Nature Based Learning

At the beginning of the year teachers work to build stamina, expectations and trust with students. As students gradually become more competent in being outside and teachers understand and see appropriate behaviours demonstrated we start to venture further from the school. 

Once this trust has been established and students are meeting expectations we move more deeply into the community and nature.  We are never very far from the school and there is always someone available to come support our students if there is a need. 

There are certain activities that require more supervision or involvement from parent volunteers. This is something coordinated by the teacher. It is important to note that students are engaging in purposeful learning under the guidance of masterful teachers. The teachers have training in wilderness first aid and Outdoor Council of Canada Field Leader courses. This allows for proper planning and situational awareness combined with solid teaching to create safe engaging learning. 

In earlier grades teachers may have even more parents involved durning the outdoor days on a regular basis to help support the little ones.  

This is an awesome question and one that we take very seriously. We train students in Leave No Trace principles. These are:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel on Durable surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave what you find
5. Minimise campfire impact
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Respect others

These principles calls us to have a ethic of care for our community and its natural spaces.  We would do assessments at the beginning of the year and monitor usage of these places to ensure that we are not exceeding the capacity of the land to regenerate. In addition, there are many other places that are not utilized because we do not have to as usage is low currently. There are space in Lineham Park, Old MacLeod Trail, Sun Tree Park, Carr Crescent Park and the River Valley that can be used as well. These places are still not that far away. Likely the closer areas will be used by the littles and we will develop a schedule to give the land time to rest. This is something that the students can be involved with as well as it will matter to them that these places are carded for and not abused. In addition students will be caretakers and stewards doing cleaning projects to ensure these places are in better shape after we are done with them. It is important to note there are also other used groups in these public spaces such as: Common Digs, Good Shepard, Okotoks Jr High and random kids afterschool that may not share the same ethic for care of the land that we do. We would endeavour to educate and coordinate usage of these spaces to benefit everyone.

Thank you for your question regarding transportation.  We are not able to provide busing as the Province does not fund transportation for Alternative Programs such as this.

• Students will have the proper gear to be comfortable outside.
• Teachers will coach students in how to use their clothing and strategies to be comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
• Teachers will carry a tarp, and gear to support students.
• We adapt the activity and the duration to suit the weather. 
• We will NOT go outside if the weather deems learning unsafe. (extreme cold, lightning, etc.) 

We will use the surrounding areas to Ecole Percy Pegler School. This may include:

• Natural areas surrounding the school
• The Sheep River valley
• Downtown Okotoks
• Community parks and pathways
• Community facilities such as the art gallery, museum, library, etc.
• Kananaskis Country

We will be designing the outdoor days around having access to bathrooms periodically throughout the day. In most cases we will be close enough to the school or an outhouse that we will be able to use those bathrooms, but in other instances, we may utilize other schools, some community infrastructure, and even some local partnered businesses. 

For younger grades, the use of a portable toilet may be necessary where facilities are not near by.

Parents will be responsible for getting their child to and from Ecole Percy Pegler School. There will be no bussing provided.

• All staff will have first aid training and well stocked first aid kits.
• All staff will have an emergency communication device such as a cell phone.
• Staff will coordinate with the office and parents if the situation requires a pick up.

Communication will be the key to these scenarios. Teachers will have cell phones on them at all times when learning outside, and can coordinate with pick up and drop off locations.

Students will be expected to come to school with a backpack and clothing that will allow them to be comfortable in all weather. If a family is unable to provide proper clothing for their child, the school can help support with clothing. 

Here is an example of a gear list for spring, summer, or fall seasons.

• At least a 20 - 30 L backpack (depending on grade) with hip straps for support
• Sturdy footwear
• Waterproof/ Breathable Rain jacket and pants AND/OR rain poncho
• Synthetic fleece jacket (warm mid layer - NOT COTTON)
• 1 set of synthetic long underwear, top and bottoms
• 1 pr. of synthetic quick dry pants (Track pants are OK)
• 1 short sleeve t-shirt (NOT COTTON)
• 1 back up pair of wool or synthetic socks (incase feet get wet or cold)  
• Toque and neck tube/Buff
• Gloves for fall 
• Waterproof mitts/ gloves for winter (warmer the better)
• At least 1L of water (screw top preferred as they do not leak in pack)
• Hat, Sunglasses, Sunscreen 
• Healthy Lunch (must be a bag lunch that does not require a microwave)
• Energy snacks (pocket snacks)