About
Back to basics: learning through and with nature
At Coyote Programs, we believe that nature is our first teacher.
Our mission: to nurture in youth a sense of belonging to the Earth, to their community, and to themselves.
Through exploration, survival skills, ecology, play and mentoring, we offer experiences that foster curiosity, resilience, leadership, creativity and empathy.
Children need to spend time outdoors — it's where the foundations of holistic well-being are formed. Our nature-based learning programs offer vibrant spaces where young people can explore, create, tell stories, and dream, while developing their confidence and independence.
Our philosophy: take inspiration from the Coyote
The coyote (Canis latrans var.) is a fascinating animal and a symbol of resilience, intelligence, and adaptability.
Found in Montreal in the form of the "coywolf", it reminds us that even in the city, nature is very close and that we must learn to coexist harmoniously with it.
In many traditions, the coyote is both a teacher and a trickster: a mischievous guide who pushes us to think and observe to overcome our fears.
He perfectly embodies the spirit of Coyote Mentoring, an educational approach passed down by Jon Young and Tom Brown Jr., which has inspired our work since our beginnings: to support youth in learning through experience, curiosity and a healthy relationship with the natural world.
Nature-based learning
Mentoring
We build long-term relationships with participants.
Each activity is an opportunity for growth, tailored to each child's personality and passions.
Learning often happens invisibly, transmitted through stories, play, challenges and complicity, which make our programs both stimulating and profoundly human experiences.
Ecology
We believe that Nature is the greatest teacher. Observing, naming and understanding what inhabits its ecosystems cultivates both ecological literacy and empathy.
Regular contact with the elements fosters common sense, resilience, and problem-solving skills — essential skills for becoming conscious and responsible individuals.
Skills
Shelters, fire, water, food: beyond survival, these teachings foster connection, awareness and confidence.
Starting a fire, knowing about plants, understanding ecological cycles... each step grant us access to a better understanding of the living. Our goal is not only to survive but to thrive in Nature.
Conscious and decolonized education
Our approach recognizes that the relationship with the Earth cannot be separated from the history of the peoples who inhabit it. Indeed, nature-based education has often perpetuated acts of cultural appropriation. Conversely, we choose instead to support the liberation and autonomy of Indigenous peoples.
We are working to create programs that honor their teachings without copying them. We integrate gratitude, respect, and humility into our practices, while inviting participants to reflect on how this earth was inhabited before us, and how we can serve, protect, and honor those who have always cared for it.
Some of our efforts towards reconciliation and deconolization include:
- inviting indigenous teachers to share their culture and history
- teaching the indigenous names of places
- recognizing the territories on which we live
- encouraging everyone to explore their own cultural heritage in connection with the land
We also seek to denounce stereotypes and promote dialogue between nations.
These small but sincere gestures nurture a truly vibrant and responsible education, rooted in respect, awareness and reciprocity.
An authentic immersion
