No more 'classrooms': This Toronto school takes recess to a whole new level
Inspired by the Scandinavian education system, Toronto Nature School is a unique experience that offers students a chance to learn outside, explore, and work together.
The benefits of learning in nature are well researched, and the results show that students who learn outside show improvement in academics in all areas.
Toronto Nature School (TNS) specializes in classes that take children out of a generic classroom setting and let them explore nature. Based on the "forest school movement," inspired by the Scandinavian education system, students are brought outside to learn, explore, and work together. The students attend class outside, regardless of the weather.
School founder Julia Donnelly O’Neill says that she has noticed that some students who were typically more restless inside have become leaders outside.
O’Neill began TNS while taking her own children out to green spaces and realizing they were typically empty.
"It just seemed like such a missed opportunity," she said. "Knowing that within the urban spaces, even downtown, you can find green spaces and get kids out."
This is not the only school of this kind across Canada, however, there are very limited options within the growing nature community. O’Neill hopes for more outdoor education options to become available in the near future.
Watch the video at the top of this article to learn more about Toronto Nature School.