Doors to Discovery

Landmark 14 (Five New Outdoor Activities)

Our Grade 3 Class joined Mrs. Messenger’s Grade 4s and Mr. Richard’s Grade 5 classes to connect for an afternoon with Camp Kawartha’s True Nature program. Jacob, Isaac, Glenn and Neil lead our classes, in three separate groups, and introduced us to a series of Indigenous and cooperative games. Being outside with these experienced naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts was captivating and inspiring for both students and teachers alike! It’s always exciting to have time to not only open the door of discovery but to relish in playing within in the land we share. We looked at animal track stamps and searched the woods for similar impressions in the snow, stalked a rabbit, like foxes, and scurried for holes in the ground like chipmunks. We threw snow-snakes and competed to tap one another’s toes as the Inuit might do in the Northern Tundra. While the children participated in games, Jacob shared rich resources for outdoor education with Messenger, Richard and myself, including apps such as Sibley and iNaturalist and ideas from his Big Book of Nature Activities and Teacher’s Guide to Outdoor Learning. These are all intriguing and I’m currently enjoying the latter book in my spare time. Since our experience with Camp Kawartha last week, my own class has revisited some of the games we played, and we are eager for more! It was SUCH a fun afternoon! We wish we had time with this same group of leaders every season, and I’m left grieving and questioning why outdoor education has yet to be supported or documented within the Ontario Curriculum for Health, Physical Education, Science… Until then, we place it as a priority in our school and we are thankful for this opportunity last Thursday.

St Catherine CES Gr 3 – February 3, 2022