learning experiences, with attention to accessibility, diverse identities, and neurodiversity. Reflection is embedded throughout the day, supporting participants in considering how restorative approaches can be applied to create safer, more inclusive experiential learning environments in their own schools.
Thematic Tie: Discover
Tags: Community Engagement, Social Justice
Physical Rigor Level: Easy
Participants will explore how Human-Centered Design (HCD) can transform service learning into a justice-centered, community-driven approach by moving beyond "doing for" to "designing with" local partners. Through visits to the Intergen Connection Lab and Youth Wellness Lab, educators will observe students leading initiatives that address social isolation, wellbeing, and peer advocacy while learning practical strategies for building authentic, reciprocal community partnerships. Reflection is embedded throughout the experience, supporting participants in considering how human-centered design can strengthen student leadership, deepen community engagement, and create meaningful, lasting partnerships in their own schools.
Thematic Tie: Evolve
Tags: Community Engagement, Service Learning
Physical Rigor Level: Easy
Join us for an immersive, hands-on experiential learning opportunity about food security. Led by York House School, and in partnership with Vancouver Food Runners and Plenty of Plates, you will be directly involved with the planning, logistics, and people involved in a community food rescue. During this experiential day, you will actively participate in tracking, rescuing, redirecting, and cooking with surplus food. By mapping local food assets and experiencing community care in action, you will gain practical strategies to design authentic, hands-on, curriculum-aligned project-based learning experiences. You’ll leave this session both inspired by how YHS lives out its motto of Not For Ourselves Alone, and equipped with how to empower students at your school to tackle real-world food waste in their own neighbourhoods.
Thematic Tie: Discover
Tags: Community Engagement, Global Studies/Citizenship, Service Learning, Social Justice, Sustainability
Physical Rigor Level: Moderate
Experience the Discovery 10 cohort program through the eyes of students as you participate in a day of outdoor adventure, challenge, and community building on Cypress Mountain. Through snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, collaborative leadership activities, and shared reflection, participants will explore how outdoor education can foster identity development, resilience, belonging, and student leadership. Throughout the experience, educators will engage directly with Discovery 10 students and teachers to better understand how cohort-based learning and adventure education create meaningful opportunities for personal growth and connection. Participants will leave with practical ideas for designing outdoor and experiential learning programs that intentionally cultivate character, community, and student agency.
Thematic Tie: Evolve
Tags: Outdoor Education
Physical Rigor Level: Advanced

For generations, independent schools have prepared students for success through a largely university-centred model of education. Today, changing labour markets, technological disruption, economic uncertainty, and the rise of AI are prompting schools to reconsider how they prepare students for life beyond graduation. In response, Coast Mountain Academy has developed Technical Professions and Innovation, an experiential course that introduces students to technical careers, entrepreneurship, skilled professional practice, and alternative pathways to meaningful and prosperous adult lives. The program emphasizes the value of technical education in preparing students not only to understand and do meaningful work, but also to lead, innovate, and contribute to the professions and communities they enter.

In this session, participants will explore how Coast Mountain Academy developed its technical programming, including the thinking, design process, and practical considerations involved in bringing technical learning into an independent school setting. Participants will also take part in a hands-on technical challenge that mirrors the type of experience students encounter in the program, providing an opportunity to experience the learning first-hand. The session will offer practical insights and opportunities for reflection for independent school teachers, program designers, and administrators interested in developing or expanding access to technical and professional learning through experiential education.

Thematic Tie: Discover
Tags: Curriculum Design, Design Thinking/PBL
Physical Rigor Level: Moderate
Through experiential learning and dialogue with community partners, participants will examine Vancouver's Chinatown as a living example of cultural preservation and community resilience. As one of North America’s largest Chinatowns and a Canadian National Historic Site, the neighbourhood offers a unique lens through which to explore community identity and the relationship between urban revitalization and cultural preservation. Engagement with community partner organizations will offer participants multiple perspectives on Chinatown's past and present, highlighting both its rich cultural heritage and the contemporary challenges shaping the neighbourhood today. Participants will be encouraged to look beyond the surface of the places they call home, recognizing that every neighbourhood has stories worth exploring. Building on this perspective, they are invited to consider how partnerships with community organizations can connect students with the histories and cultures that shape their own local contexts.
Thematic Tie: Design
Tags
Physical Rigor Level: Easy
Global education is often confined to travel programs or designated weeks in the school calendar. Yet students spend the vast majority of their learning in core academic classrooms, where there is an equally powerful opportunity to develop global perspectives. Whether students pursue careers in business, science, engineering, the arts, or public service, they will be shaped by interconnected issues such as economics, trade, human rights, conflict, and environmental change. How can schools embed these themes across the curriculum without adding to teachers' workloads? In this interactive session, participants will explore practical, classroom-ready activities that integrate global perspectives into each of the IB subject groups. Drawing on Insight Global Education's SDG Curriculum, this workshop demonstrates how global learning can become a seamless and meaningful part of everyday teaching.
Thematic Tie: Design
Tags: Curriculum Design, Global Studies/Citizenship
Physical Rigor Level: Easy

 

Meet our Speaker

Opening Speaker, Dr. Jan Hare
Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Pedagogy
Dean, University of British Columbia Faculty of Education

 

Jan Hare is an Anishinaabe scholar and educator from the M’Chigeeng First Nation, located in northern Ontario. As an Indigenous scholar and educator she has sought to transform education in ways that are more inclusive of Indigenous ways of knowing and languages. Her research is concerned with improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal/Indigenous learners by centering Indigenous knowledge systems within educational reform from early childhood education to post-secondary, recognizing the holistic and multidisciplinary nature of Indigenous education.

In 2014, Dr. Hare was awarded the Professorship of Indigenous Education in Teacher Education. The goals of this professorship are to:

• Enrich teacher education with Indigenous perspectives, histories and pedagogies through an integrated approach to teaching and research.
• Engage in professional development of in-service/practicing teachers so they are informed of the place of Indigenous peoples, histories, perspectives and pedagogies in their current teaching. This community engagement approach with teachers and schools will transform places of learning so vital to the success of Aboriginal learners.
• Extend professional development opportunities to education faculty.

Pre- & Post-Institute Workshops & Activities

To enhance your institute experience, we’re offering some exceptional, hands-on workshops to gain skills that you can take back to your school or organization.

Pre-Institute Workshops & Activities

Facilitation with Lego Serious Play
Wednesday, February 10, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
$175 USD Per Person | Maximum 30 Participants | Sutton Place Hotel

Whether you are guiding students through deep self-reflection, co-creating a vision for the future, leading a team through complex challenges, or seeking more dynamic ways to facilitate your own workshops, the standard discussion and reflection techniques can sometimes fall short. Visual and verbal approaches to reflection can either fail to reach the ideas students and participants struggle to articulate, or we can make the mistake of using the same reflection tools on repeat. Leveraging concepts from LEGO® Serious Play® can help transform abstract reflection, goal-setting, and collaborative visioning into a physical, highly engaging process where every voice is built into the room.

Join Andrea, a certified LEGO® Serious Play® coach to explore:

  • How do you create opportunities for students to articulate ideas that feel abstract or hard to put into words? 
  • What makes the difference between play that's fun and play that actually shifts how someone sees themselves and deepens learning?

This hands-on session is designed for experiential educators looking to grow their toolkit. Using LEGO® Serious Play® methodologies, you'll discover how tactile learning methods can help students and educators engage in reflection and learning in a new, easy-to-talk-about way. We'll explore how trusting the process of hands-on learning (and building) can unlock new perspectives, foster hope, and turn insight into meaningful learning experiences and lasting action in the work you're already doing.

Andrea Fruhling (Professional Certified Coach) is the founder of Doubleknot Works and co-author of Career Wayfinder: Discovering Your Career Through Delightfully Practical Projects, a title that pretty much sums up her approach. She developed UBC's Career Coaching Practitioner course and serves as a mentor coach and instructor in UBC's Organizational Coaching program. As a certified LEGO® Serious Play® facilitator and Hope-Action Theory Expert Practitioner, she has made a career out of helping people think differently about their careers and brings that same creative, practical energy to every coaching session, speaking engagement, and workshop she leads.

 

 

Stories Around the Kitchen Table
Wednesday, February 10, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
$100 USD Per Person | Maximum 14 Participants | Tayybeh


What can educators learn from gathering around a table? In this hands-on workshop, participants will prepare and share a traditional meal while hearing the story of Tayybeh, a Vancouver-based social enterprise that celebrates Syrian culture and supports newcomer women. Through food, conversation, and reflection, participants will explore themes of identity, community, cultural understanding, and social impact while experiencing the transformative power of learning by doing.

 

 

Post-Institute Workshops & Activities

 

Aim, Glide, & Explore: The Whistler Biathlon & Snowshoe Experience
Saturday, February 13, 2027 | 7 AM - 5:00 PM

$90 USD per person for snowshoeing and $110 USD for cross country skis. Price includes ticket, equipment rental, guide and bus transportation. 

Step off the conference floor and into the crisp mountain air for an unforgettable alpine adventure! Join us at the iconic Whistler Olympic Park for a hands-on introduction to one of the Winter Games' most exciting sports, paired with a scenic trek through British Columbia's backcountry. Want to bring your family to Vancouver and hang out for the weekend? No problem. You can book seats for your family members aged 8+ on this activity. 

Workshop Highlights

  • Master the Marksmanship: Learn to handle and fire an authentic .22 calibre biathlon rifle under the guidance of expert instructors, focusing on technical precision, breath control, and winter range safety.
  • Guided Trek: Strap on a pair of snowshoes or cross-country skis and follow a local guide along the pristine, snow-draped trails of Whistler Olympic Park.

What You Need to Know

  • Skill Level: Beginners welcome! Absolutely no prior shooting or ski/snowshoeing experience is required.
  • Gear Provided: Snowshoes and all biathlon shooting equipment.
  • Transport: a bus shuttle will take you to and from the mountain, with pick-up and drop-off at Sutton Place Hotel.
  • What to Bring: Warm winter boots, insulated waterproof pants/jacket, and thermal base layers

 

Take it to the Mountains
Saturday, February 13, 2027 

Want a day at the Whistler Mountain Village with the freedom to choose your own adventure? No problem. We recommend that individuals book Epic Rides. This company picks up right down the street from the conference hotel at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. All booking, equipment, and tickets are the responsibility of the individual.

Additional Post-Institute Options Available Soon!

Schedule at a Glance

ISEEN is committed to continually innovating and iterating on our programming, guided by feedback from our members and past attendees. This year, we've partnered closely with St. George's School to thoughtfully redesign the Winter Institute schedule, so that every minute — from February 10-12 — is purposeful and valuable. It is important that you fully commit to the entire institute experience. Please plan to leave Vancouver no earlier than Saturday, February 13. 

Here is an outline of the Winter Institute schedule. Transportation is included to all ISEEN programming, unless noted. This schedule is subject to change. All attendees will receive access to our conference app where they will be able to view the entire comprehensive schedule and receive updates in real time.

 

Wednesday, February 10, 2027
Institute Opening Day
Meals included: Dinner

9:00 AM - 12:30 PM Early Check-in and Bag Hold at Sutton Place Hotel
 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM  Optional Pre-Institute Programming 
2:00 PM - 4:30 PM Institute Opening at Sutton Place Hotel
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Late Check-in, BIPOC Meet and Greet Happy Hour, Welcome Happy Hour
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Opening Speaker, Dinner, Homeroom Activities

 

Thursday, February 11, 2027
ExEd in Action Day
Meals included: Lunch 

 8:00 - 8:30 AM Homerooms Meet at Sutton Place Hotel
 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM ExEd in Action Programming 
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Homeroom Reflection and Regional Group Happy Hour - Sips & Snacks - at St. George’s School
7:30 PM Optional Social Activities: Bowling or Brewery Tour

 

Friday, February 12, 2027
Networking On-Campus & Institute Closing
Meals included: Lunch and Dinner

8:30 AM Buses Depart for St. George's School
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM Professional Affinity Groups
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM Lunch on Campus
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Model Programs and Practices
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM Trust YOUR Process Workshop
6:30 PM - 10:00 PM Institute Closing, Homeroom wrap-up, Dinner, and Music at 312 Main St

 

Institute Closing & Dinner

Our closing dinner at 312 Main St— once the longtime headquarters of the Vancouver Police Department, now transformed into a community-centered hub for collaboration and innovation among organizations, artists, and entrepreneurs — is the final, essential experience in our shared journey together. As experiential educators, we know the richest learning often happens not in structured sessions, but in the moments of connection and reflection that follow them. This is where we process what we've discovered, carry forward what we've designed, and evolve together as a community. This isn't just a dinner — it's a thoughtful way to let Vancouver become part of our story.

Photos from 312 Main St.

Saturday, February 13, 2027
Post Institute Programming

We encourage you to spend the weekend in British Columbia! There is so much to see and do in Vancouver and the surrounding area that it makes the perfect weekend getaway. Enjoy skiing and snowshoeing a short bus ride away, or explore the wonderful cultural, art, and food scene of the city. There are plenty of family-friendly activities available if you want to bring your family and spend time together after the institute.

 

Registration

The registration fee is inclusive of three days of programming, all workshops, snacks, two lunches, and two dinners. Additional costs include travel to and from Vancouver, accommodation at the Sutton Place Hotel (reduced rate booking link below), and optional pre and post-institute programming.

Registration for Non-Members begins one month after Member registration opens.
Want to become a Member? Learn More and join today!
 

Rates increase January 10, 2027!

Registration Type Regular
(Until January 10, 2027)		 Late
(After January 10, 2027)
Leadership Circle $1,785 USD $2,400 
Member $1,890 USD $2,400 
Non-Member* $2,100 USD $2,400 
Educational Service Provider** $2,400 USD $2,400 

*Non-member registration will open/become available on October 16, 2026.
**Limited spots available for Educational Service Providers. Learn more about registering as an ESP.

Register Now

SPECIAL RATE: Canadian Leadership Circle & Member Schools

Canadian Member and Leadership Circle Schools pay the Canadian equivalent on registration, a built-in savings for our Canadian community, through Canadian Thanksgiving, Sunday, October 12, 2026. Deadline extended through Monday, November 2, 2026!

Please note: all payments are processed in USD. The Canadian-equivalent rate is reflected as a 25% discount applied at checkout, and does not apply to Educational Service Providers in Canada.

Please reach out to ISEEN’s Executive Director, Courtney Prieur at [email protected], if registration costs are a financial burden for your institution. Discounts are available for international and small schools, in addition to two full scholarships.

Important Registration Note - Three Participants from a School
We invite schools to register up to 3 participants from their school until November 20, 2026. This is to allow more schools to attend the Institute. Should spaces still be available after November 20, schools will be able to register unlimited additional attendees.

Refund and Cancellation Policy
Should you need to cancel your registration you will have two options. A colleague may be substituted at no fee or, if you cancel without substituting your place, the refund policy below will go into effect.

  • Cancellation greater than 61 days prior to the Institute: 90% refund
  • Cancellation 60-30 days prior to the conference: 50% refund
  • Cancellation under 30 days prior to the conference: 0% refund

ISEEN is not responsible for, and will not issue refunds due to, circumstances beyond our control — including but not limited to inclement weather, natural disasters, acts of God, travel delays, or issues with travel documentation. We encourage attendees to consider travel insurance to protect against these unforeseen circumstances.

Scholarships

ISEEN is excited to offer free attendance to up to two participants through the Jessie Barrie Scholarship Fund for Experiential Educators. Information and the application can be found online. Preference will be given to public and charter school applicants. Applications are due November 20, 2026 and applicants will be notified by early December.

Apply Now

Educational Service Providers

We hold limited spaces for Educational Service Providers (ESP) members (organizations that work alongside independent schools to deliver experiential education). The registration for ESPs is separate from our school attendees, so please read through the following information carefully.
  • All ESP Attendees must be ISEEN Members prior to registering. Become a member here!
  • One person from each organization may register
  • The reserved spaces for ESPs are available until November 20, 2026. There are 16 available spots and they tend to fill quickly when registration opens.
  • While ESPs gain significant value by attending the Winter Institute and the intimate networking opportunities available to them to build relationships with member schools, their primary role as an ISEEN member attendee will be that of a fellow educator.

Sponsorship Opportunities

The ISEEN Winter Institute brings together more than 150 experiential educators from North America for three days of professional learning, hands-on workshops, community-building and resource-sharing. The Winter Institute brings together the practitioners and school leaders who are building and innovating experiential programs, choosing the tools and partners that support them, and returning to their schools ready to act on what they learned.

Learn more about sponsorship opportunities for greater visibility with ISEEN members and experiential educators today!

Explore Sponsorship

Call For Proposals

Share your facilitation skills and program practices with the ISEEN community! This is the opportunity for attendees to showcase their work at their schools and organizations and play a role at the institute. We invite all institute attendees, first-timers and veterans, to submit a Model Programs & Practice Proposal by November 20, 2026. 

What to Expect:

  • The MPP consists of four rounds of 15-minute mini-sessions.
  • You'll give a short presentation about a specific, innovative experiential program or practice.
  • Presenters typically take one round off to visit another session and learn from fellow educators.
  • Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis, though early submission is encouraged!
Submit Your Proposal!

Call for Facilitators

Are you an ISEEN Winter Institute attendee with strong facilitation skills? Apply to join our team of facilitators — a paid leadership opportunity to help build the community and connection that define the Winter Institute experience. We especially encourage veteran attendees and those with experience creating brave, inclusive spaces for people with different identities and perspectives to apply.

There are two facilitator roles available: Homeroom Facilitator and Professional Affinity Group Facilitator. You're welcome to apply for one or both.

Homeroom Facilitators
Please see this document for the full scope of work and compensation as well as instructions on how to apply.

Homerooms are small groups that give our 165+ attendees a consistent space for reflection and connection throughout the institute, mixing people across job titles, home locations, and levels of experience in the ISEEN network. We also offer opt-in affinity homerooms for 2SLBGTQIA+ and BIPOC participants in order to build in space for connection and conversation with folks of shared identity.

As a Homeroom Facilitator, you will:

  • Lead daily homeroom sessions. Groups meet at least once a day; you'll plan and guide these gatherings so they're purposeful, welcoming, and engaging.
  • Design reflective, connective programming. You'll create activities and prompts that help attendees process what they're experiencing at the institute.
  • Foster an inclusive, collaborative environment. You'll help participants engage across differences in role, background, and experience within the network.
  • Build community beyond structured time. Homerooms often share meals and informal moments together — you'll help nurture the connections that carry on long after the institute ends.

Professional Affinity Group Facilitators
Please see this document for the full scope of work and compensation as well as instructions on how to apply.

Professional Affinity Groups are often described as attendees' once-a-year "department meeting" with colleagues doing similar work across the country, continent, and globe. The time together is brief, but these sessions are among the most highly anticipated of the Winter Institute — so we're looking for creative, highly motivated facilitators to pack them with dynamic content. As a Professional Affinity Group Facilitator, you'll guide your group through activities like collaborative problem-solving and discussions of trends and topics relevant to your specific field of work, giving colleagues real space to dive in, share resources, and learn from one another.

You may select one of the following groups to facilitate:

  • Administrative & Strategic Leadership
  • Teaching & Pedagogy
  • Outdoor Education
  • Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability
  • Community Engagement
  • Student Leadership
  • Global Education & Travel
  • Intensives/Immersives Planning
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

Hotel & Travel

Hotel

The Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver is a five-star hotel in the heart of downtown Vancouver, situated one block from the Robson Street shopping district. It was voted the #3 hotel in Western Canada in the 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards.

Onsite dining includes Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, a fine-dining restaurant with a seafood focus, and the Gerard Lounge, which offers cocktails and light bistro fare. The hotel has a full fitness and health center with an indoor pool, whirlpool, and weight-training equipment.

Staying at the hotel allows for you and your colleagues to connect with other participants for meals and unscheduled times, thus enhancing your networking experience. Downtown Vancouver awaits you just outside the front door – explore local shops, restaurants, and more! Additionally, the institute opening programming will be held inside the ballrooms onsite and the shuttle buses will depart from here for daily activities. 

The guest room block offers both 1 King bed and 2 Queen bed room options, at a rate of $249 CAD per night excluding taxes and fees. The total cost per night is $300.58 CAD including all taxes and fees (which is approximately $215 USD). These prices are very competitive for the city and time of year! The block rate is available from February 8 - February 13, 2027.

Book early, there are limited rooms available at the discounted rate. The deadline to book rooms at this hotel is January 15, 2027.

Book Your Room Now

 

If for any reason you’re unable to make the booking online or have questions, please contact the hotel directly at +1 604-682-5511 and let them know that you’re with ISEEN.

Travel

If you are traveling from outside the country, please be sure to pack your passport. The United States and Canada have a reciprocal agreement in which a passport has to be good for the duration of your visit, but does not require the standard 6-month expiration rule as with other international travel. However, we strongly recommend you ensure your passport is not set to expire close to the institute date. 

For those travelling to Canada from other parts of the world (besides the United States) your passport policy may vary. Be sure to consult the internet for visa and passport requirements. ISEEN cannot offer refunds to participants who are unable to attend the institute due to travel restrictions or complications.

As many ISEEN long-timers know, ISEEN isn’t like other conferences. It isn’t even a conference! It's a fully immersive (and intense!) three (or more) days together. Because of that, we value your participation immensely and we ask that when you make your arrangements, you’re able to participate in the full institute-- beginning to end! We believe that participating in all of the institute activities enhances the quality of your experience and that of your peers. If you know that you cannot manage the full schedule, perhaps consider joining a future institute. Local attendees should also plan for very full days when making arrangements.

If you are securing your own transportation to the institute, please make sure to be at the Sutton Place Hotel, Vancouver BC no later than 1:00 PM on Wednesday, February 10 and plan on departing the hotel no earlier than 8:00 AM on Saturday, February 13. 

Planes

The institute hotel is accessible from the Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

  • Shuttle/Transit: The fastest and most popular public transit option is the Canada Line SkyTrain. The journey takes approximately 30-45 minutes and costs between $7-$10 CAD. The SkyTrain is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
  • Uber / Lyft: YVR and the hotel are 30-45 minutes away from each other. Ride shares usually cost between $30-$40 CAD.
  • Rental Cars: This is an option for those who want to stay longer or are coming earlier. Please note there is a valet fee at the hotel of $70 CAD/night, or a self-park fee of $60 CAD/night. Street parking near the hotel and the school are limited, so we encourage you to seek alternative modes of transportation in Vancouver whenever possible.

Automobiles

We recommend using Google Maps for the most efficient driving directions and traffic information. We will be providing free shuttles to/from offsite locations every day, as well as transportation for Experiential Education in Action experiences. The daily rate for hotel parking is $70 CAD for valet and $60 CAD for self-park and there are limited parking spots on campus and near campus, so driving individually to the school is highly discouraged.

Questions

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions about the Institute. Email us at [email protected] or call us at 206-209-5288. We are excited to see old friends and meet new ones!

2027 ISEEN Winter Institute Planning Committee  

Mary Barber, ISEEN Project Manager
Courtney Prieur, ISEEN Executive Director
Sarah McLean and Emily Moir, St. George's Conveners