Displaying items by tag: outdoor education

June 21, 2019 – Twelve classes of low-income students will experience the natural world first hand – some for the very first time – thanks to a generous grant from the Ottawa Community Foundation.

The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation is campaigning to help 50 disadvantaged classes access its outdoor education programs during the 2019/2020 school year. The grant of $9,420 from the Ottawa Community Foundation will cover tuition and transportation costs for 12 schools from the city of Ottawa.

Each year, the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority welcomes more than 10,000 elementary and secondary school students to its Outdoor Education programs at Baxter and Foley Mountain conservation areas. The curriculum-based sessions taught by certified teachers give students hands-on experiences in nature while they learn about natural science, our role in the natural world and how we can protect it.

But not all students can afford the same experiences as their peers; there are at least 37 priority schools in the Rideau Valley region where funding simply isn’t available for “extras” like outdoor education. Unfortunately, it’s these students who are often missing natural experiences the most: many of them are new to Canada or live in urban communities where walking among the trees, exploring a wetland or catching frogs is completely unknown to them. That’s where the Foundation and its generous donors come in.

There is a growing body of evidence that learning through outdoor active play has positive effects on a child's physical, emotional, and intellectual health. More and more, children suffer from “nature deficit disorder” – a lack of connection with the natural world.

Staff use the Ministry of Education’s list of priority schools – determined based on national census income data – and work with local school boards directly to identify schools that would benefit from financial support to get their students outside and into nature.

For more information about the RVCA’s educational programs, visit https://www.rvca.ca/outdoor-education.

To support the Foundation’s conservation efforts, visit https://www.rvcf.ca/.

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Sept 16, 2019 – As many as 250 students will experience the great outdoors this year – some for the very first time – thanks to a $5,000 grant from The North Face Canada Explore Fund.

The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation has been campaigning to help 50 schools access outdoor education programs at local conservation areas in the 2019/2020 school year. The North Face grant will cover tuition and transportation costs for eight priority schools across the region.

The programs are run by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s (RVCA) certified outdoor education teachers at Baxter and Foley Mountain conservation areas. They welcome more than 10,000 elementary and secondary school students to their curriculum-based programs every year for hands-on experiences in nature, from catching frogs tosnowshoeing.

But not all students can afford to take part.There are at least 37 priority schools in the Rideau Valley region where funding simply isn’t available for “extras” like outdoor education. To make matters worse, these studentsare often most lackingquality time in nature: many of them are new to Canada or live in urban communities where walking among the trees, exploring a wetland or building winter shelters is completely unfamiliar. 

And it’s not just a missed day of fun. There’s a growing body of evidence that learning through outdoor active play has positive effects on a child's physical, emotional, and intellectual health.More and more, children suffer from “nature deficit disorder” – a lack of connection with the natural world.

RVCA staff use the Ministry of Education’s list of priority schools – determined based on national census income data – and work with local school boards directly to identify schools that would benefit from financial support to get their students outside and into nature.

With support from The North Face Fund and other donors, the RVCA is fostering a new generation of confident explorers, nature-lovers and environmental stewards – a key reason the program was one of only seven across Canada chosen for The North Face support in 2019. 

“The Explore Fund searches out and supports organizations that use the power of exploration and the benefits of nature to strengthen communities around the country,”said Carl Bissonnette, Sr. Canadian marketing manager for the fund. “We are delighted to work with the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation to help children access nature.”

For more information about the RVCA’s educational programs, visit www.rvca.ca/outdoor-education.

To support the Foundation’s conservation efforts, visit www.rvcf.ca.

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OTTAWA AND WESTPORT AREA, January 29, 2020 – The Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation (RVCF) is pleased to have received a $4,567 Greener Apron Grant through the Starbucks Foundation.

To help students access our outdoor education programs at Baxter and Foley Mountain Conservation Areas the Greener Apron Grant covers bus fees through the RVCF.

Starbucks Greener Apron is a community of passionate employees who are committed to serving the planet. From promoting environmentally conscious best practices in stores, to nominating local non-profits to apply for grant funding, Greener Apron partners are sustainability champions making a difference in their stores and communities, every day.

“Thanks to Starbucks employee Denise Pagliaro of Manotick for nominating us for this program,” says Diane Downey, Executive Director of RVCF, “we are delighted to welcome another exceptional partner in our campaign to make outdoor education programs accessible to all.”

“Our children have so many beautiful memories thanks to the Rideau Valley Conversation Foundation – it was my pleasure to nominate them,” notes Denise.

The Greener Apron grant will cover transportation costs for 1200 children; that’s 20 school buses with two classes of thirty students each.

The programs are run by the RVCA certified outdoor education teachers at Baxter and Foley Mountain conservation areas. They welcome more than 10,000 elementary and secondary school students to their curriculum-based programs every year for hands-on experiences in nature, from catching frogs to snowshoeing.

There’s a growing body of evidence that learning through outdoor active play has positive effects on a child's physical, emotional, and intellectual health. More and more, children suffer from “nature deficit disorder” – a lack of connection with the natural world.

With support from the Greener Apron grant and other donors, the RVCA is fostering a new generation of confident explorers, nature-lovers and environmental stewards.

For more information about the RVCA’s educational programs, visit www.rvca.ca/outdoor-education. To support the Foundation’s conservation efforts, visit www.rvcf.ca.

RIDEAU VALLEY, Feb. 25, 2022 – Confidence. Leadership. Curiosity. Wonder. These are just a few of the traits your kids will bring home from Forest School when it starts up again this spring at Foley Mountain and Baxter conservation areas. 

The weekly programs focus on outdoor, play-based, child-centred learning. What does that mean, you wonder? It means students have a say in how and where they learn; they can choose to focus on activities that interest them, and in turn be more engaged in their learning. 

It means they’re outside all day long, returning to the same location each week to develop a deep connection to a particular outdoor place and the many wonders it holds within. It means students are taking and managing risks, problem-solving with their peers and putting their leadership and decision-making skills to work. 

It means they’re learning in nature, through nature. And it’s all really, really good for them. 

“Learning outdoors has so many benefits. They’re more active, they have better mental health,” said Rebecca Whitman, Foley Mountain’s outdoor educator and certified Ontario teacher. “I really see the benefits of the hands-on learning environment and letting them choose where to focus. It’s hard as adults and teachers to transfer that power but it helps them be more engaged. We try to say yes to all of their requests.”

Research has shown that playing outside has many physical benefits, such as greater physical fitness, lower risk of nearsightedness, better sleep rhythms and more exposure to Vitamin D. But children who explore and play outside also reap psychological benefits, such as improved stress management, better concentration skills and more stable mental health. 

Academically, the program supports the Ontario curriculum, although Whitman said it “may check boxes in a different order than a traditional classroom.” Math may come in the form of measuring various skulls to identify the animals, for example. Literacy is encouraged through themed story times, map-making or using a field guide for plant identification.

Risky play – climbing trees, balancing on boulders and generally doing anything that might rouse a “be careful” from worried parents – is a big component, as well. 

“Risky play is incredibly important for their physical and cognitive development,” Whitman said. “Students can learn how to manage risk and their response to it.”

Registration for the spring session of Forest School is now open for Foley Mountain in Westport, while registration for the program at Baxter near Manotick will open March 1. 

Beginning March 22, Foley Mountain will offer a half-day program for kids aged 3 to 5 on Wednesdays, and half and full-day programs for kids aged 4 to 10 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The semester runs weekly until the week of June 14. To learn more or to register, visit https://www.rvca.ca/outdoor-education/foley-mountain-ca/foley-mountain-forest-scool. 

The same week, Baxter will begin its spring semester of half and full-day programs for kids aged 4 to 10, offered Monday to Friday. To learn more or to join the mailing list visit https://www.rvca.ca/outdoor-education/baxter/baxter-forest-school. 

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KARS-ON-THE-RIDEAU, Nov. 28, 2022 – The dream of turning Baxter Conservation Area into an accessible nature haven for people of all abilities is finally coming true.

After three years of planning and fundraising, work has begun to replace the park’s defunct marshland bridge with a new state-of-the-art span that embraces the gold standards of accessible design. This includes an extra-wide deck, appropriate sight-lines for people in wheelchairs and strollers, and a large education platform to help students of all abilities get up close and personal with the natural world.

“The outdoors should be accessible to anyone who wants to enjoy it: plain and simple,” said Dan Cooper, co-chair of the Nature For All committee and Director of Conservation Lands at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA). “We’ve done the work to ensure this bridge serves visitors of all ages and abilities.”

The bridge construction was made possible thanks to tireless fundraising efforts by RVCA’s charitable partner the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation, which garnered more than $800,000 in support from individual donors, community organizations, government grants and corporate sponsorships.

“We are thrilled and humbled by the community support for this project,” said Foundation director Diane Downey. “It really shows how much our visitors and partners value inclusivity at our parks.” 

Construction will continue throughout the winter and will not result in any new trail closures.

Inclusive Infrastructure

Being in nature is good for body and soul, but people with disabilities are disproportionately excluded from outdoor spaces because they’re inaccessible, unsafe or both. 

The people behind Baxter Conservation Area are trying to change this. The conservation area is slowly but surely becoming Eastern Ontario’s most accessible wilderness haven, with gold-standard accessibility features added each year throughout the park. 

Baxter has already invested in accessible equipment such as wheelchair-friendly picnic tables, a beach mat down to the water and wheelchair-accessible sleds for the winter months. Outhouses and change huts have been made more accessible, and this winter, new accessible washrooms will be installed at the interpretive centre thanks to a generous federal community improvement grant. 

The Nature For All committee also plans to upgrade the park’s five kilometres of trails to include wider, more comfortable boardwalks and more wheelchair-friendly graded stone-dust paths. 

These upgrades will allow us to welcome people of all ages and abilities safely and comfortably to our park. These groups include (but are not limited to): 

• People with physical or intellectual disabilities
  
• Seniors with mobility concerns
• Students and special education classes
• Groups from local day programs, assisted living facilities and long-term care homes.

“Nature and wilderness should be for everybody. That’s where you begin to find yourself,” said Mike Nemesvary, founder of Nature For All and long-time accessibility advocate. He has been visiting Baxter in his power wheelchair for 20 years, after a training accident in his 20s left him paralyzed on his path to becoming a world champion freestyle skier.
“Baxter Conservation (will be) a model of accessibility for other conservation areas. People from all across Canada can come here and see how much effort and time was put into the planning, and that the planning has really paid off.” 

To learn more or donate to the Nature For All project, visit https://www.rvcf.ca/ways-to-give/nature-for-all-project. 

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