At five years old Eli Thuot already knows what he wants to be B次元官网网址� a nature explorer.

Following his bliss Eli is just one of the 22 students in the nature kindergarten program at Sangster elementary school, the first school in B.C. offering the program.

Every morning Eli and his classmates head to the neighbouring forest at Royal Roads University.

The young boy beams with excitement as he explains his new nature kit B次元官网网址� a pencil, paper and a magnifying glass B次元官网网址� to his parents.

B次元官网网址淲e do lots of exploring,B次元官网网址� he said.

Wearing rain gear and a special backpack with emergency tools such as a whistle, emergency blanket and a snack, Eli is ready to explore.

B次元官网网址淲e know students learn in different ways,B次元官网网址� said Sangster principal Maureen Laureen. B次元官网网址淭he forests, ocean and streams, they are your classroom and they will reveal tremendous things for you.B次元官网网址�

Safety plays a key role in the course and before the children ever set out in the forest, safety issues were addressed with them.

B次元官网网址淭he children have adapted really well,B次元官网网址� Laureen said.

While the mornings are dedicated for outdoors, in the afternoon the students return to the typical classroom environment.

The school was able to raise more than $100,000 in grants to help make to program a reality. The grants were used to cover expenses such as providing rain gear and sunglasses to the students and cover extra staffing costs.

This is a two-year pilot project. 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.