Jeanne-Lajoie students learn about the world through outdoor classroom
A pack of kindergarteners create a yellow and blue blur as they run freely throughout the forest behind Jeanne-Lajoie elementary school.
Some climb trees while others swing on low-hanging branches. A young girl wearing a bright pink hat contemplates whether she should jump into a nearby puddle while around her, kids pick up wiggling worms. Laughter and screams of delight fill the air as parents and teachers watch on with pride as the youngsters explore their surroundings. Very few limits are put on these kiddos when they answer the primal call of the wild in their outdoor classroom.
And despite the risk of possible injury, they are free to push their physical boundaries; sometimes kids get splinters, sometimes they trip on slippery roots, and they always come home dirty.
But that’s the way Jeanne-Lajoie elementary school likes it.
Parents were invited to see what their children have been up to in this forest class for the past few months on June 10.
Though initially reserved only for kindergarteners, the Forest School Canada program is being opened up so older elementary students can take part.
“They learn in a natural environment,” said Principal Nathalie Bélanger. “It gives them experience with nature. We want to build sustainable students that are engaged and are eco-citizens.”
From all studies on the subject, this type of outdoor classroom helps students with creativity, problem-solving, and innovation.
“Another reason ... why we want to push this forward is that research shows that it also decreases anxiety in children,” said France Goulard, Superintendent for the French Catholic School Board. “... It gives them that confidence to be where they need to be.”
The idea of having an outdoor classroom in Pembroke was suggested before the pandemic, but the timeline to create one was fast-forwarded as kindergarten over Zoom was not enough to satisfy Jeanne-Lavoie’s high educational standards.
Since forest schools were already occurring in different parts of Ottawa, educators wondered why not bring them to the Valley?
This classroom initiative is more than just kids simply playing outside. There is an official curriculum and much of it is based on Indigenous teachings.
“It is a certified program with all this data and research that shows how good it is for this holistic approach,” said Goulard.
Jeanne-Lajoie is equipped with a lush forest in its backyard, and the hope is that the program will grow so that older students up to Grade 12 can take part as well.
“We have seen some tremendous growth in our students,” said Bélanger.
Click on an image to enlarge. Photos by Patricia Leboeuf, Petawawa Post.
