THE NATURE SCHOOL at Kortright
Registration for 2024-2025 is now OPEN
10% EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT ENDS ON MAY 13
The Nature School at Kortright takes place primarily outside on Kortright’s 555-acre property, with access to a wide variety of natural ecosystems, accessible trails and multiple facilities.
Students have use of a 30,000 square-foot Visitor Centre, which includes a private indoor learning space in case of inclement weather.
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 are in.
Days: Thursdays
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: SEE TUITION FEES
Minimum registration required. Deposits will be returned if program does not meet minimum registration requirements.
Registration for 2024-2025 is Now Open!
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Visitor Services at vservices @trca.ca
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.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: SEE TUITION FEES
Minimum registration required. Deposits will be returned if program does not meet minimum registration requirements.
Registration for 2024-2025 is Now Open!
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Visitor Services at vservices @trca.ca
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.
The KPAL program at Kortright runs on Mondays.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: SEE TUITION FEES
Minimum registration required. Deposits will be returned if program does not meet minimum registration requirements.
Registration for 2024-2025 is Now Open!
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Visitor Services at vservices @trca.ca
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.
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.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Cost: SEE TUITION FEES
Minimum registration required. Deposits will be returned if program does not meet minimum registration requirements.
Registration for 2024-2025 is Now Open!
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Visitor Services at vservices @trca.ca
Little Saplings: Parent & Tot Program
Recommended for children ages 1 to 5.
Not sure if our Nature School is the right fit for you? Try our Little Saplings: Parent & Tot Program!
In this weekly program, each day begins with an adventure in a woodland setting. Children interact with the natural environment through the use of creative play.
Outdoor activities include collecting, hiding, piling and other engaging hands-on exercises such as experiments, crafts, and sensory games.
This program will prepare participants for our child-led approach to learning in a way that is exploratory, inquiry-based, fun, and unhurried!
Parent or caregiver participation is required.
Minimum registration is required for program to run.
Upcoming Sessions
SPRING 2024
Online registration for this program is now closed. If you are interested in signing up, please contact Rachel Stewart at rachel.stewart@trca.ca.
Program Dates & Times:
Saturdays, April 20 to June 15, 2024 (except May 18, 2024)
9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
$170 per participant
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Sundays, April 21 to June 16, 2024 (except May 19, 2024)
9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
$170.00 per participant
REGISTRATION CLOSED
Mondays, April 22 to June 17, 2024 (except May 20, 2024)
10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
$170.00 per participant
REGISTRATION CLOSED
The Nature School Weekend Program
Each day begins with an adventure in a woodland setting. 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.
This child-led approach to learning is exploratory, inquiry-based, fun, and unhurried.
Minimum registration is required for program to run.
Upcoming Sessions
SPRING 2024
Online registration for this program is now closed. If you are interested in signing up, please contact Rachel Stewart at rachel.stewart@trca.ca.
The Nature School Weekend Preschool Program will run on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This session is for preschool aged children from 2.5 to 5 years old.
The Nature School Primary Program will run on Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. This session is for Primary school aged children from 5 to 9 years old.
Program Dates & Times:
PRESCHOOL (Ages 2.5 to 5):
Saturdays, April 20 to June 15, 2024 (except May 18, 2024)
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
$385 per participant
REGISTRATION CLOSED
PRESCHOOL (Ages 2.5 to 5):
Sundays, April 21 to June 16, 2024 (except May 19, 2024)
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
$385 per participant
REGISTRATION CLOSED
PRIMARY (Ages 5 to 9):
Saturdays, April 20 to June 15, 2024 (except May 18, 2024)
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
$385 per participant
REGISTRATION CLOSED
PA Day Camps
Come to the Kortright Centre for Conservation on your PA Day and explore the world of The Nature School.
Students will enjoy the benefits of a day spent outdoors where nature becomes the classroom. This child-led approach to learning is exploratory, inquiry-based, fun and unhurried.
PA Day Camps are offered to children ages 4 to 10.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Pricing: $82.00 per day on April 8 | $67.00 per day on May 6
CAMP DATES
Monday May 6, 2024 / $67.00 per day
CANCELLATION POLICY
Tuition fees are paid monthly, $330 per month for each registered day of the week for Primary/Junior students or $200 per month for each registered day of the week for Preschool students.
A non-refundable deposit of $300 is due upon registration and will be used to offset the last month of the scheduled school program.
If you wish to cancel your child’s registration prior to the scheduled end date of the school program, we require 30 days written notice by email to vservices@trca.ca. Fees will be prorated and charged for the notice period and the deposit will be forfeited. If you wish to re-enroll your child after cancelling, a new deposit will be due.
There are no refunds for school days missed or not participating in school activities.
Minimum registration numbers are required in order for The Nature School to operate. In the event The Nature School must cancel due to low registration numbers a full refund for the cancelled days 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, 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.
Heather Stafford, Supervisor, Kortright Education, OCT
Heather is an Ontario Certified Teacher and certified Forest School Practitioner. She has been with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) for more than 10 years, and has been part of the Education team at the Kortright Centre since 2012.
Prior to joining TRCA, Heather worked at several other Outdoor Education centres and summer camps around Ontario, both delivering hands-on, exciting, nature-based programming and coordinating, supervising, and managing programs and staff.
Heather has two young children as well as several fuzzy and scaly pets.
Averry Aquin-Martin, Teacher, The Nature School, OCT
Despite being born and raised in the city known as Steeltown (Hamilton, ON), Averry grew up hiking the Bruce Trail, scooping up tadpoles in park puddles, and climbing mulberry trees barefoot. Having lived on the east coast of Canada for five years, Averry loves travelling to find new hikes, plants, and birds to marvel at.
As an OCT certified teacher, Averry has worked as a supply teacher with the Toronto District School Board, an outdoor educator at the Royal Botanical Gardens, and a forest school teacher at the Tir na Nog Forest School in Saint John, New Brunswick.
Her passion lies in connecting kids to nature in meaningful ways, facilitating their exploration, and guiding them in responsible risk-taking. She believes that holding space for children to connect to the natural world is the most important thing educators can do to better the health and well-being of humans and the planet.
When she is not hiding out in the woods, you can find Averry at home with a good book and her two cats.
Victoria Creese, Educator, The Nature Preschool
Victoria Creese has extensive experience working with children. She worked as a Camp Counsellor to pay her way through university. She was a volunteer at the Anishaanabe Friendship Centre in downtown Toronto, a Girl Guide leader, an elementary school librarian, a farm tour guide and storyteller.
Victoria was hired by the Kortirght Centre in 2013 to deliver educational programs. She has worked at Kortright’s Nature School since 2019 and qualified as a Forest School Practitioner that same year.
Victoria and her husband have four grown children and two grandchildren, and as a family they enjoy camping, canoeing and having adventures in the beautiful outdoors.
SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
