Nature School
I can still remember the day when environmental education was an agenda item for the SD46 Education Committee. I was a new trustee and newly appointed chair of the Education Committee in 2012. At one of my first Education Committee meetings, I remember being presented with a 2-inch thick study looking at the viability of environmental education in our school district. The study was completed more than 10 years ago and environmental education was still a topic of discussion.
On this committee, we were determined to forgo another study and move forward with a recommendation to consider implementing environmental education programs in our school district. We were a new board and we were in the midst of developing a new strategic plan for the upcoming term. Embedded in the plan was environmental education with hopes that elementary and secondary programs would soon develop. From governance to operations, the strategic plan provides guidance to SD46 staff on direction, decision making, and how to proceed forward.
Not really knowing the details of it but Principal Sally Thicke proposed to the Superintendent to introduce a Primary Nature School at Davis Bay Elementary. This school was close to being closed in the term previous but managed to stay open with less than 50 students. K-3 Nature School was one alternative to kickstart enrolment at Davis Bay but also provide an alternative learning opportunity to primary students to learn outside. We live on the Sunshine Coast. We should all be outside and Davis Bay is an ideal location as it is steps away from the ocean, beaches, and streams.
Before moving forward with the development of the program, the teaching staff were hired who were equally invested in the program as Sally. What an incredible team. Jenny teaches K-1 in the NEST and Linda teaches 2-3 in the HIVE. Three years later, the Primary Nature School expanded to include grade 4’s this year and grade 5’s in the upcoming school year. A new member of the team has been recently hired and this program is taking on a momentum that exceeds my expectations.
The program is predominantly situated outside, they are implementing the new curriculum, and incorporating e-portfolios as a way to engage students in their assessment and evaluation. This program is on the cutting edge and were sharing it with others. Hence, the photo taken above. The nature school team, now called NEST (Nature Education for Sustainable Todays and Tomorrows) presented at the Canadian School Board Association (CSBA) Congress 2015 in Saskatoon. Almost 40 attendees from across Canada attended this workshop to see how their board and school district/division can think ‘out-of-the-box’ or develop their own Nature Program to suit the learning needs of their students. I was not going to miss this presentation.
The Board of Education Chair Betty Baxter presented with the SD46 NEST team to describe to other school trustees how ideas can turn into action. I was so proud to see and listen to all 4 of these SD46 people describe their role in the development of NEST and how they support student learning. I must give thanks to some special people who made it happen for me to attend this workshop and CSBA Congress 2015. First, I would like to thank my brother who provided me with AirMiles with two airline carriers to fly to Saskatoon. Second, I would like to thank my friend for sharing her bed in her little hotel room for 6 nights. I was willing to sleep on the floor, but she was so generous to share her bed with me. I am truly grateful. And, I would like to thank my mom for subsidizing my meal costs, etc. for the trip. Of course, I would like to thank SD46 for supporting this team to travel, share, and celebrate the NEST program in Saskatoon along with my professional development.