The Nature School at Claireville

THE NATURE SCHOOL at Claireville

Registration for 2024-2025 opens on April 8

The Nature School at Claireville takes place primarily outside on Claireville Conservation Area’s 848-hectares 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.

JUNIOR SCHOOL

PRIMARY SCHOOL

KPAL PROGRAM

PRESCHOOL

MEET OUR STAFF

Junior School

Our junior school program is for students from Grade 3 to 6.

Students are placed in a multi-age grade: an approach to education in which students are treated as individuals and their skills are built from the starting point of where they are at, rather than what grade they in.

Nature School students make forest crafts with instructor

Days: Wednesdays
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

SEE TUITION FEES

Please contact Visitor Services at (416) 667-6295 ext. 4 or email vservices@trca.ca to find out how to apply.

 

QUESTIONS?

Please contact Jasmine Green at jasmine.green@trca.ca or (647) 244- 9767.

Minimum registration required. Deposits will be returned if program does not meet minimum registration requirements.

Primary School

Our primary school program is for students from Kindergarten to Grade 3.

Students are placed in a multi-age grade: an approach to education in which students are treated as individuals and their skills are built from the starting point of where they are at, rather than what grade they are in.

primary student takes part in Nature School program at Claireville Conservation Area

Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

SEE TUITION FEES

Please contact Visitor Services at (416) 667-6295 ext. 4 or email vservices@trca.ca to find out how to apply.

 

QUESTIONS?

Please contact Jasmine Green at jasmine.green@trca.ca or (647) 244- 9767.

Minimum registration required. Deposits will be returned if program does not meet minimum registration requirements.

KPAL Program (Junior-Senior Kindergarten)

Our KPAL program is for students in Junior and Senior Kindergarten. This full-day program focuses on play-based learning that is driven by student curiosity and outdoor fun.

students enjoy play-based outdoor learning in The Nature School KPAL program at Claireville Conservation Area

The KPAL program at Claireville runs on Fridays.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Please contact Visitor Services at (416) 667-6295 ext. 4 or email vservices@trca.ca to find out how to apply.

 

QUESTIONS?

Please contact Jasmine Green at jasmine.green@trca.ca or (647) 244- 9767.

Minimum registration required. Deposits will be returned if program does not meet minimum registration requirements.

Preschool

The Nature School Preschool uses a child-led approach to learning that 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.

student enjoys The Nature School preschool program at Claireville Conservation Area

The Nature Preschool is offered to children who are 2.5 to 5 years of age and are potty trained.

The program runs from September to June.

The Preschool Program at Claireville is offered on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

SEE TUITION FEES

Registration for September 2023 is now open!
Please contact Visitor Services at (416) 667 6295 ext. 4 or email vservices@trca.ca to find out how to apply.

 

QUESTIONS?

Please contact Jasmine Green at jasmine.green@trca.ca or (647) 244- 9767.

Minimum registration required. Deposits will be returned if program does not meet minimum registration requirements.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellation requests received by TRCA more than 14 days before the start of the camp program will receive a 75% refund of the relevant program fees paid. Cancellation requests received by TRCA less than 14 days before the start of the camp program do not qualify for a refund. Please contact us in cases of sickness prior to the program so we can be in touch about rescheduling or refunding. Rescheduling is subject to availability. There is no refund for camp days missed or children opting not to participate in activities. Cancellation requests must be received in writing by email to vservices@trca.ca. Minimum registration numbers required for camp to operate. In the event TRCA must cancel the camp due to low registration or government order, a full refund will be issued.

MEET OUR STAFF

Teachers at The Nature School hold one or more professional designations, including certified Forest School Practitioners, Registered Early Childhood Educators and Ontario Certified Teachers with degrees in Outdoor Experiential Education, as well as extensive experience working with children in their early years.

Adrian O'Driscoll

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 engaging 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, which operates at two different TRCA conservation areas.

Jasmine Green

Jasmine Green, Supervisor, Claireville Education, OCT

Jasmine has been an outdoor educator for more than 15 years. With a B.Ed in Outdoor and Experiential Education, a Forest School Practitioners Certificate, and general love and enthusiasm for bringing kids outside, she has helped to develop and deliver nature programming for children of all ages.

Jasmine has worked at The Tawingo Outdoor Education Centre, The Toronto Botanical Gardens, and The Kortright Centre for Conservation. She is excited to bring her passion for the outdoors to The Nature School at Claireville.

Jasmine believes that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. When she’s not teaching other people’s offspring, she spends her time raising her own adventurous kids, taking them hiking, camping, and exploring!

Ken McGillivray

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, 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.

Betty de Groot

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.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

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