Melanie Mulcaster

Teacher Librarian slightly obsessed with the Hunger Games, reading, making, tech & laughter. Like Coconut Joe, a legend in her own mind.

[Melanie Mulcaster @the_mulc]

What? So What? Now What? https://t.co/JzIHIektWL

[Peel District School Board @PeelSchools]

“I’ve been with Peel District School Board for 23 years, but really, this journey started long before that.”

Rob Ridley laughs when he says it, thinking back to a Grade 3 assignment where he wrote about becoming a park superintendent somewhere far away, maybe the Yukon. “I guess I’ve always known I wanted to stay connected to the land,” he says. “Education just gave me a way to bring others into that connection too.”

Today, as the Coordinator of Land-Based Learning, Rob helps thousands of students and staff each year learn with the land, not just on it. His work stretches far beyond field centres. It’s in program design, school partnerships, pre- and post-learning, and those small, unexpected moments - like pausing with students to listen to a waterfall or marvel at a salamander.

“Land-based learning matters because it reconnects us to place, to community, and to ourselves,” he explains. “It’s hands-on, relational, and grounded in the understanding that learning is holistic and lifelong.”

This work is about more than outdoor education, for Rob. It’s about building relationships with the land, with each other, and with Indigenous ways of knowing that remind us learning is rooted in connection and responsibility.

“If we don’t feel a relationship to the land we live, learn, and play on every day, what are we really connected to?” he asks.

What keeps him going after more than two decades isn’t just the philosophy, but also the transformation.

“You see it right away. The moment students step outside, something shifts. They take risks. They collaborate. They start to see the world, and themselves, differently.”

He’s proud of the programs the team has helped to build - experiences that honour local ecosystems, centre Indigenous perspectives, and support students in developing a sense of stewardship and belonging that lasts long after a field trip ends.

“Legacy isn’t about how long you’ve been somewhere,” he says. “It’s about what continues to grow because you were there.”

And then he smiles.

“I love hearing new staff say, ‘I remember coming here as a student.’ That’s when you know the impact lasted.”

For Rob, that’s the goal. Not just learning for a day, but a relationship that lasts a lifetime.

#PDSBEducationWeek #OurStoriesInAction

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

only 2 MORE SLEEPS until
Dream Forward, STEAM Ahead!
Saturday, March 28th in Milton!
https://t.co/MQX08qMUr5

Join us!

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

Educators! Join us THIS Saturday, March 28th
Dream Forward, STEAM Ahead! in Milton, Ontario
https://t.co/MQX08qMUr5
keynote panel, 30 sessions, vendor display, lunch, door prizes!...

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

Our presenters are ready for you!
30 sessions + lunch + keynote panel + vendor displays
Dream Forward, STEAM Ahead
Join us this Saturday in Milton
https://t.co/MQX08qMUr5

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

Check out our presentation sessions!
Dream Forward, STEAM Ahead!
March 28th in Milton!
Keynote Panel, Presentations, Workshops, Vendor Display, LUNCH!
REGISTER: https://t.co/MQX08qMUr5

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

We're ready for you!
Dream Forward, STEAM Ahead conference
Keynote Panel, 30 Sessions, Vendor Display, Prizes, and LUNCH!
Saturday, March 28th in Milton, Ontario.
REGISTER: https://t.co/MQX08qMUr5

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

We are bringing together leaders from education, technology, and innovation to discuss Human-Centred Teaching & Learning in the Age of AI.

Get ready for an inspiring conversation with:
Aman Sahota • Heidi Siwak • Tim King • Cal Armstrong

Register:
https://t.co/MQX08qMUr5

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

⏰ Last call!
Today is the final day to submit your proposal for Dream Forward, STEAM Ahead!

🗓 March 28 | Milton, ON
🔗 https://t.co/k4WpZWBbOP
Don’t miss your chance — submit by tonight!

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

💡 Have an idea worth sharing?

Join a community of changemakers at Dream Forward, STEAM Ahead! in Milton, ON on March 28.

Your voice belongs in this space.
🔗 https://t.co/k4WpZWBbOP

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

REGISTER TODAY!
Dream Forward, STEAM Ahead! in-person conference
Saturday, March 28th in Milton!
https://t.co/MQX08qMUr5
#OntEd #STEAM #AIinEducation

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

Share your expertise! CALL FOR PROPOSALS!
Join us March 28th for
Dream Forward, STEAM Ahead! in Milton, ON
https://t.co/k4WpZWBbOP
Submit your proposals today!

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

Got an innovative idea for education?

Dream Forward. STEAM Ahead! is accepting proposals for:
🎤 Presentations
🛠️ Hands-on workshops
🤝 Vendors

Submit here 👇
https://t.co/JxyCJpFKLL

#CallForProposals #AIinEducation

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

explorAItion! 2.0 returns TOMORROW, Wednesday, February 25th, for evening #5.
Not yet registered? Link below and receive access to the remaining 2 evenings and all the recordings from the first 4 evenings!
#OntEd #AIinEducation

https://t.co/oumie8t5t5

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

🚀 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Dream Forward. STEAM Ahead!

We’re seeking:
🎤 Presentations
🛠️ Hands-on workshops
🤝 Vendors

https://t.co/k4WpZWBbOP

Join us in shaping the future of STEAM education.

#DreamForward #STEAMAhead #AIinEducation #EdTech

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

Mark your calendars! 🗓️

Join us for an inspiring in-person conference focused on AI and emerging technologies in education.

📍 Milton, Ontario
📅 Saturday, March 28th, 2026
⏰ 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Save the date and get ready to dream big, build boldly, and lead what’s next.

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

CALL for PROPOSALS!
Dream Forward, STEAM Ahead! conference
March 28th in Milton, Ontario
#OntEd #STEAM
https://t.co/k4WpZWBbOP

[ECOOorg @ecooorg]

explorAItion! 2.0 returns next week, for evening #5.
Not yet registered? Link below and receive access to the remaining 2 evenings and all the recordings from the first 4 evenings!
#OntEd #AIinEducation

https://t.co/oumie8t5t5

[Melanie Mulcaster @the_mulc]

An amazing one day STEAM event for educators March 28th in Milton. Register today! https://t.co/SRwi5A6Y4m

[Melanie Mulcaster @the_mulc]

How was the night sky key to our survival? | BBC Ideas https://t.co/0Gm9Zqrfyd via @YouTube