A Bluewater District School Board teacher has been recognized by the Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario (COEO) for her exceptional work in developing young leaders through outdoor education.
Congratulations to Tobin Day, who was named as this year's recipient of the Dorothy Walter Award for Leadership at the recent COEO annual conference. Tobin currently teaches at Bruce Peninsula District School in Lions Head (Semester 1) and Owen Sound District Secondary School (Semester 2). This coveted award was created in 1986 in honour of outdoor education enthusiast and leader Dorothy Walter, who committed many years of her life to serving as Head of the Camping and Outdoor Education Services for the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation, and supervising the Ontario Camp Leadership Centre.
Tobin began her career in outdoor education as a youngster, spending time in the forests and on the waters of Ontario with her family. Throughout her upbringing, it became a family tradition to return to 'special places' time and again. After earning a degree from Lakehead University, and then working in Toronto with school groups, where she shared her knowledge of gardening, insects, and soils, among other things, Tobin chose to relocate to one of the 'special places' of her youth. This further provided her with an opportunity to share with young people what she had learned to love and appreciate about the natural areas of Bruce and Grey Counties.
Upon her return to Bruce-Grey, Tobin helped to facilitate a day camp over several summers at the Bluewater Outdoor Education Centre near Wiarton, where she focused on honing outdoor and naturalist skills. Many of her campers grew up to join one of the many outdoor education programs she would later teach. Her extensive track record includes teaching or co-teaching Outers to secondary students at Bruce Peninsula District School, the Environmental Studies Program at Grey Highlands Secondary School in Flesherton, and ECO-Shores at Peninsula Shores District School in Wiarton. She was also instrumental in creating Owen Sound District Secondary School's new ECHO program, a recognized Specialist High Skills Major in the Environment sector, which allows students to earn a Red Seal on their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Tobin is highly regarded by her co-workers and students for her ability to open minds to new ways of thinking. She often introduces her students to ideas and experiences, such as veganism, low impact camping, leadership of younger students, canoeing, winter camping, and gardening, to name a few. Students often return to visit her, and parents frequently compliment her on the impact she has had on their children. Her Bluewater District School Board colleagues, students and friends applaud her for the remarkable achievement of receiving the Dorothy Walter Award for Leadership!
source: media release, BWDSB
