Tucked away in a quiet little stand of trees and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Shuswap, just over 100 students in Salmon Arm spent their first week back to school learning in the great outdoors.
The South Canoe Outdoor Learning School is an outdoor school project that has been talked about extensively in Salmon Arm, with many parents, educators and students seeming thrilled at the idea of taking learning out of the typical classroom setting. With classes for the 2018-19 school year underway, the outdoor school has finally come to fruition.
The first days are turning out to be a bit of a learning experience for the staff at the outdoor school, but principal Isabelle Gervais says the outlook and energy levels for students, staff and parents at the school is sky-high.
害羞草研究所淲e have had beautiful weather first of all, what a great way to start. I think the kids are excited about being outside, I know our staff are and I think it害羞草研究所檚 good for all of us,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淭he energy level here is great and everyone is just really working hard to make this work, and enjoying the work too.害羞草研究所�
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For both the teachers and students the transition from classroom-based learning has been a bit of a change 害羞草研究所� albeit one they seem eager to make.
害羞草研究所淥ur staff, a lot of them have done outdoor learning with students but never as a whole school where you have to rethink everything, nobody has a classroom,害羞草研究所� Gervais says. 害羞草研究所淔or me it害羞草研究所檚 like every other school year: there are always things we need to tweak, but I think what I have found is being outside has been really good for me. It害羞草研究所檚 easier to connect with kids in an outdoor setting. You can sit in the grass together and just talk about things or help them build a fort. It害羞草研究所檚 a little bit different than in a classroom.害羞草研究所�
As for the students, Gervais says that even after only a few days she noticed increasing engagement with their surroundings, other students and even with their work.
害羞草研究所淲e have had some really good little success stories. The older group did a one-day field trip to the South Canoe trails and they did a writing activity when they got back. It was kind of a simple writing activity with a storyline given to them with a setting in nature and the kids thought it was the best writing activity.害羞草研究所�
In fact, Gervais says parents and teachers alike are already reporting some positive results 害羞草研究所� notably that kids are actually enthusiastic about doing their homework.
害羞草研究所淎 lot of parents have said their kids are excited to get up in the morning, they are looking forward to coming to school, they are sleeping well,害羞草研究所� she says. 害羞草研究所淎nd we have kids who say 害羞草研究所榟ey can I bring this story home and keep writing and bring it back tomorrow?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
The staff at the outdoor school have also made it a point to involve parents and rally a community around the outdoor school.
We sent out a little call to parents, who were in for a whole week before classes helping us unpack stuff and making it their school as well,害羞草研究所� Gervais says. 害羞草研究所淲e know there is a lot of involvement from our parent community with wanting to come in and help and be part of this.害羞草研究所�
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Gervais notes they will be hosting community events at the school as well. There will be a harvest celebration community potluck dinner at the South Canoe School Sept. 25 at 5 p.m. that will be open to parents, family members and South Canoe residents. They also hope to host an information session in early October for parents who are curious to learn more about the outdoor school and see if it might be a good fit for their children.
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