CC0001 - Exploring Nature - Outdoor Learning Program
Course Description
Our seasonal, month-long, inquiry-based program is designed to provide children ages 4 to 8 years old with meaningful opportunities to explore and learn through nature. Through this learning program led by our Registered Early Childhood Educators and Ontario Certified Teachers, we aim to help children strengthen their connection with the natural world and foster stewardship of the environment. Registration is for 4-week sessions and includes one freshly prepared plant-based meal per week (please note: this year, we are not providing daily meals and snacks to reduce food waste and to have our lunches more portable so we can enjoy them on our explorations). Please provide a litterless lunch and snacks for your child(ren). If your child has food allergies or restrictions, please contact outdoor@uoguelph.ca to confirm that we can accommodate your child’s needs prior to registration.
Learning Outcomes
Time spent learning in nature has been shown to have dramatic benefits for children's social, psychological, and physical functioning. Through this learning program, we aim to help children develop a lasting and meaningful relationship with nature that will help them become stewards of the environment.
As the outdoor environment provides a rich place for exploration and learning, there are many opportunities for connections to the Ontario Science and Technology Curriculum for the primary grades, which could include understanding life systems, understanding structures and mechanisms, understanding matter and energy, and understanding earth and space systems. The focus of the programming will include daily exploration both inside and outside with intentionally planned experiences that will support the children's learning.
Please view the Predicted Learning Experiences for our Summer 2025 offerings.
Note:
Hours of Operation
Drop Off - 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM
Programming - 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Pick Up - 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Additional Program Information
The program spends the majority of their time outside, including many explorations in the Arboretum, and as such, children must come prepared for all types of weather. The program runs from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm each day with complimentary before and after care (8:00 am – 9:00 am and 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm). Please see the documents below for more information about the dates and costs for the OLP.
Registration Information
Registration for Summer 2025 Outdoor Learning Program will open Tuesday February 11th, 2025, at 10:00 am.
In an effort to enhance the connections in the learning community, we are hosting two 4—week sessions this summer. Registration for both session 1 (June 30th —July 25th, 2025; excluding July 1st) and session 2 (July 28th —August 22nd, 2025; excluding August 4th) will open on Tuesday February 11th, 2025, at 10:00 am and close on Thursday, February 13th 2024, at 11:59 pm. Please ensure that you fill out the application under the Family Portal tab (one per child) when you register for the program. A completed Informed Consent Form will need to be uploaded as part of the application (one per child). The form can be completed digitally as a fillable PDF, or it can be scanned in as an image document. Please note: The program fills up very quickly – sometimes within minutes of registration opening.
Cancellation Policy
A full refund will be issued if cancellation is received at least 1 month prior to start date. Registration will be cancelled for all four weeks. Cancellation for Session 1 must be received by June 1st and cancellation for Session 2 must be received by June 29th.
Contact Us
For questions about the program, please contact the OLP team at outdoor@uoguelph.ca
For questions about the OpenEd registration system, please contact register@uoguelph.ca
Session 1 (June 30, 2025 to July 25, 2025) is now full. Please contact register@uoguelph.ca if you would like to add your child to the Waitlist.
Technical Requirements
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*Course details are subject to change.