The Nature School: Frequently Asked Questions

The Nature School provides students an opportunity to direct their learning through an emergent and inquiry-based approach to education. This child-centered approach is central to our teaching philosophy and takes place in a natural outdoor setting.

The Nature School touches on all subjects and disciplines: in any given moment an experience can cut across math, science, art, language and physical education.

Learning outcomes are based on real-time explorations and experiences, rather than pre-determined concepts in books or on screens.

Students who attend The Nature School benefit from a unique learning experience. In a classroom without walls, students are able to develop theories, questions, and ideas that drive the learning process.

There are many added benefits to sending your child to The Nature School, including:

• Improved self-regulation and academic achievement
• Improved interpersonal skills (social, communication, motivation and confidence)
• Improved physical and mental health
• Improved concentration and self-discipline
• Improved creativity and resilience

You can learn more about the benefits of outdoor learning from the following:

• Child & Nature Alliance of Canada
• Ontario Children’s Outdoor Charter
• Green Teacher
• Forest School Association
• The Wild Network
• York Region Nature Collaborative

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) operates several outdoor education facilities, including the Black Creek Pioneer Village, Kortright Centre for Conservation, and Albion Hills Field Centre. TRCA has been delivering educational programming for students across the GTA since 1953.

TRCA opened The Nature School at the Kortright Centre in 2018, and expanded it to Claireville Conservation Area in 2021.

TRCA is opening two new Nature School locations in 2024 at the Toronto Zoo and at Claremont Nature Centre.

Students at The Nature School primarily learn through experiential and inquiry-based models of learning. Teachers observe, record, and facilitate explorations and learning opportunities that cater to the interests of our students in an outdoor context.

All of our teachers have their Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) teaching certificate and are familiar with the Ontario Ministry of Education Curriculum. While we do not use the curriculum as a strict checklist, our teachers do use it as a guide to ensure a well-rounded education for our students.

Teachers use a student-led, inquiry-based approach when developing lessons.

Teachers facilitate student learning by providing a variety of tools, resources and experiences that guide students to find answers to their own questions. This helps to build confidence, self-reliance, and independent thinking skills.

Learning approaches used by our teachers include:

• Inquiry-based: A dynamic and emergent process that builds on students’ natural curiosity about the world in which they live.
• Play-based: Recognizes the integral role of play in a child’s development. This approach engages the whole child by encouraging a depth of experience and treating a child’s emotional, physical and social selves as interwoven.
• Experiential learning: Learning that is based on students being directly involved in a learning experience rather than being taught pre-determined lesson plans. Students learn through and reflect on their learning experiences.
• Place-based: The act of connecting children to a particular place through direct experiential contact.

At The Nature School, students learn language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, visual arts, music, and drama through these learning approaches.

Every day at The Nature School can bring a new experience and looks different from the day before.

Themes and topics that have interested students on previous days have been recorded and serve to direct the development of the teacher’s future lesson plans. Teachers are able to delve deeper into students’ learning by taking what students are interested in and combining it with the Ontario Curriculum.

One day at The Nature School could focus on math, while the next day will focus on science and language. Students have unstructured time every day to explore, read, and work on special interest projects.

At The Nature School, students will go on field trips that are linked to their interests. Field trips to McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Tommy Thompson Park, and other locations may be planned throughout the school year.

The Nature School philosophy has children learning and engaging with nature regardless of weather. In rare instances of severe weather including electrical storms, heavy rain, heavy snow, strong winds, and severe temperatures, an indoor private learning space is available.

A comprehensive clothing list is sent home prior to the first day of school to ensure your child’s outdoor experience is a positive one during mild inclement weather events.

The Nature School students benefit from a small student-to-teacher ratio. This can vary by location. At the Toronto Zoo, the staff to student ratio is 2 staff to 15 students. At all other locations the staff to student ratio is 1 staff to 10 students.

All teachers at The Nature School have been thoroughly screened and are Ontario College of Teachers certified and have completed or are completing a Forest School Practitioners Certification. All have multiple years of outdoor environmental education training and program delivery experience.

All of our teaching staff have participated in various health and safety training modules and are first aid and CPR level C certified and hold a clear Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS), which is an in-depth criminal reference check.

Our Nature School team structure can vary slightly by location, but in general consists of a senior manager, a supervisor, a school principal, grounds, facility and administrative support staff and teaching staff.

The Nature School operates from September to June. School starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. Students may be dropped off between 8:45 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and must be picked up promptly at 3:00 p.m.

Unfortunately, at this time The Nature School is unable to offer financial assistance to families and students. We continue to work with external partners and funding agencies to offer financial assistance to those in need. Please check our homepage for updates and eligibility requirements.

Nutritious, kid-friendly lunches will be provided at Claremont Nature Centre. Students with dietary restrictions will be accommodated. Families that do not want to participate in the lunch program may opt out.

At this time, students needing one-on-one support must provide their own educational assistant.

Our schools currently teach Preschool to Grade 6.

The Nature School at the Toronto Zoo will have a maximum enrollment of 15 students per day and will only accept students from Senior Kindergarten to grade 3.

Claremont Nature Centre will have a maximum enrollment of 10 and will accept students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6.

Placing students in multi-age grades helps to create a supportive learning environment in which students have the opportunity to take on leadership roles and learn from each other.

In this environment, students are empowered to use problem-solving skills, mentor each other, and create a strong school community.

The short answer is no.

At The Nature School, we recognize the different learning situations of our students and their families. Many of our students are home schooled or have alternative education on the days of the week when they do not attend The Nature School. Some students attend public school and The Nature School.

We understand and support a caregiver’s choice to meet the unique educational needs of their child(ren), and offer different enrollment options to meet each student’s needs

These options can and do vary. Some of our students are enrolled just one day per week. Others may attend two to five days per week.

The Nature School Preschool is nature-based outdoor learning program. This child-led approach to learning is exploratory, inquiry based, fun, and unhurried.

Children interact with the natural environment through the use of loose parts, creative play, shelter building, whittling wood, cooking on an open fire, knots, making woodland crafts, and sharing stories.

The Nature School Preschool teachers hold one or more professional designations, including certified Forest School Practitioners, Registered Early Childhood Educators and/or Ontario Certified Teachers (OCT) with degrees in Outdoor Experiential Education and extensive experience working in early years programs.

The child-to-teacher ratio at the Preschool is 1:6.

Children attending The Nature School Preschool must be at least 2.5 years old and must be potty trained.

Children who are 2.5 to 3 years of age as of September may attend one day a week.

Children who are 4 to 5 years of age as of September may attend two days per week.

The Nature School philosophy has children outside regardless of weather.

In rare instances of severe weather, including thunderstorms, heavy rain, heavy snow, strong winds and severe temperatures, an indoor learning space is available.