…Nobody in the 1950s talked about acid rain or holes in the ozone layer or global warming. But I knew my woods and my fields; I knew every bend in the creek and dip in the beaten dirt paths. I wandered those woods even in my dreams. A kid today can likely tell you about the Amazon rain forest—but not about the last time he or she explored the woods in solitude, or lay in a field listening to the wind and watching the clouds move.”

Richard Louv,  Last Child in the Woods

Living in Chelsea and the Gatineau Hills, we are united as a community that appreciates nature and the outdoors. The CCNS believes the appreciation of our natural world is something we want to our children to embrace and understand. There is no greater wonder than the world that is around. us.    Our forays into nature for the fall colour hike and the spring flower walk are always a big hit with the kids and the parents alike, so it seemed to be a natural extension for the school to incorporate this outdoor element into our weekly curriculum.  This is something that makes our school as unique as our community.

 

Our Outdoor Ed Program

 We are blessed that our teaching director Michelle H.  has a Biology degree, specializing in Ecology and background working as a nature interpreter. This is her passion and it allows her and Michelle G. to lead a dynamic exciting program for the Monday, Wednesday, Friday children.

Katie, our junior teacher along with Michelle G., adds the outdoor ed component for the Junior children in the Spring or once the school’s youngest students have settled into the daily routines and working in a larger group.

 

What do the kids do?

The program starts off slowly and gradually increases both the time spent outdoors as well as venturing further afield as the year progresses. The activities are always connected to the themes of the classroom. So for instance – the start of the year the class is focused on being introduced to the concept of school. So in this vein – the kids will spend their first outdoor ed day outside exploring the natural environment of their school.

A scavenger hunt in the school yard introduces our kids to the idea that nature is all around them and will help attune their young eyes for the little creatures and to see the changes that are happening constantly around us in our natural world.

Winter will bring new challenges as we learn to manage snowshoes and learn about how they allow us to explore despite the deep snow.  Finally, Spring brings with it greater maturity and a willingness and excitement to explore further afield. The land owned by Hydro Quebec  at the end of Mill Rd. holds a host of opportunities to explore the forest, even bringing our snack with us and having a picnic in the woods!

The options are endless and the learning reflects what we are doing in the classroom, connecting our inside learning to the realities outside.

When does this happen?

Every Friday, the Senior and Afternoon classes spend an extended learning period outside. This take place at the end of the day for the morning children and at the beginning of the afternoon for the PM class.  The children have just eaten snack (AM class ) or lunch (PM class) which helps them  maintain a good energy level  for the added outdoor activity.

And what about the weather?

This program is not weather dependent. We will go out in all weather unless it is dangerous to do so. That means thunderstorm, extreme heat, or cold below -15.

How can parents help?

Dress your kids appropriately.

It will only take one cold, wet, miserable child to dampen the experience for the entire class.

So what does that mean?   Take notes from a seasoned outdoors-woman and nursery school director for dressing your kids for the elements.

• Rubber boots should be big enough to permit a pair of wool socks to be worn inside; allowing ‘wiggle room” also creates ‘dead-air space’ which assists in insulating the foot. Socks should assist in wicking moisture away from the skin,    Cotton tends to sweat easily and does not do a great job at wicking moisture away from the skin!!
• Good quality rain wear (coat and pants) will enhance your child’s enjoyment of the wet weather. When purchasing clothing think about whether it will keep your child dry (the dew can be heavy in tall grass on Fall mornings), warm, and comfortable.
• Gloves are not recommended.  They do not allow the child’s body heat to aid in keeping fingers warm and most preschoolers cannot reliably get their fingers into all the correct holes!  Waterproof mittens are best in winter with lighter mitts reserved for early fall and spring.
• Snowsuits should be warm and fairly waterproof and allow for independent dressing.
• Neckwarmers are preferred over scarves for safety reasons and ease of putting on.

 

And remember:  There is no such thing as bad weather – just bad clothing.

 We hope you are as excited about this program as we are.   We know it excites your kids, that is for sure.