Mission – Education rooted in nature to inspire in our students a deeper connection to the community around them.
Vision – Every child is given the opportunity to learn about their world through daily access to extended time in nature. Quality educators facilitate an emergent curriculum that reflects the needs of the whole child and meets the demands of the world in which we live.
How Does Learning Happen at Greenbelt Academy?
Our vision is that every child is given the opportunity to learn about their world through daily access to extended time in nature. Quality educators facilitate an emergent curriculum that reflects the needs of the whole child and meets the demands of the world in which we live.
At Greenbelt Academy we strive to meet our vision through hands-on experiential learning opportunities that follow the interests of the child, by allowing the curriculum to be fluid and built through observation and real life happenings. Teacher-led workshops and small group demonstrations are a mix of Ontario Curriculum and Forest School pedagogy which offer new skills and address the needs of the whole child and realities of their community. We incorporate opportunities for risky play while in the forest and onsite, and offer multiple unstructured play sessions throughout the day. Our pedagogy places importance on developing emotional intelligence and we incorporate these skills into our lesson plans and responsive interactions with students. Through nature immersion, children develop environmental literacy which encourages them to grow to be humans who are authentically connected to the world around them and are more likely to care for and advocate for the future of our planet and their communities. Through our program, your child will be prepared with a solid foundation to support them down whatever path their education takes them.
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Interview with CHCH News.
Our Latest News & Resources!
What We’re Reading: Free to LEARN
"Free to Learn" argues that the current education system suppresses children's natural curiosity and creativity. Peter Gray proposes that free play is crucial to children's learning and development, and that children should be empowered to direct their own education to thrive in the modern world.
World Discovery Day – Ukraine
In April, we traveled to Ukraine for World Discovery Day. We learned about its culture, food, music, and animals, did traditional art, recreated landmarks, planted sunflowers, and made playdough Ukrainian dishes.
Myth or Fact: Climate Crisis
In honour of Earth Day, our Myth or Fact this month relates to the climate crisis. There is a lot of information out there - have you been swayed into believing some of these common climate crisis myths?
What We’re Reading: Silent Spring
With the celebration of Earth Day this month - get inspired to save the Earth with these informative and important books. We highly recommend Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. See more Earth Day-inspired books!
The Child and Nature Alliance of Canada Podcast
A collection of stories and interviews about outdoor play and forest and nature school in Canada.
What We’re Reading: Balanced and Barefoot
In this important book, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook shows how outdoor play and unstructured freedom of movement are vital for children’s cognitive development and growth.
