Initiatives

qSD outdoor learning initiatives focus on capacity building opportunities for our teachers and are supported by the qSD Outdoor Learning Coordinator. These supports are designed to guide, mentor, and model different ways to teach the curriculum outside. By supporting teachers to take their learning outside, we ensure students equitably engage with the community and the outdoors. These experiences not only promote health and well-being but also improve academic achievement. Growing our capacity to provide students with outdoor learning opportunities demonstrates our District’s commitment to supporting student growth as environmentally connected and socially responsible citizens.

qSD Initiatives that support our commitment to developing District capacity to provide outdoor and ecological learning opportunities:

1) Collaborative Planning and Curriculum Supports

Classroom teachers (K-7) are supported by the Outdoor Learning Coordinator to collaboratively plan safe and meaningful, place-centred outdoor learning experiences or modules. 

2) Ways Teachers Help Students Learn Outside (The Teacher Toolkit) 

This qSD resource includes tips, tricks and systems for accessing nearby nature spaces alongside core nature-based routines. Upon request, teachers can be supported in implementing these strategies with the help of the Outdoor Learning Coordinator. 

3) Professional Learning and Certifications 

By supporting teachers with professional learning opportunities and outdoor certifications we encourage place-centred learning that fosters student leadership, place connection, and environmental action.   

4) Facilitated Outings: An Outdoor Learning Scope and Sequence

The Outdoor Learning Scope and Sequence is intended to provide students across the grades with a memorable outdoor learning experience each year. These day-long, curricular field experiences are enriched by complimentary resources for teachers to use in their classrooms or nearby nature, before and after their outing. Some of the Scope and Sequence field experiences are offered in partnership with our INED team. These experiences focus on hands-on Traditional Ecological Knowledge.  

5) Mentored Hikes

Teachers are supported by the Outdoor Learning Coordinator to plan and implement appropriate hikes for their classes: safety-centred, accessible, curriculum rich hikes are the target.   

6) Resource Spotlight Series

These workshops feature professionally vetted outdoor learning resources to save you time. The effective use of these resources is demonstrated alongside teachers and their students, supporting teachers in their objective to take their classroom learning outside to nearby nature locations. 

7) Community Action and Restoration Education Stewardship

Schools or classes interested in engaging students in an onsite environmental restoration project have the opportunity to work collaboratively with the Outdoor Learning Coordinator to co-create revitalized and restored learning environments. Projects to date include the Lang Creek mɛtokomɛn Native Plant Garden Invasive Species Removal and Revegetation Project and the Edgehill Native Plant Garden Multi-Partnership. 

8) Grab and Go Bins

Developed in partnership with Wild BC, these outdoor and hands-on learning bins target grades K-6 and can be accessed via the Outdoor Learning Center for use either onsite at the OLC.

Contact: outdoors@sd47.bc.ca for more information or if you have any questions.