Raja Raudsepp Email and Phone Number

My role as Teacher with TRCA is multi-faceted. I work on education aspects of numerous projects including Tommy Thompson Park, The Meadoway, Watershed on Wheels, and the Native Plants Program.In this role, I coordinate, develop, market, and deliver in-class and virtual presentations, engaging students of all ages in environmental education; collaborate on funding applications; and, most recently, produce pre-recorded and livestreamed online education opportunities.

I create, coordinate, and facilitate school and public programming at Tommy Thompson Park, Toronto's Urban Wilderness. In ensuring accessibility for educational opportunities, I secure funding for student visits and for marginalized community members to grow their connections to nature. I establish innovative programming relevant to current environmental issues and enthusiastically engage participants in caring about these issues, encouraging personal action as a next step.

Delivered environmental education programs at various TRCA sites including Lake St. George Field Centre, Kortright Centre for Conservation, Tommy Thompson Park, Albion Hills Field Centre, and Claremont Nature Centre.

Wilderness can exist in an urban environment. This is what I helped students realize during my spring and fall sessions teaching the Winged Migration and the City Life, Wildlife program at Tommy Thompson Park. We discussed issues surrounding habitat health, hiked and explored the park, and played games to help explain concepts such as invasive species. During my time with them, students' emotional connections to the natural environment grew.

At Lake St. George Field Centre, I approached environmental education from an outdoor perspective, delivering curriculum-based lessons on a variety of fascinating topics including Lake and Wetland Ecology, Watershed Studies, Animal Ecology, Orienteering (map, compass, and GPS), Wilderness Survival, First Nations and Coureurs de Bois, Recreation (i.e. Cross-Country Skiing), and Environmental Activism.I've played a very active role in the establishment and facilitation of The Weston… Show more At Lake St. George Field Centre, I approached environmental education from an outdoor perspective, delivering curriculum-based lessons on a variety of fascinating topics including Lake and Wetland Ecology, Watershed Studies, Animal Ecology, Orienteering (map, compass, and GPS), Wilderness Survival, First Nations and Coureurs de Bois, Recreation (i.e. Cross-Country Skiing), and Environmental Activism.I've played a very active role in the establishment and facilitation of The Weston Family Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow program. This program gives grade six students in the Toronto area (and now other parts of Ontario) the opportunity to spend time in wilderness settings, taking their environmental learnings back to their schools in order to take action on lessening their environmental impact and the impact of others in their school communities.Other projects in this role included coordinating visits with clients, communicating on social media, and obtaining funding for a program.Working with youth in the outdoors and playing a role in strengthening their connection to nature is energizing and inspiring. I am honoured to have had the opportunity to witness positive growth and change in students I have worked with. Show less

I may have learned more than I taught, from the creative and dynamic youth I worked with at Trails Youth Initiatives. By leading the at-risk Toronto teens who participated in the program through their journey of developing positive teamwork skills and strong connections to nature, discoveries were made. The myriad of strategies employed at Trails included group initiatives and conflict resolution strategies, and, very powerfully, simply spending the time with the students. These collectively… Show more I may have learned more than I taught, from the creative and dynamic youth I worked with at Trails Youth Initiatives. By leading the at-risk Toronto teens who participated in the program through their journey of developing positive teamwork skills and strong connections to nature, discoveries were made. The myriad of strategies employed at Trails included group initiatives and conflict resolution strategies, and, very powerfully, simply spending the time with the students. These collectively resulted in significant growth and change in the committed individuals I had the good fortune to know and teach. Show less

Team building, leadership, and community development were common themes in the programs I delivered at Adventureworks! Associate, Inc. Whether working with youth or adults, the focus was always on interactions between group members. The use of high and low ropes challenges and rock climbing provided effective contexts for the strengthening of our clients' group dynamics.