With the lure of sunshine, warm wind, picturesque settings and comfortable temperatures, schools such as Forest Trail and Oakwood public schools have spent time and resources to create outdoor classrooms as another way for students to feel even more inspired, energized and excited about learning.

Numerous schools in the Halton District School Board have taken the typical indoor classroom setting outside as a way to engage students in their learning.

At Forest Trail, an outdoor classroom was created during the summer and opened to students at the beginning of the school year. Staff, students and parents love it. Large and small rocks, as well as a series of plants, dot a piece of property in front of the school. It has been so well received, parents have used it as a “meeting place” before and after school, says Principal Steve Pilibbossian.

“We wanted to give students another way to learn than the traditional way," he says. "It gives the opportunity to do something differently. I’ve heard only positive comments from our students; teachers have embraced it.”

“My Grade 1 students were able to stretch out on the ground as they worked, or use a rock as a table, or followed a beetle as it scurried into its home while we were drawing and writing about our own homes,” says teacher Shaun Britt.

Pilibbossian says the school’s Eco team and teachers came up with the idea for an outside classroom. Part of the learning for students involves them maintaining the gardens and its many plants and shrubs – like English oak and yew shrubs – to “show great respect for the environment,” he says.

“This is a huge community and school focus,” says Pilibbossian, noting students made and sold bracelets to raise funds. “We are very proud of the development of the outdoor learning classroom. It is a great end result of a lot of hard work from students, staff and parent volunteers.

Teachers have used the classroom for “community circles”, where they share thoughts and concerns about issues, says Pilibbossian.

“I think it’s great; it’s meant for students to come and experience nature,” says Grade 7 student Jack, noting he’s proud how hard the school worked for the classroom. “It’ll be used for science and art and other different educational purposes.”

Many schools have started outdoor classrooms during the past year or are in the process of planning their own for the upcoming school year. 

Oakwood Public School is among the schools that opened their outdoor classroom this year and has already been well received by students and parents. It’s been used by students to talk about environment-related topics they were studying in science. It was also a valued meeting place for the school’s cross-country team in September and was full of parents and students during the school’s barbecue welcoming students back to Oakwood.

“It's extra powerful to hold those lessons about the environment outdoors. It will be nice to see it used as a shady space once the trees and shrubs mature a bit,” says Oakwood Public School Principal Malerie Borbath.

Grade 5 student Riaz can’t wait to spend more time in Oakwood’s outdoor classroom.

“I like it so much,” he says, adding it’s “really beautiful” to see leaves fall from trees situated around the outside classroom. “It just feels good for the brain, to be outside and learning.” 

Borbath says the outdoor classroom idea blossomed thanks to student input. They took home reflection sheets and engaged in discussions with their families about what they would want in their outdoor classroom, she explains. Ideas from families and experts were also crucial, she stressed.

“We consulted with another expert about armour stone placement and outdoor classroom development and with staff in Facility Services about regulations regarding distance between stones for student safety,” says Borbath.

So will the outdoor classroom be used in the winter?

“I'm envisioning some really nice things happening out there in the snow,” Borbath says.