Pilots a Big Success

Many thanks to all the great folks at our six pilot communities who worked so hard to make Pathway Landmark activities a regular part of their day.  Three cheers to Peterborough Child and Family Centres, Compass Early Learning and Care, Millbrook South Cavan Elementary, St. Joseph Elementary in Douro, Queen Elizabeth Elementary, and Immaculate Conception Elementary for their great teamwork, super ideas, and dedication to the wellbeing of our kids and our world.

Here’s a sample of success stories:

• All elementary grades reported an increase in outdoor activities
• Preschool and Kindergarten educators provided many new creative sensory and nature-based activity centres and opportunities to interact with living things
• All Grade 1-2 teachers involved their class in gardening (up from 44% in start-up surveys)
• 56% of Grade 3-4 teachers had involved their class in planning a trip (up from 0% in start-up surveys)
• All Grade 3-4 classes tried new outdoor activities, with increases in growing food, nature art, growing wildlife gardens, tree planting, keeping bird feeders and outdoor exploration

• All Grade 5-6 classes visited a public park as well as an outdoor education centre while they pilot-tested Pathway Landmark activities
• 80% of Grade 7-8 classes explored a stream (up from 14% before the pilot project), 100% participated in a multi-cultural event (up from 29%) and 60% helped with a habitat improvement project (up from 29%)

We were encouraged to hear that all educators said the Pathway Project benefitted their classes, with 69% responding ‘very beneficial.’  Teachers noted improved behaviour, increased physical stamina, improved ability to focus attention, increased outdoor confidence and respect for living things, and greater interest in being at school.

Based on these responses, we are working to expand the project and its community supports.