April 2nd, 2024

At the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB), we believe in providing diverse and engaging learning experiences. At times, these opportunities take students beyond their schools and classrooms and as a result of the WRDSB’s partnership with the rare Charitable Research Reserve, students attending the Alternative Education program had the chance to:

  • Discover the wonders of the natural world firsthand
  • Interact with nature’s classroom

Students had the extraordinary opportunity to explore the ancient woods of Cambridge on snowshoes. This experience helped students bridge the gap between the classroom and the natural environment while also allowing for a deeper level of understanding through experiential and investigative hands-on learning.

Supporting Student Learning

  • Educational Adventure:
    • Engaging in educational activities that deepen students’ understanding of environmental science
  • Physical Education:
    • Students embraced the winter season with invigorating snowshoeing adventures
  • Community Learning:
    • Students worked together to navigate the snowy terrain
    • Offered positive social interactions and team-building opportunities
  • Stimulating Curiosity:
    • Moments of awe and wonder as students connected with nature
    • Fostered a sense of appreciation and stewardship for natural spaces

“This is in an initiative to help improve the opportunities the students have already,” says Mathew Bauman, lead faculty for the initiative at WRDSB. Students Argen, Katie and Tayden summed up this experience as educational and exhilarating.

The partnership between rare Charitable Research Reserve and the WRDSB allows the students to experience natural reserves through different seasons and their overall impact on nature, said Istafa Sufi, Senior Educator at rare Charitable Research Reserve.