The Nature School at Claireville – Brampton

The Nature School at Claireville takes place primarily outside on Claireville Conservation Area‘s 848-hectare property, with access to a wide variety of natural ecosystems and accessible trails.

Students will have use of the Claireville Education Centre, which includes a private indoor learning space in case of inclement weather.

Register for The Nature School at Claireville

Meet Our Team

The Nature School Staff Bios

Adrian O’Driscoll, Senior Manager, Community Outreach & Education Adrian O’Driscoll is an experienced administrative professional working with environmental professionals, teachers, and educators in developing and delivering environmental educational programs and experiences for students and families. Adrian has worked with TRCA for 25 years and is currently Senior Manager, Community Outreach & Education, managing the Peel Community Learning team and Kortright Centre for Conservation, in addition to overseeing the education teams and programming operating out of Claireville Conservation Area. Adrian has four children, enjoys canoeing, skiing, and hiking, and is the principal for The Nature School.

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Robert Wallis, Supervisor, Community Outreach & Education, TRCA Robert Wallis oversees the administration and operations of TRCA’s suite of Nature Schools located at the Toronto Zoo, Kortright Centre, Claireville, and Claremont Nature Centre. Robert has experience developing and delivering educational and outdoor-based programs and designing and administering assessment tools for student learning to a variety of grades. He chaired a number of working groups and committees related to outdoor recreation and education, collaborating with numerous environmental partners and stakeholders, was the Principal and Education and Curriculum Manager for over 10 years with Outward Bound, where he operated an inspected private school, has taught within the TDSB as an occasional teacher, and has been a Program Director and Education Coordinator/Instructor with Outward Bound, among other roles. Robert has his Bachelor of Education, is a certified teacher, has a Bachelor of Science, has a Master of Science and has a PhD in Genetics from Oxford University.

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Cheryl Patten, Supervisor, Community Outreach and Education, TRCA Cheryl Patten is an Ontario Certified Teacher who connected to TRCA right after teacher’s college. She worked as part of the Peel Outreach and Education Team, developing and delivering school programs, prior to joining the Claireville Team. Cheryl’s connection to and interest in the outdoors began as a child through overnight camp, camping trips with her family, and mucking around in her local creek with friends. These small local adventures led to bigger adventures, exploring many parts of Canada by canoe or on foot. In her free time, Cheryl likes to spend time with her two young children, exploring by canoe, foot, and bike. In the wintertime, you can find her sliding around on the local ski hills.

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Ken MacGillivray, Teacher, The Nature School, OCT Ken grew up in Etobicoke but spent his childhood weekends and summers at his family’s cottage on Lake Huron on the Bruce Peninsula. He went to York University to become a teacher, and then to Humber College for a Certificate of Outdoor Education. Ken briefly worked at a museum near his cottage, then at a YMCA camp in a National Park. Finally, he worked for two years as a primary school teacher at a reserve in Northwestern Ontario. Ken started his time with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) as an environmental educator at the Kortright Centre for Conservation, and he has been working for TRCA ever since. Ken enjoys camping, hiking, canoeing and birdwatching, and he still spends a lot of time at his family’s cottage. He also has a passion for conservation and volunteers with the Canadian Chestnut Council.

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Betty de Groot, Educator, The Nature Preschool Betty de Groot’s love for nature began on the farm where she grew up, in rural Bolton. As a child she knew she wanted to be a teacher, and she was educated in the Trent-Queens Concurrent Education program. Betty spent 31 years teaching elementary school children in Toronto, Brampton and Caledon. She especially enjoyed her kindergarteners, whose love for nature and sense of wonder never ceased. Betty was also a leader of her schools’ Eco Team. For 21 years, she learned and shared with her various enthusiastic members what it means to value our precious home, the Earth. From community clean-ups, to bike rodeos, to butterfly garden building, the experience led her and the students to know the beauty and joy of being outdoors. Betty looks forward to welcoming all children in outdoor settings to explore, and challenge themselves and experience wonder in nature.

Cancellation Policy

A non-refundable deposit is due upon registration.

If you wish to cancel your child’s registration prior to the scheduled end date of the school program, we require 30 days written notice by email to vservices@trca.ca. Fees will be pro-rated and charged for the notice period and the deposit will be forfeited. If you wish to re-enroll your child after cancelling, a new deposit will be due.

There are no refunds for school days missed or not participating in school activities.

If tuition fees are paid monthly, the non-refundable deposit due upon registration will be used to offset the last month of the scheduled school program.

Minimum registration numbers are required in order for The Nature School to operate. In the event The Nature School must cancel due to low registration numbers a full refund for the cancelled days will be issued.

View Our Other Nature School Locations

Claremont

Kortright

Toronto Zoo

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