Benefits

Engagement

• Students are highly engaged in learning because it is relevant, meaningful, and connected to their community.
• Students develop community mindedness as they make connections with nature, the environment, and community members.
• Strong relationships are built with local businesses, non-profit organizations, and the Town of Okotoks which provides real world connections for students.
• Students develop real world problem solving skills as they face challenges and overcome them.
  
  

Support

• Learning outside increases academic, social, and emotional resilience.
• Learning outside has been proven to reduce disruptive behaviours, which has a positive impact on all student’s learning.
• Students develop a strong sense of stewardship for the world around them, as they interact with it on a regular basis.
• Learning in the outdoors has been proven to reduce stress hormones in the brain, which promotes learning, and healthy brain development.
  
  

Success

• Students have high levels of motivation for learning which leads to greater academic success.
• Students develop deep conceptual understanding of the subject matter they study.
• Students develop the academic resilience needed to face difficult challenges and find strategies to solve them.
• Students apply their knowledge in new ways, which leads to deeper understandings, and better retention of knowledge