Every child should have access to nature-rich outdoor learning and play spaces. Full stop. This shouldn’t be a controversial or debatable statement. The evidence is clear: Children thrive outdoors. Access to nature and naturalized outdoor spaces is beneficial to nearly every facet of children’s wellbeing, including their physical and mental health and social functioning. Outdoor learning and play have been unequivocally shown to improve children’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional health. We know that outdoor experiential learning helps increase subject knowledge, motivates students and stimulates curiosity. Every dollar invested in nature-rich outdoor play and learning earns dividends for children, nature and our economy. 

I’ve been reflecting on this a lot since the Toronto District School Boards’s recent announcement to end outdoor education programming at five centres: the Warren Park Outdoor Education Centre, Forest Valley Outdoor Education Centre, Etobicoke Outdoor Education Centre, Toronto Urban Studies Centre and Island Natural Science School. 

This announcement hits close to home because I work with an incredible team delivering nature-based outdoor education at Evergreen Brick Works. Most of the students we support come from the public school system, including children and youth from across the city. Up to 50 per cent come from equity-deserving communities. I see first-hand the benefits of outdoor education and the impact it has on students.  

Evergreen’s visiting school program brings children to the Brick Works for hands-on outdoor learning.........

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