The Nature School

Registration for 2024-2025 opens on April 8

The Nature School provides an alternative form of education designed to explore experiential learning opportunities and promote curiosity to nurture the whole child.

Students will receive the benefits of an inquiry, play, and place-based education while learning in an outdoor setting.

LOCATIONS

The Nature School is offered at two Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) locations: Kortright Centre for Conservation in Vaughan and Claireville Conservation Area in Brampton.

Visit the location pages to apply:

 

Kortright Centre for Conservation - Vaughan, ON

Claireville Conservation Area - Brampton, ON

QUESTIONS?

For The Nature School at Kortright:
Please contact Rachel Stewart
rachel.stewart@trca.ca

For The Nature School at Claireville:
Please contact Jasmine Green
jasmine.green@trca.ca

To register by phone, call Customer Service at (416) 667-6295 ext. 4.

  • teacher and student at Kortright Centre nature schoolOur family’s experience with The Nature School program has been nothing short of inspiring.

    Our sons come home from such days content, inspired and tired in a way that I seldom see during other organized activities and traditional school days. We can tell that they’ve used their bodies and brains in a way that has encouraged physicality, courage, leadership, teamwork and problem solving skills. Most notably, they have had FUN! And in play, the best sorts of learning take place naturally.

    All of the teachers and leaders we’ve encountered have been kind, patient, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. In searching for an alternative form of education for our youngest son specifically, we are confident that we have found such a place with The Nature School. We are excited to see him develop even further while taking part in a full time program.

    Leslie and Craig Ferguson – parents to Tate (6) and Charlie (8)

MISSION STATEMENT

To provide a supportive outdoor student-led learning environment that empowers, motivates and develops the whole child.

OUR VALUES

Take Risks

Provide opportunities to build a student’s innate motivation, confidence and skills to take supported risks within a nurturing environment where it is safe to fail.

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Educate the Whole Person

Develop the physical, social, cognitive, linguistic, emotional, social and spiritual aspects in our students and promoting their holistic development by linking school experiences to students’ life experiences.

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Student-Led

Support student development through the use of learning approaches that motivate students to develop theories, questions and ideas that build critical skills in the learning process.

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Environmental Stewardship

Utilize the diverse habitats that exists in the natural learning environment to foster a connection with and develop an appreciation for the natural environment.

child playing in mud kitchen at Kortright nature school

  • Since enrolling our daughter in the preschool program, we have seen her confidence, sense of adventure, and imaginative play flourish. She is living and breathing a preschooler’s dream, in an outdoor environment that is supportive and educational without being pressure filled or overstimulating. The program provides both the structure and the freedom to explore, be inquisitive, be active, learn about themselves, their peers, and the environment, and best of all, get dirty while doing it all!

    Sophie Dearing

LEARNING APPROACHES AND CURRICULUM

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

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

The methods 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.

young girl at Kortright Nature School

TUITION FEES

The Nature School can be booked on a per day basis. When applying, parents may choose anywhere from one to five individual days (one or two for preschool). You will be asked to indicate your preference of specific days of the week when completing the booking form.

PROGRAM

2024/2025 TUITION*

The Nature School (1 Day per Week, Sept to June)

$3,300

The Nature School (2 Days per Week, Sept to June)

$6,600

The Nature School (3 Days per Week, Sept to June)

$9,900

The Nature School (4 Days per Week, Sept to June)

$13,200

The Nature School (5 Days per Week, Sept to June)

$16,500

The Nature School Preschool (1 Day per Week, Sept to June)

$2,000

The Nature School Preschool (2 Days per Week, Sept to June)**

$4,000

The Nature School Weekend Program**

$385

* Fees are based on full school year program (September to June).
** Offered at Kortright Centre only.

2023-2024 SCHOOL CALENDAR

Dates Notes
March Break March 11 – 15 No School – March Break
Friday March 29 No School – Stat Holiday
Thursday April 25 No School – PA Day
Monday May 20 No School – Stat Holiday
Last Week of School June 10-14 Classes end

2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR

Dates Notes
First Week of School September 9-13 Classes begin
Thursday September 26 No School – PA Day
Friday September 27 No School – PA Day
Monday October 14 No School – Stat Holiday
Tuesday November 5 No School – PA Day
Wednesday December 11 No School – PA Day
Winter Break December 23-January 3 No School – Winter Break
Monday February 17 No School – Stat Holiday
Tuesday February 18 No School – PA Day
Wednesday February 26 No School – PA Day
March Break March 10- 14 No School – March Break
Friday April 18 No School – Stat Holiday
Thursday April 24 No School – PA Day
Monday May 19 No School – Stat Holiday
Last Week of School June 9-13 Classes end

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellation requests must be received by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) with 30 days notice before the child is removed from the program. Students will receive a 50% refund for the first month they are no longer attending, and will receive a 100% refund, less deposit, for all subsequent months. If we are able to fill your student’s spot in the first month, we will refund that month 100%, less deposit. The $300 deposit is not refundable. There is no refund for school 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 are required for The Nature School to operate. In the event TRCA must cancel The Nature School due to low registration, a full refund for the cancelled days will be issued.

SCHOOL CLOSURE POLICY

In the event that The Nature School is closed to in-person learning due to a government order, including but not limited to reasons of COVID-19 related restrictions, The Nature School will reduce tuition fees by 50% and will move to online learning. For Nature Preschool, online learning will not exceed three weeks in duration, at which time tuition fees will not be charged. For Nature Primary School, online learning will not exceed five weeks in duration. Withdrawals during school closures will follow the cancellation policy above.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

York Region Nature Collaborative logo

  • Feedback

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