Senior Kindergarten to Grade 3 Students Will Enjoy a Unique Outdoor Educational Experience Featuring Animals and Plants from Around the World!
June 4, 2024, Toronto, ON — Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is excited to announce the opening of a new Nature School at the Toronto Zoo, offering families one of the most unique and dynamic educational settings in the GTA.
Situated within the Toronto Zoo’s more than 500-acre property and surrounded by captivating wildlife, the school offers an immersive, hands-on experience for senior kindergarten to Grade 3 students that goes far beyond traditional classrooms.
The Nature School‘s educational approach prioritizes hands-on experiences and inquiry-based learning through child-directed exploration, facilitated by knowledgeable instructors.
Through a unique emergent curriculum that values curiosity and asking questions, students are encouraged to use problem solving and develop critical thinking skills in a supportive environment.
As part of The Nature School at the Toronto Zoo, students will have access to the Zoo’s outdoor learning areas and pavilions, the Kids Zoo area, the seven zoogeographic regions, and exclusive access to some natural areas and trails on the property not open to the public.
This almost completely outdoor experience allows students to discover the wonders of nature firsthand and observe wildlife in settings that mimic their natural habitat, fostering a deeper connection and understanding of our natural world.
Beyond the curriculum, The Nature School is focused on bringing the physical and mental health benefits of being active outdoors and encouraging young minds to disconnect from their screens.
The Nature School at the Toronto Zoo offers a flexible enrollment policy, allowing students to enroll from one to five days per week, enabling families to meet their children’s unique educational requirements.
Additionally, the school has a remarkably low student-to-teacher ratio of two staff members per 15 students, ensuring personalized attention and support for all students.
In celebration of the Toronto Zoo’s 50th anniversary and the unveiling of this new school, TRCA is pleased to offer benefits to the first 50 enrollments* amounting to more than $500 in savings:
- A Toronto Zoo Silver Family Membership (admits one adult and up to four children): $159.30 value
- A TRCA Conservation Parks Family Membership (admits up to six persons at various locations): $150.25 value
- A $200 discount on tuition for each day of the week a student is registered, available to the first 50 confirmed registrations only.
Registration is now open for students in senior kindergarten to Grade 3. Enrollment will be capped at 15 students per class.
Visit The Nature School online to learn more and register.
*Limit of 50 Toronto Zoo memberships and TRCA Conservation Area memberships available until July 31, 2024, or while supplies last. Only one Family Zoo and one TRCA parks family membership per family regardless of the number of children or days enrolled. $200 discount can be applied to each day of the week a student is registered for and is only available to the first 50 registrations. Registration is defined as each day of the week purchased for the program’s duration.
Quotes:
“Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is pleased to announce the newest Nature School at the Toronto Zoo. The Zoo’s unique setting will enhance our educational approach to provide young learners with immersive, hands-on experiences, surrounded by nature and wildlife. We are excited to host our very first group of students and help build their curiosity and passion for the natural world inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.”
— John MacKenzie, Chief Executive Officer, TRCA
“Our mission is to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction. The first step in fighting extinction is to ignite the passion for nature in our community and get people involved, and the best way to do this is to educate people about the plight facing wild spaces and wild species. We need the next generation to continue this fight, and it’s incredible as an organization to be able to provide the opportunity for people to get involved and learn about nature and wildlife.”
— Dolf DeJong, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Zoo
About Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
Since 1957, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), as enabled through the provincial Conservation Authorities Act, has taken action to enhance our region’s natural environment and protect our land, water, and communities from the impacts of flooding and increasingly extreme weather events – Ontario’s leading cause of public emergencies.
As the region’s first line of defence against natural hazards, TRCA maintains vital infrastructure and provides programs and services that promote public health and safety, protecting people and property.
TRCA mobilizes a science-based approach to provide sound policy advice, leveraging its position as a not-for-profit operating in the broader public sector to achieve collective impacts within our communities and across all levels of government.
TRCA’s jurisdiction includes nine watersheds and their Lake Ontario shorelines, spanning six upper-tier and fifteen lower-tier municipalities and representing almost five million people, approximately 10% of Canada’s population.
To learn more about TRCA, visit trca.ca.
About the Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo’s mission is to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction and our vision is a world where wildlife and wild spaces thrive.
An iconic tourist attraction and conservation organization, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats – from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day including December 25 and attracts approximately 1.3 million guests each year.
Toronto Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Zoo has also achieved the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Certificate of Good Animal Practice® and is inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
To learn more about the Toronto Zoo, visit torontozoo.com.
Media Contacts
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA):
Afiya Jilani
Specialist, Communication and Media Relations
Communications, Marketing and Events
afiya.jilani@trca.ca
Toronto Zoo:
Amy Baptista
Strategic Communications – Media Relations
abaptista@torontozoo.ca