How Mills AS Began
Mills AS was founded in 2019 in Oslo, Norway, with the goal of making forest education accessible to a wider audience. Our founding team recognized that many people felt drawn to nature but lacked the structured knowledge to engage with forest environments confidently and responsibly.
Canada, with its vast and varied forest landscapes stretching from the temperate rainforests of British Columbia to the boreal expanses of northern Ontario and Quebec, offered a natural focus for our educational programs. We saw an opportunity to create learning pathways that addressed the unique characteristics of Canadian forests.
Today, Mills AS serves learners in every Canadian province and territory through online programs that cover forest ecosystems, nature awareness, observation skills, outdoor preparation, and environmental responsibility. Every program is designed to be beginner-friendly while still providing meaningful depth for those looking to expand their knowledge.
Our Mission and Vision
Clear goals drive everything we build, from program content to participant experience.
Our Mission
To provide structured, accessible, and responsible forest education for learners throughout Canada. We aim to help participants develop practical outdoor awareness, environmental understanding, and a respectful relationship with natural spaces.
Every program we create is built around clarity, accuracy, and respect for the natural world. We believe that well-informed learners become better stewards of the environments they visit and value.
Our Vision
A Canada where every person who steps into a forest does so with knowledge, preparation, and environmental awareness. We envision a growing community of learners who understand seasonal changes, recognize local ecosystems, and practice responsible outdoor habits.
Through education, we hope to contribute to a culture of mindful outdoor participation that preserves Canadian forests for future generations while making nature accessible to people of all backgrounds and experience levels.
Our Core Values
These principles shape every program, resource, and interaction at Mills AS.
Educational Integrity
We present information accurately and transparently. Our programs do not make exaggerated claims, promise guaranteed outcomes, or substitute for professional outdoor safety training. Every piece of content is reviewed for clarity and factual correctness before publication.
Environmental Respect
Respect for the natural world sits at the centre of everything we teach. Low-impact habits, wildlife distance, waste awareness, and conservation principles are woven into every program module.
Inclusivity
Our programs welcome adults, students, families, educators, and absolute beginners. No prior outdoor experience or specialized knowledge is needed to start learning with Mills AS.
Canadian Focus
Content is tailored to Canadian forest types, weather patterns, wildlife, and regional landscapes. Learners from every province and territory find relevant, applicable knowledge in our programs.
Responsible Positioning
We are an educational platform, not a safety certification provider. Participants are always reminded that they are responsible for their own outdoor decisions, safety planning, and local conditions.
How We Build Our Programs
Every program follows a careful development process rooted in research, specialist review, and learner feedback.
Research and Planning
Each program begins with detailed research into the specific topic area. We study Canadian forest types, regional conditions, seasonal patterns, and learner needs to define clear educational objectives and scope.
Specialist Development
Invited specialists in forest education, nature awareness, and environmental learning contribute to curriculum design. Their expertise ensures content accuracy, educational depth, and practical relevance for Canadian learners.
Structured Content Creation
Programs are organized into weekly modules with clear learning goals. Each module includes reading materials, observation exercises, preparation checklists, and environmental responsibility reminders that build knowledge progressively.
Review and Improvement
After each program cycle, we gather participant feedback and specialist input to refine content, update references, and improve the learning experience. This ongoing process keeps our programs relevant and effective.
Who We Serve
Our programs are designed to meet the needs of diverse learner groups across Canada.
Adults and Beginners
Individuals with little or no previous outdoor education who want a structured introduction to forest environments, nature observation, and responsible outdoor habits.
Families
Parents and families looking for educational activities they can share together, from simple observation games and seasonal tasks to age-appropriate forest safety discussions.
Educators and Students
Teachers, instructors, and students seeking supplementary materials for environmental studies, geography classes, or personal professional development in outdoor education.
Mills AS at a Glance
Registered in Norway
Mills AS is a registered organization based at Sofienberggata 19, 0558 Oslo, Norway. Our administrative operations run from Oslo while our educational programs serve learners across Canada.
Operating Since 2019
Since our founding, we have developed six distinct forest education programs, each designed to address a specific area of outdoor knowledge and environmental awareness.
Online Delivery
All programs are delivered online, removing geographic barriers. Learners from Yukon to Newfoundland and Labrador can access the same high-quality educational materials at their own pace.
Responsive Communication
Our team responds to inquiries via email at [email protected]. We welcome questions about programs, enrollment, and educational content from potential and current learners alike.
Educational Purpose Statement
Important information about our programs
All forest programs, nature awareness lessons, environmental learning materials, checklists, and educational content provided by Mills AS are offered solely for educational and informational purposes.
Mills AS does not provide medical advice, legal advice, survival training guarantees, outdoor safety guarantees, professional certification guarantees, employment guarantees, environmental result guarantees, or risk-free activity promises.
Invited specialists and experts participate exclusively as educational contributors. Participants remain fully responsible for their own outdoor decisions, physical limits, local rules, weather checks, route choices, equipment, safety planning, environmental behaviour, and use of educational materials.
Read our full Outdoor Education DisclaimerReady to Start Learning?
Explore our forest education programs or get in touch to find the right learning pathway for your needs and experience level.