British Columbia's public school teachers are being urged to incorporate LGBTQ+ themes into outdoor education. This initiative is part of a broader effort to "queer pedagogy," as outlined in the latest issue of Teacher magazine, published by the B.C. Teachers' Federation. The article, titled "Queering Outdoor Education," invites the province's approximately 50,000 public school teachers to use elements of nature—such as leaves, seeds, and clouds—to challenge traditional views of sexuality. Teachers are encouraged to consider how essentializing heterosexuality can harm students and to explore diverse family structures in the animal kingdom. Jody Polukoshko, a Vancouver teacher and former president of the Vancouver Elementary and Adult Educators’ Society, authored the article. She links to a 40-page curriculum guide that includes activities designed to promote queer identities in outdoor settings. For example, one suggested activity involves having students remove invasive ivy and using it as a metaphor for the oppression faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. The curriculum encourages teachers to highlight that, like native plants, queer people have always existed. Another activity prompts students to observe the "fluidity" of clouds and reflect on its implications for their own gender and sexuality. The guide also discusses the diversity of trees, asking students to consider whether nature has rules and how those rules compare to societal norms. The curriculum does not specify a minimum age for these lessons, suggesting that discussions about queer identities could begin as early as kindergarten. Polukoshko argues that traditional views of nature, which often emphasize male and female roles, can inadvertently support colonial narratives. She states that outdoor education should serve as a "decolonial tool" and emphasizes the need for teachers to challenge cis-heteronormative assumptions. This push comes amid a growing backlash against sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) policies in schools, particularly in Alberta, where new regulations require parental consent for students under 16 to change their names or pronouns. Polukoshko asserts that the backlash against SOGI policies makes it crucial for B.C. teachers to actively integrate these themes into their everyday teaching practices. She believes it is essential to move SOGI discussions beyond humanities and health classes to foster inclusive practices and build relationships with students. In related news, Ottawa and Alberta are reportedly finalizing the terms of a memorandum regarding educational policies.