Pilot kindergarten class amid the RRU forest next year, rain or shine

When three-and-a-half year old Dexter Heath walks down a forest trail at Royal Roads University, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 take him long to grab a big red maple leaf, pull apart a pine cone and pick a chunk of bark off a Douglas fir.

Nature as a learning space is an idea the Sooke School District plans to embrace, literally. Dexter could be among the first cohort of kids using the Royal Roads forest as a classroom next year.

The district plans to roll out a B次元官网网址渘ature kindergartenB次元官网网址� pilot in September 2012, where one class of 22 kids based out of Sangster elementary will spend their mornings exploring the natural environment, rain or shine.

B次元官网网址淲e want kids to develop an appreciation for the environment, spend more time outdoors, and develop a sense of environmental stewardship,B次元官网网址� said Frances Krusekopf, SD 62 district principal of curriculum and programs. B次元官网网址淐hildren will spend their mornings in nature, regardless of the weather, in the Royal Roads forest, on the lagoon or near the water.B次元官网网址�

A typical day for this class might involve getting hands-on with plants, trees, and intertidal life, learning names of flora and fauna and having play time outside. The afternoon would be back in the classroom.

B次元官网网址淎 big piece of (nature kindergarten) is that children walk quite a bit, theyB次元官网网址檙e a lot more physically active in the outdoors,B次元官网网址� Krusekopf said. B次元官网网址淭he concept is about learning in nature and following the natural cycles of the seasons.B次元官网网址�

The original B次元官网网址渇orest preschoolsB次元官网网址� concept emerged in Sweden decades ago, and has been used in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and a few places in Canada. The SD 62 pilot project is budgeted at $80,000 for two years, and includes a teacher and early childhood educator. Krusekopf is actively seeking grants to fund the nature kindergarten program.

Part of the budget is to ensure the kids have the proper clothing for wind, rain and snow conditions B次元官网网址� they donB次元官网网址檛 want 22 four and five-years-olds getting cold and cranky in the middle of a forest.

B次元官网网址淚f children are dressed for the weather, children are less likely to notice the weather than adults,B次元官网网址� Krusekopf said. B次元官网网址淐hildren truly want to go outside and splash around in a puddle.B次元官网网址�

Sooke School District trustee chair Wendy Hobbs suspects parents wonB次元官网网址檛 apply for nature K if they feel their child wonB次元官网网址檛 enjoy the outdoors. B次元官网网址淧arents know their child and know if their children would do well in a program like this.B次元官网网址�

The school board has backed this pilot project, Hobbs said, as it will help further diversify education programs in the district.

B次元官网网址淭here are many different ways children learn, and this is one of the them,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got hockey academy, a trades school. This is one more feature to show parents this is an exciting education district to be in.

B次元官网网址淭he board is definitely looking forward to see how nature kindergarten progresses.B次元官网网址�

Enid Elliot, an adjunct professor at the University of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 school of child and youth care, plans to research and document the experience of SD 62B次元官网网址檚 nature K to help other districts follow suit.

Nature K could become an important tool to stem the tide of kids alienated from nature, Elliot said, as technology envelops young peoplesB次元官网网址� lives.

B次元官网网址淪o many people are worried children are hooked into the Internet and arenB次元官网网址檛 going outside,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his is an opportunity to connect kids with the natural landscape, this provides the opportunity when theyB次元官网网址檙e impressionable. Children are such hands-on learners.B次元官网网址�

Nature kindergarten will be based out of a modular classroom at Sangster school, which is on the southern periphery of Royal Roads campus. RRU itself, the University of Victoria, Camosun College and the Royal B.C. Museum are also interested in participating in aspects of the program.

B次元官网网址淣ature kindergarten is an innovative idea at many levels,B次元官网网址� Krusekopf said. B次元官网网址淭his many groups collaborating with the school district is innovative in itself.B次元官网网址�

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editor@goldstreamgazette.com